Do Not Confuse Migraine From Headache – There is a Difference
It is estimated that in the United States alone, thousands of people suffer from mild to severe cases of migraine attacks. Migraine is a neurological disease that can develop from a simple everyday nuisance to a serious health concern. Very few people who suffer from migraine attacks seek the help of doctors mainly because treatments for migraine headaches can be quite expensive. Below are just some of the known factors that can trigger a migraine attack.
1. Excessive intake of beverages with caffeine and alcohol
2. Fluctuations in menstrual cycle
3. Excessive smoking
4. Bright lights and loud noises
5. Changing sleeping pattern abruptly
6. Allergic reactions
7. Stress, be it physical or emotional
8. Changes in the weather
There are instances though when a migraine attack can occur for no reason whatsoever. To this, experts say that migraine occurs when a number of triggers in the environment are present. To determine the actual trigger for headaches, doctors advise their patients to keep note of the occurrence of the headache and migraine attacks and the possible trigger present when the attack occurred. Doing this practice will also help patients distinguish a simple headache from a migraine attack.
Many migraine sufferers think that all headaches that they experience are migraine attacks. What these people should know is that a migraine attack is not just a headache. Migraine cannot be easily cured by taking medications. To be treated properly, migraine need the expertise of a neurologist along with a series of treatments. It is a fact though that majority of the current treatments for migraine are not that effective.
You must know how to differentiate a migraine headache from a regular headache. You should not confuse one with the other. Below is a short guide to know if what you have is already a serious migraine condition or just a regular headache.
1. You feel nauseated. If nausea is involved then you know that what you are suffering from is already a migraine attack. Sometimes, vomiting also occurs. When this occurs, changes in body temperature also happens.
2. Intense pain. If the pain is unbearable already then it is most likely a migraine attack. Migraine involves recurring pain that occurs on one side of the head. The pain usually starts in the eyes and then goes down to the neck.
3. Defects in vision. If you are already experiencing disturbances in vision then it is already a serious case of migraine that you are experiencing. Visual defects come in the form of oversensitivity to light, temporary blindness and seeing flashing lights. Immediately go to a neurologist if you start feeling these symptoms.
You must understand that majority of the conventional treatments for migraines are not 100 percent effective. This is the reason why alternative cures are popular among many migraine sufferers. Acupuncture is one alternative cure that is said to have helped many sufferers in preventing headaches from further developing. The use of scents and incense has also proven to be helpful among other sufferers.
One thing about migraine attacks is that it usually follows a series of patterns. This is why many doctors advise patients to continuously take pain killers so as not to interrupt the cycle. A good way to lessen the duration of an attack is to try to ignore the pain.
