If you suffer form very painful headaches and have done so since you were young, the chances are you may suffer from migraines which are often experienced by other members of a family group. Most suffers will go to bed as the headache (usually on one side) takes hold and which could last a matter of a few hours but if left without attention, could last for days. Not only is the victim in pain but they can be physically exhausted after the attack.
One thing that is still unknown is why some people have much more frequent attacks than others. Some symptoms seem to be consistent with most victims; those of a feeling like those associated with cold or influenza and a problem with bright lights. Most migraine attacks occur between the ages of 10 to 40 years old although why this is no-one really knows; in almost every instance however, attacks usually diminish or end in later adult life usually once the person is over 50 years old.
Hereditary links are often associated with migraine and occurrences may happen among members of a family; if there is a genetic reason for the attacks, medical science has not yet found this link. There seems to be a common connection amongst sufferers where blood vessels and nerve endings near the brain, swell. More women suffer from attacks and they comprise 75 percent of reported cases; only about eight percent of men will have an attack in their lives so it is very much a condition that affects women.
Some people with the complaint are able to sense when an attack is imminent; this is called migraine with aura. The signs for this attack seem to affect the senses and can include:
- Feeling of sickness
- Enlarged blind spots
- Sense of smell and taste is affected
- Lack of sensation in victim's face
other symptoms exist but these appear to be the most common. The most common type of this condition is known as migraine without aura; many early indications felt by those who have a warning are symptoms felt by those who have no warning but their condition can be made worse if they are in constant motion.
Some medical experts believe it is the contracting blood vessels that are responsible for the migraine with aura effect. Some suggest that it is the rapid expansion after this narrowing that causes the awful headaches; it can actually incapacitate the victim so they cannot perform even routine tasks. As there are so many situations that could trigger an attack, only a few are listed here:
- Weather
- Certain food groups
- Altitude
- Drinks
- Strong intense sunlight
- Insomnia
- Stress caused by personal problems
Sufferers need to monitor events that lead up to an attack if they hope to prevent them wherever possible.
Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:38:46 +0100