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How To Stop A Migraine

Wanting to know how to stop a migraine is a big deal for those that suffer from it. More than just headaches, migraines cause different symptoms which can be very debilitating and painful. By learning how to stop a migraine, you can save yourself from having to suffer.

Determine first if you do have a migraine and what kind of migraine it may be. The usual migraine symptoms are a throbbing pain on your temples as well as pain in one side of the head. This can also be accompanied by other symptoms such as loss or impairment of vision, nausea and even impairment of motor functions.

Once you have established that you do have a migraine, you can take the necessary steps to prevent and alleviate migraines.

Steps on How to Stop a Migraine

Prevention

Prevention can be the best way to stop a migraine. Migraines are often triggered by external factors such as:

* Stress
* Weather Change
* Food Triggers
* Fatigue and hunger
* Hormonal imbalance

You can start by living healthier, eating fresh foods and getting more rest and sleep. Exercise regularly as well.

Food triggers suspected of causing migraines are those foods that are rich in tyramine. Tyramine rich foods are mainly those that have been aged and fermented. This includes ham, sausages, cheese and other similar items. Chocolate and caffeine have also been linked with migraines. Caffeine sensitivity however is very subjective. Some experience migraines from taking too much or withdrawing from caffeine. Stick to fresh ingredients and try to avoid preservatives and additives as much as possible.

To help you keep track of the possible triggers of migraine, keep a migraine diary. Whenever you suffer from a migraine attack, list down what you ate and what was happening to you at that time. This will help you link the causes of your migraines and avoid them in the future.

Ask your doctor about how to stop a migraine using preventive medicine for migraines. Medicines such as beta-blockers (heart medicine), anti depressants and anti seizure medicine have all had good effect with stopping migraines. If your migraines persist even after lifestyle changes then you may want to try these.

Analgesics and Medicine

When migraine attacks do happen, there are also several options for you to take. The primary medicines are analgesics such as NSAIDS (ibuprofen, Naproxen, aspirin, etc.) These help relieve the pain caused by migraines. Triptans can help with dealing with pain and nausea as well. Ergotamines are often used as another option.

Managing Your Migraine

Always consult with your doctor first before undergoing any therapy or medication. Some medicine may have side effects which can also be harmful for you. To help you ease into migraine prevention, take relaxation classes and undergo lifestyle changes.

Migraines can be very painful and can stop you from doing normal every day things. They can also increase the risk of other diseases such as stroke. Knowing how to stop a migraine is very important if you want to live a long, healthy and pain free life.

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Knowing The Types Of Migraines

There are different types of migraines that people suffer from. While most involve headaches and throbbing pain or nausea, there are still other with their own symptoms which are classified as migraines. Knowing the types of migraines and their symptoms can help you get a better diagnosis and the proper medical care.

Types of Migraines

We can start of by discussing the two basic types of migraines, Migraines without Aura and Migraines with Aura. The common symptoms of both types of migraines are headaches or pain on one side of the head. This is usually accompanied by dull throbbing pain at the side of the head or the temples, neck pain and nausea.

Migraines with Aura differ in that those who suffer from it experience sensory phenomenon such as seeing jagged or wavy lines or lights in front of them. Tunnel or impaired vision is also observed. Some also perceive funny or unusual odors. This symptom gradually diminishes and is replaced by the usual symptoms of a migraine.

Most of the other types of migraines usually fall under either of these two main groups. Some migraines may have different kind of pain such as in the location or duration and intensity of the migraine attack. Some types of migraines do not have headaches at all, only the other symptoms are experienced.

Other Types of Migraines

Silent Migraine ? this type of migraine is associated mostly with the occurrence of aura but the absence of headaches as a symptom. Common indicators are mostly the observation of waves, lines and colors in what we see. Nausea and other physical illness may also be felt.

Basilar-Type Migraines ? usually characterized by loss of vision or partial blindness while the migraine attack is occurring, it differs as there isn’t any motor loss that occurs with the migraine attack.

Hemiplegic Migraines ? characterized by occurrence of aura, nausea, vomiting and loss of motor functions or paralysis. Episodes are rather severe and are prolonged.

Retinal Migraines ? characterized by temporary loss of vision, usually in one eye. Lights, spots and other visual disturbances are also felt.

Ocular Migraines ? migraine symptoms include increased sensitivity to light, vision problems and hearing difficulty. Disorientation and confusion as well as slurred speech have also been included as symptoms.

Status Migrainosus ? a migraine type without aura. The headaches are very severe and can last for well over a day or two. Dilation of blood vessels inside the brain is the main culprit and should be addressed immediately to prevent the occurrence of stroke.

Transformed migraines ? these are described as migraine attacks that get worse in frequency and intensity over time. It is suspected that the cause would be overuse of typical medication for headaches and migraines.
Getting Treatment

To better treat your migraine you should definitely consult a physician. Describe in detail what your symptoms are as well as how often and what you were doing. Migraines can be first treated using analgesic medicine such as NSAIDs, aspirin and other pain relievers, these can usually take care of the pain symptom. However there are some migraine types that need to be addressed directly and specific medication should be administered.

Ask your doctor for more information about the types of migraines and how you can get treatment for your specific case.

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What Causes Migraines?

What causes migraines still remains a mystery. Although we now know that several events can cause migraines, it is still uncertain why they do so. Migraines can be very painful and debilitating. Often they interrupt our daily functions and cause serious problems.

What Causes Migraines

While the root cause of migraines remains unknown, there have been many factors that have associated with migraines. These are usually external factors such as changes in weather, stress and foods. Internal causes such as hormonal imbalance and problems have also been known causes of migraines.

Migraines occur when blood vessels in the brain become inflamed or enlarged. This is due to irritation in the brain stem. The inflammation itself causes the pain and the throbbing sensation we often associate with migraine attacks.

The pain felt by migraines is often a throbbing sensation around the head or can also be pain located on one side. The pain can last for several hours, subsiding a little and peaking in different intervals. Migraines can also be accompanied by aura. This is when people start to see jagged lines or waves or colors in their field of vision. Some attacks also result in partial visual impairment or even loss of motor functions.

Food rich in tyrmaines is a likely culprit of what causes migraines. These foods are those that have been aged or fermented. Cheese, hams and other cured meat have been documented to trigger migraine headaches in many people. Chocolate and caffeine are also likely factors as to what causes migraines. While you can limit yourself to about 2 servings of these kinds of foods, it may be best to avoid them. Go for fresh options and fresh ingredients, and avoid preservatives and artificial flavoring such as MSG.

Stress, hunger, fatigue and dehydration are also causes of migraines. This is why changes in lifestyle to avoid stress and unhealthy habits help in avoiding getting migraines. Eat right, and drink plenty of water. Get regular rest and avoid staying up late at night.

Hormonal changes such as those naturally occurring in old age as well as pregnancy can also cause migraines. In these cases you can consult your doctor on what steps to take to avoid migraines.

Getting Help For Migraines

As we understand more about what causes migraines, we can also learn for ourselves how to avoid these triggers. You can make a log of the different times you had migraine attacks and what you were eating at that time. This way you can determine what caused the migraine.

A lifestyle change along with taking different medication can be your best defense against migraines. You can ask your doctor about preventive medicine such as anti-seizure and anti-depressants, this kind of medicine has been shown to be effective in preventing migraines.

Migraine medication such as aspirin and ibuprofen has also been very effective in treating migraines. They are used most often when the migraine attacks already occur.

Learn for yourself what causes migraines in your case so you can be better prepared to manage and altogether avoid getting these attacks.

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