When Is a Headache a Migraine?

" far and away is the most common -- human affliction. And in the United States there are 28 million people who have migrant which is perhaps the most disabling form -- primary had -- Hippocrates describe the symptoms of migraine as far back as 400 BC. While centuries -- past and quantum strides in medicine have been made migraine is still turning some lives upside down."

" Migraine headaches tend to be. One sided throb and moderate or severe pain that's been made worse by routine physical activity is. And some people talk about had been anger headaches but all that refers to. You know quality of payments throb and and in fact. Drag migrant attacks the blood vessels become inflamed and violated. And in many people the Paulson or throbbing pain is actually coordinate with pulse is what's trigger in the pen. Who's the blood vessels Strachan every -- it's -- migraine attacks are always accompanied by something other than -- than people may have nausea sensitivity to light sensitivity to sounds. Some people have sensitivity to odors. -- 1%. Or visual display. That unusual or is an unwelcome light show that can accompany migraine. The most common kind of -- that visual aura which often consists of Scott so why -- zigzag lines or graying out -- vision. And and -- textbook case of or those features may begin and a small part of the visual world and and expand. To encompass a greater and greater part of the visual world."

" Experts can't really predict who it will strike although it does run in families. And it can even happen to kids who can have stomach pain with her headache."

" When children have abdominal migrant the diagnosis is very long delay because it just gets written -- it's got another episode of the flu it's something the -- Migraines don't last forever although it can feel that way. Migraine headaches last four to 72 hours on average untreated the last 24 hours. Treated it depends that you treatment as that they could last as wells and minutes on average migraine attacks occur once or twice a month. We also know that a wide range of factors can precipitate an attack it's important to note that. Triggers vary enormously from person to person and there's a very very long list of triggers including. That's very triggers chocolate is actually quite an important one. Oftentimes. Shift in body rhythms and the trigger traveling the high altitude can be a trigger as well. Some people and that. Travel and shifts and -- schedules too much sleep too little sleep. Following their metric pressure which is something that happens in anticipation of rainstorm a lot of the things that people notice they don't doctors -- doctors will think that. They're making. Foolish -- crazy connections. Hormones can also figure into sparking migraines which may explain why -- affects more women than men. Many women find that they get headaches the day before. Menstrual flow begins sort. The day that -- actually begins. And that -- we believe is in effect of estrogen withdrawal."

" So is there anything you can do to limit the amount of the attacks. You can pay close attention to fighting in avoiding triggers by keeping a daily -- people can."

" Headache -- typically I asked them to record when the -- began how -- it last what they took for it whether the medications work. And and I asked them to think back about the 24 hour period prior to -- icons that. To see if they can identify effective that it triggered panic. There are also medications that might prevent attacks those include. Beta blockers like Oprah and all Burton URL and calcium channel blockers like for happened now. Or cable and in addition anti depressants are sometimes used to prevent migrant taxes well. The new class of compounds for migraine prevention. -- called your mind the -- this is an idea which I think is correct that. People with -- have a sensitive. Or excitable -- And what they're module -- do is reduce the access electrical activity in the brain and and some fueled relaxation techniques can also help. Stress management plays a role particularly in people for whom stresses that triggers about feedback and cotton behavioral therapy. Are really quite useful."

" But -- a migraine strikes there are ways to manage the pain. And the answer could be as close as your morning cappuccino."

" Caffeine. Is well known to relieve migraine headaches. And is a common. Components. Combination of ingredient products that are used for migrant."

" Caffeine can constrict blood vessels which become inflamed during a migraine. So don't decide to suddenly go cold Turkey on coffee."

" Caffeine withdrawal. Can be a powerful trigger of migrant. And caffeine withdrawal as a major cause of weekend headache and people who would do that morning cup of coffee. What I recommend to patients is that they limit their use of caffeine on most days to. Just one cup of coffee a day. But that they use caffeine if it's effective for them as a topic comes on. Either in combination and -- A painkiller or in combination with what I was taking -- there."

" Yes painkillers. There is a high likelihood that you'll be needing one of votes."

" The nonspecific treatments are. Aspirin and acetaminophen and -- struggle anti inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen which got sold as Advil Motrin. And then combination medications. Which may include caffeine. May include sedatives. May include other compounds. On the specific treatment side. Mainstay and acute migraine treatment is now class of compounds called for attendance."

" Getting control over a migraine can be finding a way to regain control over your own life. Sort of underlying purpose is to give people the tools they need so they can manage their headaches rather than having their lives -- either addicts."