MI

 GRAINES




Ian Lloyd
Pharmacist
Peoples Pharmacy

.....More than just a pain in the head, migraines can be very debilitating for those affected by them. Unfortunately, people may not know when and why their migraines emerge. This month I will try to explain why migraines occur and how to help treat or prevent them.
.....I will also discuss other types of headaches.
.....What causes a migraine and why does it hurt so much? The exact cause of migraines is not known but researchers have a few ideas. One theory involves a three-step process. The first step is referred to as “initiation”; in this step something begins the migraine chain of events. It could be stress, food allergies or other triggers. During the second step, called “prodrome”, the body responds to these triggers by releasing blood vessel constricting substances. This causes a reduced blood flow in certain parts of the brain. It is believed this blood-flow reduction may cause the ‘aura’ that is experienced before a migraine headache attack. The third or “headache” step is where your body responds to this reduced blood flow by causing rapid blood vessel dilation. This increased blood flow might cause the pounding sensation that is felt during a migraine. This is a very simplified version of
what it is thought to happen. The process of trying to condense an entire theory, which is written in medical science-speak/nonsense, into real English, makes my head hurt.
.....What are the symptoms of a

migraine? They are not very pleasant. Other than the severe throbbing pain, they may include sensitivity to light and/or noise and nausea and/or vomiting. When should you contact your Doctor about your migraine? These are a few warning signs that should cause you to seek urgent medical attention:
• A very sudden headache “thun- derclap”
• A headache after a blow to the		 head
• A headache with other seemingly
unrelated symptoms, such as:
numbness, vision changes,
slurred speech, unusual confusion or weakness.
• A very different type of headache than usual
• A headache with symptoms of fever, stiff neck, drowsiness, vom iting and confusion.
.....Are there any home remedies that work for migraines? Sadly there are few that work, that is why the focus is on prevention. Avoidance of migraine triggers is essential; if you get them frequently it is best to keep a journal. In this journal you should record, what you eat and when and your overall health state (were you tired, under a lot of stress, etc.) Often keeping a journal will provide a migraine pattern, with this pattern you can learn what your triggers might be. Some of the most common dietary triggers are alcohol, especially wine, aged cheeses, caffeine withdrawal, chocolate, MSG, shell fish and cow’s milk. Health factors that can trigger migraines include stress, hormonal fluctuations, weather changes and bright lights.
.....Over the counter anti-inflammatory medicines can
 

WHERE PEOPLE COME FIRST ../hr98sept/PDM%20LOGO  WHERE PEOPLE COME FIRST