You can not confuse migraine with a usual headache. More than four million Russians suffer from migraines, three of whom are women more than men. A migraine attack is a real nightmare. However, you can cope with this disease - experts say. About that such a migraine, symptoms, methods of treatment and will be discussed below.
Migraine itself is not a vicious circle. Even when we have the impression that the head is split in pain - everything is not so dramatic. This does not mean that the disease can be underestimated. On the contrary - one must make sure that the periodic headaches are not migraines. If so, you should start therapy and learn how to cope with attacks and attacks.
What is a migraine in general?
Although migraines are in many ways still a mysterious disease, we know, for example, that during an attack, changes occur in the cells of the brain. The agitated cells of neurons produce the release of neuropeptides, which cause painful inflammation in the blood vessels of the head. In its simplest form, it can be said that the pain is caused by the excessive expansion of these vessels. On the arteries of the brain, neuropeptides spread and irritate blood vessels through the pain receptors contained in them.
The attack usually lasts from 6 to 72 hours. This sometimes occurs several times a week, and sometimes every few months or even years. Migraine attacks (exceptionally short or stronger) always occur only on one side of the head. They can be accompanied by photophobia, nausea, vomiting. In about 20% of patients can anticipate an attack on the onset of a group of specific symptoms. It can be a blurred vision (zigzag line before the eyes, blinking), dizziness, numbness in the hands and feet, speech problems, irritability. These symptoms last for 30 minutes, and disappear before the onset of pain.
All the symptoms associated with migraine should be carefully studied, and it is even better to write down to accurately describe them later to the doctor. It is important to correctly describe the nature of the pain (dull pain, surrounding the entire head or one-sided, throbbing), how often it happens, what the patient has associated illness. An accurate diagnosis is important because it allows you to exclude serious causes of pain, such as meningitis, hemorrhage or swelling.
Where does migraine come from?
The tendency to migraine is hereditary - 70% of patients admit that this disease also torments other family members. The direct cause of the attack are the abnormalities mentioned above in the work of intracranial vessels and the release of pain transmitters in the brain. Seizures often occur in certain circumstances, such as noise, bright light, fluctuations in hormones (for example, before or during menstruation), weather changes, stress, fatigue. Can even affect the use of certain foods (for example, spicy cheeses, chocolate, meat), drinking alcohol, especially red wine. Promotes migraine attacks and the use of analgesics for relieving pressure, and sometimes contraceptive pills.
Medications are not evil
Do not wait with taking painkillers until the pain begins to explode. This drug works better when we take it at the beginning of an attack. Painkillers are designed to take into account the characteristics of the body and best deal with pain. The most effective and harmless drugs - acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen. If the pain is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, it is better to take, for example Aviomarin or Avioplant. Sometimes, painkillers are taken in the form of suppositories or injections. With frequent and persistent attacks, your doctor will prescribe medications specifically for multitasking surgery to combat migraine headaches. These are the so-called triptans. You can also try non-drug treatment methods: acupressure, aromatherapy, herbology.
What to pay special attention to
People suffering from migraines usually can recognize seizures before they suffer unbearable pain. Then it is necessary to act quickly, because the first moments that determine the approach of an attack, pass quickly enough. You can just skip the symptoms by going back to your daily activities. And then the attack will happen suddenly, you will not have time to prepare for it.
In combating attacks, sweetened drinks (juice, tea or coffee with a slice of lemon), light snacks, especially sweet ones (the attack can be caused by a drop in the level of sugar) will help. Before the onset of an attack, you better lie in a dark, quiet place and ask someone to massage your neck and the back of your head. You can rub a whiskey ointment from a migraine. On the forehead it is better to put a cold compress, hands and feet to keep warm under the blanket. You should also warn your neighbors that you need peace and quiet.
How to counteract migraine attacks
People who are prone to migraines, can counter attacks.
- Avoid stressful situations. If you are angry - try to defuse tension (for example, count to ten, breathe rhythmically.)
- Rest more often, relax and spend time with close people.
- Spend a lot of time outdoors (it's useful even to just walk along the street).
- Sleep only in well ventilated area. Do not go to bed late.
- Eat small portions, do not starve and do not overeat.
- Avoid prolonged stays in front of a TV or computer screen.
- If you smoke cigarettes - try to get rid of this habit.
- Do not drink alcohol (sometimes you can drink good wine, but only a small amount).
- Do not drink alcohol under any pretext after analgesics! Abuse can aggravate and sometimes cause migraine symptoms.
Botox Helps Cure a Migraine
British specialists thoroughly studied the question of what a migraine is - symptoms, several ways of treatment. Based on these data, scientists have developed a method for restoring and binding protein molecules, which opens up new opportunities for using botox to treat patients suffering from chronic migraine headaches. Botox also helps in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and cerebral palsy. Researchers from the Laboratory of Molecular Biology of the Medical Council of Great Britain hope that soon they will be able to create new forms of botulinum toxin, which will act as an anaesthetizing long-acting.
The recently developed method of separation and recombination of Botox molecules provides opportunities for a safer and more economical production of drugs based on it. As a result of the increase in drug molecules that are devoid of toxic properties, they will continue to work for four to six months. The first time doctors managed to curb the pain with migraines and other ailments. Doctors synthesized protein molecules, rearranging and combining them to create the basis for therapy, for which until now there was no possibility.
Botulinum toxin or Botox is increasingly seen as a therapeutic tool that helps alleviate pain, muscle tension and tremor associated with Parkinson's disease. In July 2010, Britain became the first country to approve botox as an adjuvant treatment for migraine headaches.