Migraine Headaches
Recent
scientific evidence suggests that migraine
headaches begin with a release of proteins by
nerve endings in the fibrous outer covering of
the brain (called the dura mater) resulting in
the dilation of the cranial blood vessels
following an initial contraction. During a
migraine, inflammation of the tissue surrounding
the brain exacerbates the pain.
Unlike most other types of headache, migraines
may have many additional symptoms. Migraines are
sometimes preceded by visual auras. Following
the onset of a migraine attack, symptoms may
include throbbing, nausea, sensitivity to light
and/or sound, difficulty in speech and
semi-hemispheric head pain. A migraine attack
can last for hours or days. Approximately 3 out
of 4 migraine sufferers are female and both the
etiology and incidence of migraine attacks vary
with the individual.
Migraines may be caused by a number of things.
Frequently the cause is unknown, but triggers
may include stress, anxiety, depression,
particular
foods or alcohol. Hormones are also common
triggers - many women experience migraines with
changes in their estrogen levels during
menstruation.
It is estimated that 32
million Americans, or nearly 12% of the
population, suffer from migraine headaches.
According to the American Council for Headache
Education nearly 3% of all men and upwards of 9%
of all women suffer from migraine headaches.
No. There are other forms
of headaches such as tension headaches, which
may actually be as severe as some migraines. The
following symptoms may accompany migraine
headache:
1
-
Intense pain, Frequently throbbing,
sometimes localized on one side of the head.
2 -
Sensitivity to light (photophobia).
3 - Sensitivity to noise.
4 - Nausea
5 -
Vomiting.
6 -
Disturbed vision.
7 -
Slurred speech.
Some of these symptoms may also be indicative of
other more serious conditions. If you are not
certain that you are a migraine sufferer consult
your physician.
The two most prevalent
types of migraine headache are migraines with
aura and migraine without aura, the latter of
the two being more common.
Most often a migraine aura
consists of visual disturbances such as flashing
lights, visual distortion, and spots before the
eyes.
Migraine headaches are often confused with sinus
headaches because migraine pain often occurs in
the sinus region.
If
your headache is caused by sinus blockage, such
as an infection, you will probably have a fever
or nasal discharge.
|
Migraine Risks and Prevention
Risk & Prevention
A recent
study published in the Journal
of the American Medical
Association (JAMA) suggests that
some patients with migraine with
and without aura are at
increased risk for subclinical
lesions in certain brain areas.
Brain lesions have been shown to
increase risk of stroke,
physical limitations and
cognitive impairment, including
dementia. The results of the
study suggest that patients with
migraine with aura and a high
attack frequency (one or more
per month) are at increased risk
of lesions. Additionally, women,
but not men, with migraine with
and without aura are also at
increased risk. In both groups
the risk increases with
increasing attack frequency.
Click to
read through
JAMA
article
A seperate
study published in the British
Medical Journal (BMJ)
demonstrated that migraine may
be an independent risk factor
for stroke. The magnitude of
this risk remained the same for
those suffering from migraine
with aura and migraine without
aura. Women who were users of
oral contraceptives have shown
that those with a history of
migraine have twice the
likelihood of developing an
ischaemic stroke compared with
those without migraine.
Click to
read
BMJ
article
Medication
Overuse Headache (MOH) is a
frequent headache caused by
overuse of medication,
particularly those that treat
migraine. Although evidence
suggests that frequent use of
analgesics may not cause MOH in
everyone, overuse of medications
by migraine sufferers is often
found to increase the frequency
of attacks. Studies have shown
that a number of medications may
cause MOH and that only by
discontinuing use of such
medications can the symptoms of
MOH be avoided. These
medications include:
-
Triptans
-
Ergotamines
-
Common analgesics such as
acetaminophen.
-
Opioids
-
Combination medications such
as
-
Butalbital compounds
containing aspirin or
acetaminophen,
butalbital and caffeine.
-
Vicodin
-
Other compounds
containing more than one
medication.
MigraSpray and the ingredients
within its proprietary
formulation have not been shown
to cause MOH and can be used as
frequently as necessary to
effectively prevent and treat
migraine. It is not known
whether MigraSpray is effective
for treating the acute symptoms
of MOH. A patient suffering from
MOH that continues taking
medications that may cause or
contribute to MOH may not
receive maximum benefit from
MigraSpray. In order to obtain
the best results it is
recommended that the migraine
sufferer begin using MigraSpray
and gradually decrease their
dosages of medications that may
contribute to MOH until use of
those medications has been
discontinued.
MigraSpray
was shown to be highly effective
in preventing migraine in a
study of patients suffering from
frequent migraines conducted by
Dr. Fred Pescatore, Director of
the Centers for Integrative and
Complimentary Medicine in New
York City and Dallas. The
participants in the study used
MigraSpray each day and
approximately 90% had their
migraine attacks eliminated as
long as they continued with
regular daily usage.
|
Migraine + Women
Migraine is a
significant
women’s health
concern. Each
year the lives
of millions of
women are
adversely
affected by
migraine pain
which often
times also
impacts the
lives of their
children,
families,
colleagues and
friends. Nearly
20% of women
have experienced
migraine pain at
some point in
their lives.
Women typically
experience their
first migraine
between 13 and
17 years of age
and following
menopause most
women cease to
suffer from
migraine pain.
But during these
valuable years
in a woman’s
life, migraine
causes
substantial
suffering and
disability and
gives rise to
great economic
and personal
burden.
Many experts
believe that
migraines are
caused, at least
in part, to
hormonal
fluctuations
including the
monthly rise and
fall of estrogen
levels. Sixty
percent of women
who suffer from
migraine
headaches report
an increase in
headache
frequency during
their menstrual
period.
Outside factors
may also be to
blame. Common
migraine
triggers include
stress; foods
such as
chocolate,
alcohol and
citrus fruits;
changes in
altitude,
climate or time
zones; bright
lights, physical
exertion and
even air
pollution.
Avoiding such
triggers is
generally the
first step in
preventative
care for
migraine.
MigraSpray can
be used on a
daily basis for
prevention in
order to
dramatically
reduce or even
eliminate
migraine
headaches
(including
menstrual
migraines) with
no risk of side
effects or
Medication
Overuse Headache
(MOH). To learn
more about
daily,
preventative use
of MigraSpray
click here.
|
|
|
|
|
