Migraine
What it is
Migraine is not just a headache, it is usually a full-blown attack.
Symptoms are recurrent, with attacks coming on out of the blue and
lasting from several hours to several days.
Migraine without aura - or common migraine - consists of
a severe, throbbing, pulsating or hammering headache on one side,
usually with abdominal symptoms. These include loss of appetite, nausea,
vomiting, dislike of food, constipation or diarrhoea. 9 out of 10
sufferers experience this form of migraine.
Migraine with aura - or classic migraine - includes visual disturbances as well as any or all of the symptoms of common migraine. Vision can be distorted with shimmering or flashing lights, strange zig-zag shapes or blind spots. 1 in 10 sufferers get this form of migraine.
Cluster headaches - attacks occur in clusters every 12-18 months. Severe pain is felt around one eye, often at night, for 1-3 weeks. The eye looks red and watery with engorged veins. The nose may become blocked up on the same side.
The exact cause of migraine is not fully understood. Attacks seem to be linked to chemical changes in the blood vessel walls and nerve cells within the skull. The most important chemical involved is called serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5HT for short). Migraine headache occurs when blood vessels widen so that tissues become congested. Serotonin is in short supply during this phase.
Self help measures:
Try to work out what factors trigger your attacks and, where possible,
avoid them.
Common triggers include:
- stress or relief of stress (eg at the end of a long, trying week)
- physical fatigue or lack of sleep
- certain foods - eg cheese, alcohol - especially red wine, chocolate
- extreme emotions - eg anger, tension, excitement
- missed meals
- hormones eg menstruation, oral contraceptive pill.
Applying magnetic patches
Migraine can often be relieved by applying a magnetic patch to the
middle of the forehead. Once the migraine has gone, the patch may
be removed.
Magnetic patches can also be applied to acupuncture points over or near the site of pain, as shown on the previous page. Select the points which most closely relate to the site of discomfort.
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