| For the millions of migraine sufferers in the United | | | | without them running their course. This timeframe |
| States alone, any sort of migraine treatment is | | | | is limited to the first hour of the headache. |
| better than nothing. A migraine can come on with | | | | However, experts admit most migraine sufferers |
| or without any sort of noticeable trigger and stay | | | | do not want to bring on the unspeakable and |
| for hours or days at a time. The unspeakable | | | | convince themselves that they are only having a |
| throbbing in the head, sensitivity to light and | | | | tension headache. |
| sound, and debilitating consequences for daily life | | | | Once a migraine has started, several types of |
| lead to interesting perspectives on prevention and | | | | medication can be used to treat them. Over the |
| treatment. | | | | counter medications, such as Tylenol or Advil, |
| Traditional migraines can occur with or without an | | | | have helped some migraines while still others utilize |
| aura, meaning they can have (or not have) any | | | | other anti-inflammatory agents to treat migraines. |
| visual disturbances. Such visual disturbances include | | | | These medications focus on helping the body deal |
| blind spots, seeing colors, or shades of gray and | | | | with the pain of a migraine. New medications called |
| or black. An ocular migraine includes those types | | | | triptans provide the treatment of the blood |
| of visual "hallucinations" but they only occur in one | | | | vessels, which essentially helps to stop the |
| eye. The changes to vision are not permanent in | | | | migraine at its root cause. Such medications |
| either situation, but often send most migraine | | | | include sumatriptan, zolmitriptan, and naratriptan. |
| sufferers to medical clinics. Lewis Carroll, of Alice | | | | However, the triptan classification does not help |
| in Wonderland fame, cited migraine hallucinations | | | | with ocular migraines and could intensify the vision |
| as primary sources for the creation of the classic | | | | problems leading to vision loss. However, some |
| children's book. Migraines, with or without an aura, | | | | migraine sufferers do not feel comfortable always |
| occur because of changes in the brain's blood | | | | relying on medications to prevent or treat |
| vessel. Blood vessels swell, causing inflammation, | | | | migraines. Doctors suggest, and highly encourage, |
| which then constricts the blood vessels even | | | | patients to stay on a consistent schedule for |
| more. The optical changes noticed in traditional | | | | meals and sleeping; disturbances with those daily |
| migraines are because of the occipital cortex | | | | events could lead to more stress and/or |
| perceiving changes in vision due to blood vessels | | | | migraines themselves. Others encourage utilizing |
| and inflammation. With an ocular migraine, | | | | supplements such as magnesium, riboflavin, and |
| however, the visual changes occur in the retinal | | | | coenzyme Q10. However, they stress that |
| blood vessels, which are inflamed, and causing | | | | correct dosages should be maintained for at least |
| visual disturbances. | | | | three months before its intended effects can be |
| According to migraine experts, the most common | | | | perceived. Doctors suggest 500 mg of |
| triggers for migraine headaches include stress, | | | | magnesium, 400 of riboflavin (B-12), and 150 mg |
| lack of sleep, and skipping meals. Other triggers | | | | of coenzyme Q10. Other types of herbs have |
| include weather or altitude changes, pollution, | | | | anecdotal evidence of assistance in preventative |
| smells, any sort of sleep problems, and other | | | | measures; those include butterbur or feverfew. |
| senses, like lighting. Foods that include aspartame | | | | Doctors do warn that there are limited |
| or MSG (monosodium glutamate) also have been | | | | enforcement procedures of herbs; one brand |
| identified as triggers to migraines. Another large | | | | could be more potent than another, so doctors |
| trigger is smoking, as it constricts already small | | | | suggest caution and using a reputable brand name. |
| blood vessels. Migraines tend to effect women | | | | Still other migraine sufferers use acupuncture to |
| more so than men; estrogen increases the | | | | relieve migraine pressure and Botox, as its |
| chances of migraines, research states. However, | | | | primary usage is paralysis of muscles. Studies are |
| it is unclear how estrogen does this. Some | | | | being done to support the anecdotal evidence |
| women find that decreased levels of estrogen will | | | | suggested by Botox promoters. Doctors feel that |
| cause migraines while others say that too much | | | | ocular migraine patients could find sunglasses, |
| estrogen caused the problem. Many women find | | | | either simple or prescription, based on which |
| that their natural menses cycle will effect when | | | | wavelengths they seem to be having difficulties |
| their next migraine will occur. | | | | with. |
| Experts say that prevention is the easiest way to | | | | Despite the once widespread belief that migraines |
| deal with a migraine. This means identifying your | | | | were "just another headache" many advances |
| own pattern of migraine headaches and triggers. | | | | have been made to understand and treat the |
| Some experts prescribe or recommend | | | | source of the problem. As always, consult your |
| non-migraine medications daily in order to prevent | | | | doctor for your individual case before adjusting |
| migraine headaches. Doctors also state there is a | | | | your migraine treatment. Adverse side effects |
| distinct "window of opportunity" in which migraines | | | | should always be communicated with your doctor. |
| are starting and can be most easily treated, | | | | |