What Is Migraine?

Migraine is a severe headache caused by a disorder of the vascular system. It is largely an inherited disorder and in excess of 70% of patients have at least one parent who has the complaint but a migraine is no ordinary headache. At the onset of an attack the arteries in the scalp stretch and contract and cause an extremely painful, throbbing headache. Along with the headache comes a whole host of other symptoms such as visual disturbances (or ‘scotoma’), nausea, vomiting, numbness, trembling, unusual pallor or redness, speech difficulties and mood changes. When migraine occurs in children the headache may be less severe or not present at all. Instead the pain may be felt in the stomach.

Two types of migraine occur and these are 1) ‘classic’ and 2) ‘common’ migraine.

Classic Migraine

This kind of migraine occurs in 15-20% of patients and has two different stages, a stage known as the pre-headache stage and the headache phase. In the pre-headache phase visual disturbances are likely to occur. This is called scotoma and is temporary in nature. The vision may be blurred or exhibit increased sensitivity to light or you may have blind spots, brightly flashing lights or zigzag patterns across the field of vision.

Although alarming, these effects are a normal part of classic migraine and are caused by the high levels of a brain chemical called serotonin experienced during an attack. Blood flow to the brain is temporarily restricted as the blood vessels of the scalp are tightly squeezed.

You may also feel numbness, tingling or weakness on one side of the body and your speech may become slurred or otherwise impaired. You may also feel very cold or very warm. Stage one can from five minutes to an hour, peaking and then receding as the headache phase begins.

The headache stage starts when serotonin levels in the brain drop to very low levels and the blood vessels expand and become larger. The headache may be felt on both sides of the head in children but in adults is usually one-sided and felt around the eyes, over one eye or over one or both temples.

In children the pain may be felt over the eyes but to below the eye, the cheeks, nostrils, ears, jaw and the gums. This phase could last for few hours or even several days and is made worse by moving the head or jerking the body. There may be nausea or vomiting during this stage and aches and pains in the back and limbs or you may feel feverish with chills and heat over the forehead. Diarrhea or constipation may also occur.

Common Migraine

This type of headache is more common and 80% of sufferers will experience this type. Usually only head pain is experienced and there is no pre-headache stage. Generally there are pre-pain signals like being unusually talkative, mood swings or difficulty concentrating. Food cravings are common as is yawning. Remember that in children, throbbing abdominal pain may be felt instead of headache.

After a Migraine Attack

Once the headache starts to abate you will feel tired and drained and may need to pass a large amount or retained urine. Possibly the best thing to do once you are pain free is to sleep for as long as possible. It may take a few days to recover your energy and concentration but after that you will be completely unaffected by your migraine attack.

Treatment for Migraine

There are a few medications available that are used as a treatment for migraine but many people rely on more natural methods for relief. A mild analgesic or anti-nausea medication can be used but children under the age of twelve should never be given aspirin.

Ibuprofen is sometimes used as are the Triptans but these are not recommended for use in children. Always take any medication at the first sign of an attack as it won’t be effective once the stomach goes into gastric stasis. This stops absorption of the drug.

Medication isn’t always used, however, and the attack is often allowed to run its course with home nursing and comfort. If you feel you really can’t cope with your attacks, ask your doctor for more advice. There aren’t any preventative medications approved for use in children but propranolol is sometimes used. The use of daily preventative drugs in children is not recommended.

Other Therapies as a Treatment for Migraine

You may find biofeedback training or auto-hypnosis, meditation, yoga and relaxation techniques and acupuncture helpful. The goal is alleviating pain and controlling the vascular system. Always consult a specialist and have these therapies performed under medical supervision.

Biofeedback

Using electronic equipment to monitor and display the workings of your autonomic nervous system, a biofeedback practitioner tries to change the bodies pain response using a range of behavioral techniques. The heart rate, brain waves, temperature, muscle tension and blood pressure are all employed in an attempt to minimize pain. Flashing lights or noises provide clues to how well the biofeedback is working. The idea is to learn to control the way in which is body operates by means of concentration and visualization. Your doctor may be able to refer you to a biofeedback practitioner who offers treatment for migraine.

Clinical Hypnosis

The goal of clinical hypnosis is to provide help with managing triggers, eliminating psychological stress and to change how the body’s autonomic nervous system works. It is often focused on the circulatory system since it is believed that dilation of blood vessels can be stopped if the attack is still in an early stage. If this can be controlled the attack may be aborted. Hypnosis makes use of imagery and talk therapy where the body is instructed verbally to behave in a certain way. It can be learned in a half hour session but follow ups are needed to polish the techniques of speaking to the sub-conscious. This treatment for migraine may not be good for very small children.

Massage

Massaging the head and neck during an attack may provide relief but this must always be done gently to avoid causing further pain. Massage is a good way to relieve stress. Reverse the common massage practice and massage away from the heart to encourage blood flow back into the hands, and feet.

How to Cope with Migraines

Treatment for migraine is based on rest and inactivity. Take your medication at the first sign of an attack and go to bed in a quiet, dark room. Use a comfortable pillow to keep the head slightly elevated but relaxed. If you do vomit make sure you drink plenty of fluids. You probably won’t feel like eating and this is not a problem. Apply cold packs or a compress as a treatment for migraine especially to the temples and forehead for some relief. If possible, allow yourself to fall asleep.