They are the heavyweights of headaches,
but there are ways to beat the pain.
We all know what it's like to have a headache. That dull throb that has you furrowing your brow, squinting at your computer screen and wishing you could be transported to a masseuse for some relief. If you think a headache is bad, imagine being one of the roughly five to 10 per cent of the population who suffer from migraines, an extreme form of headache.
In a recent attack, mother of two Katrina Wait's migraine hit while she was driving on the opposite side of town to her home with her two children, aged two and five, strapped into the back of the car. The first signs that Wait's migraine was coming on were strange flashes of light popping into her vision, a classic warning sign. Less than 10 minutes later, she was unable to handle the daylight streaming in through the windscreen and was forced to pull over.As she spoke with her husband over the phone, waves of nausea washed through her. He told her to wait until he came to get her, but the pain was too extreme. Luckily, a friend was able to collect the kids in 10 minutes and put Wait in a taxi.
Signs that it is serious
A headache is usually associated with muscle tension in the scalp and can come on as a result of stress, neck injury, neck muscle spasms, a cold or flu, a knock to the head, dehydration, sinus problems or teeth clenching. A migraine is a severe form of headache caused by the dilation, and later restriction, of the blood vessels on the scalp which supply blood to the brain. Dr Brian Morton, from the Australian Medical Association, says there are a number of classic signs that a migraine is about to hit and they don't occur during the onset of a headache.
"The most common warning signs that a migraine is coming on are the flashes of light that appear in a particular way before the initial headache; then nausea and vomiting; sensitivity to light and noise; and, finally, the patient needs to go to bed in a dark and quiet room, sometimes for a number of hours or sometimes for days at a time," he says. "A small number of migraine sufferers can also get symptoms that mimic a stroke, such as pins and needles, and weakness or numbness in the limbs, but it is rare."
Interestingly, the brain doesn't have any nerve endings, so a migraine is not actually pain from the inside of the brain. "The pain comes from the upper lining of the brain and mostly from the scalp," Dr Morton says.
What are the causes?
Excessive glare or dehydration can bring on a migraine, but in the vast majority of cases there is a genetic or hormonal factor. "The precipitants for a migraine and headache are the same, but the difference between which one you are inclined to get usually relates to the person's genetic predisposition," Dr Morton says. "If your parents suffered from migraines, then you are more likely to suffer from them too."
There is also a hormonal link. Migraines are common in women aged between 20 and 50, but stop once menopause sets in. "The hormonal element is thought to be due to the oestrogen drop around the time of a woman's period," Dr Morton says. Naturopath Amelia Joseph says research suggests that migraine sufferers have abnormal serotonin metabolism. "We know low oestrogen is a definite cause of migraines, but naturopathy also teaches that depleted serotonin causes the blood vessels in your scalp to constrict and dilate, which affects the surrounding nerves.
"It is important to look at lifestyle risk factors such as motion sickness, smoking, stress and sensitivity to certain medications and foods or colourings. Foods that may contribute include citrus foods, dairy, wheat, coffee, tea, eggs, yeast, shellfish, pork, tomatoes and the nitrate food group that encompasses red wine, cheese and chocolate."
What are the treatments
The doctor: Dr Morton says the medical community has acute treatments for the moment when a migraine strikes and longer-term preventive treatments.
Acute treatment involves the usual pain relief options such as ibuprofen, paracetamol and simple painkillers containing codeine.
"The current treatment of choice is the triptan group of pharmaceuticals, which work specifically for a migraine," he says. "Sumatriptan is a popular one, but it's important for migraine sufferers to look at preventive treatments."
For longer-term management, Dr Morton says there are three main drug groups that can prevent vascular changes in the scalp. They include beta-blockers, some special antihistamines and a new group of neuroleptic medications, of which Topamax is the latest.
"The beta-blocker Inderal has been around since the 1960s and is used for blood pressure, angina and heart disease, and has very good results in preventing migraines," he says. For women whose migraines are linked to their hormones, the contraceptive pill is effective. "Some women continue with the active pill tablets for three months so they only have a period roughly four times a year. By reducing the frequency of their periods, they reduce the number of migraines they experience."
The naturopath: Joseph says there are a variety of things that can be done to relieve the symptoms and address the cause of migraines, usually in the areas of diet, lifestyle and stress. Traditional western diets usually include large amounts of processed food, red meat and cheap vegetable oils that are high in omega-6s and cause inflammation in the body, she says.
"Fish oils and other foods that are high in omega-3s, like nuts and seeds, are crucial to counteract this inflammation," Joseph says. "This won't deal with the cause of theinflammation, but rather it manages the system by bringing it back into balance." She also recommends taking vitamin B2 supplements morning and night as well as magnesium, antioxidants and herbal mixtures.
A headache or migraine diary will help pinpoint your triggers. Take notes about when you get your headache and what you've eaten in the 24 hours leading up to that point so you can identify any patterns surrounding the condition. If a food allergy is suspected to be the contributing factor, Joseph says an elimination diet can have great results.
"The elimination diet requires the client to eliminate all suspect foods for two weeks before rechallenging themselves with one food group at a time over a period of six weeks. This can reduce the onset of migraines for 30 to 90 per cent of this group," she says. Regular stretching, yoga, massage, being outdoors, walking and low-impact exercise will all help, too. Serotonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland. It is lacking in people who experience high levels of stress or anxiety.
"Migraines relate to your crown energy centres, so if you're not getting relief from food elimination, yoga and fish oil, I'd consider disconnection as a possible cause," Joseph says. "If you're disconnecting with your purpose, then the part of your brain that produces serotonin will shut down, so you need to reconnect with something bigger than yourself again."
Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/
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