By Traci Rush, B.A.

For many people, headaches are more than a pain. They can be life threatening. Migraine headaches occur in more than 26 million Americans. Diagnosis of migraine can be very difficult, as the symptoms and triggers differ from person to person, as do the responses to the treatment. That is why it is very important to communicate effectively with your physician to receive the proper diagnosis to get the relief you need.

Migraine is a neurologic disorder that is characterized by recurrent attacks of headache, with pain occurring on one side of the head, accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Routine activity typically makes the pain worse. These symptoms can last for 4 to 72 hours. Migraine is hereditary, and if you have migraine, chances are that another family member also does. Migraine can begin at any age but is most common in young women. Currently, there is no known cure, but there are many treatment options available.

The thought that a migraine is only a headache is far from true. Having a headache is only a symptom of migraine. The cause of migraine pain is opposite to that of headache pain. Migraine pain is caused by vasodilation (widening) in the cranial blood vessels, while headache pain is caused by vasoconstriction (narrowing).

There are controllable and uncontrollable triggers related to migraine. Uncontrollable triggers include weather patterns and menstrual cycles. Controllable triggers include bright or flickering light; glare; noise; odors and chemical smells; secondhand smoke; some alcoholic beverages; foods such as fish, chocolate and aged cheese; and foods that contain nitrates or MSG.

If you or someone you know suffers from migraine, there are a number of things that you can do. Advise the person to exercise regularly, avoid irregular sleep habits, avoid missing meals, limit intake of caffeinated beverages and discontinue smoking. Some find that an ice pack applied to the forehead or temples can decrease the intensity of the pain. Relaxation techniques and massage therapy may also be useful. As always, consult a physician for specific pharmacologic treatments.

For additional information please contact NIFS at 317.274.3432.