Friday, July 20, 2007

MIGRAINE HEADACHE

It was not unusual to see my friend Gwen, whom I often met, with a handkerchief tied tightly on her forehead and groaning in intense pain.Infact, she would keep tightening the band so hard, I wondered if it was the pain of the headache or the tight band that made her cry with pain. During such moments she would hate anyone coming to meet her and would always keep her room dark by pulling the curtains so that even a tiny ray of light would not enter her room as that, she said, increased the headache. This sort of headache which she usually suffered from is called Migraine headache, and one of the most common problems seen in emergency departments and doctor’s clinics. The best thing to do to relieve the throbbing pain, double vision and nausea is to lie down in a dark, quite room.

About 15% of the population suffers from Migraine and it is found that it is more common in women than in men. Migraines are due to changes in the brain and surrounding blood vessels. During a migraine attack, the temporal artery enlarges causing the nerves to release chemicals causing inflammation, pain and further enlargement of the artery. In some cases, these painful headaches are accompanied by a sensory warning sign, such as flashes of light, blind spots, tingling in the arm or leg and also nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. A migraine can last up to 72 hours if left untreated.

A number of things can cause or trigger a migraine. Stress, food especially alcohol; beer; wine; chocolates; fermented, pickled or marinated foods, certain canned or seasonings, skipping meals and even fasting can trigger a migraine. Changes in the wake-sleep pattern, physical factors even a sexual activity may provoke migraines. Hormonal changes, changes in the environment, sensory stimuli including perfumes, scent, bright light etc.

The typical symptoms that Gwen suffered during an attack was head pain with throbbing quality, nausea sometimes with or without vomiting, headache that worsened with any physical activity and also sensitivity to light and sound. All migraines are not the same. Some, who suffer migraine with auras which continue after the headache starts or even occur when the headache begins may see sparkling flashes of light, experience slowly spreading blind spots in the vision along with dazzling zigzag lines and also feel tingling pins and needles sensation in one arm or leg. Sometimes several hours or days before the actual headache strikes one may experience severe thirst, irritability or depression, drowsiness and craving for sweets.

Since I had read about home remedies, I told Gwen to try these before the onset of the severe headache. It is advisable for the chronic migraine sufferers to seek medical attention. Some natural home remedies are: Dipping a few cabbage leaves in boiling hot water making it soft, and as soon as they become cool, place one or two thickness on the forehead and the back of the neck, securing them with a scarf or bandage and relaxing as the cabbage draws out the pain. Another good remedy is making a fine paste of crusts of a lemon and applying it as plaster on the forehead. You can also bathe your feet in a basin or two plastic shoe boxes filled with very strong, hot, black coffee and also recommendable to drink a cup or two. Slowly inhale the fumes of a jar of strong mustard several times.

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