Sunday, September 27, 2009

Medication For a Migraine Headache

I simply can't stand a migraine headache.

This is something with which all those who are affected by migraines will agree with me. It is of course an instinctive and natural reaction to wildly look for almost anything to relieve us of our misery.

When I used to get a migraine, I desperately look for some kind of migraine headache medication, and started using anything that my doctor prescribed me, of course starting with aspirins and other commonly used migraine headache medication.

Well relieving pain is important, but most of us want the kind of migraine headache medication that gets rid of the headache, don't we? My migraine headache kept on coming back again and again, and I felt as if every moment of my life was being spent in constant torture.

I wanted to get rid of my migraines for good, no matter what migraine headache medication could do it and wanted to completely control my migraine. For that several migraine medication courses were suggested to me by my doctor one after the other.

Why several?

Because most of them completely failed to make any difference, and what is worse, many of them even caused my health to deteriorate even further. The medication only worked to the extent that they could hide the symptoms temporarily, but never treated my migraine completely.

In fact a lot of medication that people use during a migraine is not meant for migraine in the first place. From some very bad personal experience, I find it my duty to advise all migraine patients to stay away from so-called medication that is supposed to treat migraines.

Medication Does The Opposite

The medication suggested for migraine does nothing else but destroys the immunity in your body, which further exposes your body to diseases and health risks. And of course, there is no need to mention how dangerous their side effects can be. Since we are already in quite a miserable condition suffering from migraine, why further ruin any chances of recovery whatsoever? Instead, you should try to control and treat migraine through safe and natural means.

Two Steps To A Migraine-Free Life!

The only way to beat your migraines is to know everything about them and how they affect you. Check out the Migraine Relief Mini Course.

Just knowing your enemy isnt enough, you need to be equipped with the best. The best for migraine relief would undoubtedly be Migraine Relief Solution, a guide that is guaranteed to give you a migraine free life!

I hope to see you soon with a migraine-free life!

Friday, September 25, 2009

You Can Treat Migraine Headaches Naturally With Acupuncture

Migraine sufferers will turn to almost anything to relieve migraine pain. Many have found relief and have learned to treat migraine headaches naturally by using the ancient Chinese medicine of acupuncture. Many have found long-term relief from their migraines by working with an acupuncturist who specializes in headaches. These specialists do an individualized assessment of the patient to create a treatment plan to treat migraine headaches naturally. Many migraine sufferers who chose this type of alternative treatment for their headaches often experience significant relief from their suffering for a long period of time. In many cases, the migraines do not reappear.

Using acupuncture to treat migraines requires that small sterile needles be inserted in various areas of the body. Once inserted into specific points on the body, the needles correct the flow of energy known as Qi, improving the body's circulation of energy which then works to eliminate a headache, as well as prevent the migraine headaches from reoccurring. It is estimated that more than 28 million Americans experience migraines each year, and it is one of the main reasons people seek medical attention, including the use of alternative therapies such as acupuncture. Acupuncture has become a well-accepted alternative solution for migraine sufferers and has significant medical support showing that the use of acupuncture as a natural remedy for migraine headaches reduced the frequency of the headaches as well as the intensity of the migraine headache pain.

Migraines headaches can be debilitating, causing migraine sufferers to feel tired and weak long after the migraine has subsided. These headaches adversely affect the quality of life and unfortunately there is no cure. However, either through the use of conventional treatment and medication or the implementation of alternative therapies, relief from migraine pain is available.

It is possible to treat migraine headaches naturally. If you are tired of taking potentially harmful drugs for your migraine headaches and would you like to discover how to treat migraine headaches naturally and eliminate the pain, be assured that there are many different natural migraine treatments available today that are both safe and effective. Many migraine sufferers have turned to alternative therapies not only to stop the pain, but to prevent headaches from reoccurring. If you suffer from migraine headaches and are frustrated with conventional treatment, then visit Treat Migraine Headaches to learn about alternative therapies and treatment for migraine headaches that may provide relief and help prevent future migraine attacks.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Imitrex and Chronic Headaches

An Interview with Dr. Allan Bernstein, Neurologist

Dr. Bernstein - The answer is that it is both. It is very expensive. So there is some plain old economics involved. The second part is there is a real tendency to overuse it. When you do get relief using Imitrex, it is so dramatic that the tendency is to want to take it every time a headache threatens. People with headaches have been taught to take it at the first sign of a migraine. They have been told once a migraine is full blown, nothing is going to help. So the thought is "this headache is going to be a migraine", fear of migraine becomes an issue. There can be a tendency is to take Imitrex immediately, at the first sign of headache even if the headache is not migraine.

The other problem is it is a pretty potent vasoconstrictor. People talk about chest tightness and changes in blood pressure, all of which are transient; but there is a hypothetical risk of heart attacks and strokes. Now, we haven't seen this a lot, given how long it has been on the market and how many millions of doses have been used. It does appear to be a pretty safe drug. But frequent use raises questions about risk. Part of the answer to the question is the cost, part of the answer is potential risk and part of it is you may be treating the wrong headache.

One of the things we try to focus on is getting people to identify which headache is which.

A MIGRAINE is NOT A DAILY HEADACHE.

It is by definition an episodic event. Migraine headaches occur once a month or once a week, but generally not every single day. People who are using Imitrex 15, 20, 30 times a month may be treating their fear of migraine as much as they are treating migraine. They may be treating the wrong headache. They may be treating tension headaches or headaches related to neck tension; and in that case Imitrex is probably the wrong drug. There are better ways to treat tension headaches and headaches related to neck tension, such as The Natural Headache Relief Program.

Trainers - What you just said is really an important piece of information, about which people do not seem to be aware. In the Internet newsgroups where people are discussing headaches, they talk about "migraine" headaches and seem to be assuming all bad headaches are in the migraine category. What you are saying is imperative, because using Imitrex may not achieve the desired result. The tendency is for people to think Imitrex is the ultimate answer for all types of headache and it may not be the answer for their current headache pattern.

Dr. Bernstein - People will come to see me after they have seen 5 other doctors even other neurologists. Where I find the problem often has been, is that the patient uses the term "migraine", and the doctor accepts the term without trying to sort out whether or not other types of headaches are present and distinguish the migraine from the non-migraine headache. People with migraine can have other types of headaches as well.

Trainers - Yes we have noticed that just about any really painful, serious or bad headache is automatically termed a migraine.

Dr. Bernstein - Yes, a bad headache is often called a "migraine" on TV. The "Excedrin commercials" discuss severe headaches as if they are all migraine. It is similar to the old sinus medicine commercials where the sinuses are throbbing. The inference was that the "Headache goes away when you squirt this medicine in your nose" or "take this tablet to relieve sinus headache". Any throbbing headache was in the category of "Oh it's my sinuses", which is another misused term. Very few headaches are sinus headaches. There is a tendency in the media to talk about migraine without defining what migraine is. Also, overuse of some of non-prescription medications can cause rebound headaches.

Trainers - Does Imitrex cause rebound headaches?

Dr. Bernstein - Probably, there are people who take Imitrex everyday who develop headaches when the Imitrex wears off. So, then you have to go back and ask are they taking Imitrex for the right headache and when the Imitrex wears off do they then take two Excedrin or three Tylenol. Patients don't always report to their physician how much non-prescription medication they take. They always talk about how much Imitrex they are taking but may not realize how important it is to report non-prescription medication.

Here is a typical scenario:
Patient- "My Imitrex is down to three a week."
Doctor- "So that's great, what are you taking in between?"
Patient-" Well, I just take Excedrin."
Doctor- "How much Excedrin?"
Patient- "Oh, I take two".
Doctor- " How often do you take two?"
Patient- "Every three hours".
Doctor- "That's 16 a day".
Patient- "Yeah, that's about right. I take it everyday. I get up in the morning and I take it, as long as I keep taking it I'm okay. Then every now and then I really get nauseous and vomiting and I take my Imitrex."

Something is wrong....what's wrong with this picture? This person was sent by a neurologist who was treating their "migraine" and had gotten her down to three Imitrex a week which is still a lot. But she still had daily headaches. Nobody discussed the use of non-prescription medicine, and this is often not in the medical records and patients generally don't volunteer this information.

Trainers - Are there other medications like Imitrex?

Dr. Bernstein - There are 3 other medications in the same chemical family as Imitrex, triptans. There's Maxalt, Zomig,and Amerge. Amerge is slower in onset but a much longer acting drug than Imitrex. Amerge may have a physiological effect two to three times as long as Imitrex. So, for people who tell you they get a three day headache once a month, Amerge may be a better drug. Imitrex works very quickly but wears off very quickly. Maxalt and Zomig are in the middle, with a relatively fast onset but they last about twice as long as Imitrex. So more and more we are getting away from using Imitrex due to the availability of longer acting drugs and are using more Maxalt, Zomig and Amerge.

Trainers - How about tolerance to the triptans. Do people show tolerance if they are taking a lot of triptans on a regular basis?

Dr. Bernstein - There are people who start using Imitrex and tell you it works great, then tell you 6 months later it doesn't work anymore. You always wonder if they are overusing it or are they getting rebound headaches from other drugs such as Excedrin or Tylenol or are they taking it for the wrong headache. But does it wear off? I think it does become less effective if used too frequently. I think all the triptans are very good drugs for episodic headaches. For twice a month headaches, even if they are three day headaches each, they are wonderful drugs...if you take them twice a month. If you are taking them multiple times a week you are in trouble, you may need to look for alternative treatments.

Home Remedies For Migraines - Top 12 At-Home Remedies For Fast Migraine Pain Relief

Any migraine sufferer is familiar with the symptoms of painful head throbbing that is typically accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Although the causes are varied and people suffer migraine pain to different extents, one of the most common causes is a change in the level of serotonin, a chemical found in the brain. When the level of serotonin falls, blood vessels in the brain will swell.

Home Remedies For Migraines - Migraine Pain Relief

Abortive and preventative therapies are the two categories of treatments for migraine sufferers. Headache relieving medications are used in abortive therapy, and alternative and natural remedies are used in preventative therapy.

Chamomile Tea

Drinking chamomile tea drank at the first sign of a migraine can help prevent it.

Vervain Tea

Vervain tea is commonly used to provide relief for premenstrual migraines. But it can also be used to relieve the pain of regular headaches.

Lavender Oil

Just add a quarter teaspoon of pure lavender oil to a cup of hot water for migraine headache relief.

Basil Oil

Insert a couple drops of pure basil oil into boiling water. Then inhale the steam. Or, you can add fresh basil leaves to hot water and drink as a tea.

Lemon Rind

To put lemon rind to use, just grab a dried rind, add a little water, and pound it down into a paste. Then apply this paste to the forehead.

Eucalyptus Oil

Rubbing a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil onto the sinus area at the first signs of a migraine will help to prevent the symptoms from getting worse.

Rosemary Herb

Boil some water with a fistful of dried and fresh rosemary herbs. Then inhale this steam for up to ten minutes for fast migraine pain relief.

Vegetable Juice

A combination of beet, cucumber, and carrot juice has been reported to relieve the pain of migraines.

Hot and Cold

This technique has you placing an ice pack on your head as you place your feet in hot water at the same time.

Massage

This technique involves massaging the back with a mixture of eucalyptus, peppermint, and lavender oil. Then massage around the base of the skull with this same mixture. This helps relieve the feelings of nausea.

Yoga

Yoga is mainly a preventative technique that focuses on stress reduction, mind relaxation, and helping the body cope with sensory overload. Yoga techniques can be used when the sensations of a migraine attack first strike. However, if the attack is severe, many doctors warn against such practices.

Acupressure

This non-invasive technique involves applying pressure to certain areas on the body. This pressure is supposed to stimulate healing mechanisms in the body. The areas on the body where pressure is applied are called "energy points". An all-over massage of the head using this technique helps to reduce the intensity and frequency of migraine attacks.

Other home remedies for migraines include getting regular exercise and eating a healthy diet.

If you'd like to learn about a quick, safe, and natural method for PERMANENT Migraine Headaches Relief, all you have to do is visit http://migraineheadachesrelief.blogspot.com.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

The Link Between Vitamins and Migraine Headaches

During the course of many studies into the cause of migraine headaches, there have been a lot of possibilities that could explain what triggers these horrible and extremely painful headaches. Recent research suggests that there may be a link between these headaches and vitamins. It is often difficult to prevent migraines, mainly because it is hard to pinpoint what the cause is. Different people experience different problems and triggers. It is now believed that there are certain vitamins that can help in the prevention of migraine headaches.

The typical migraine headache is usually a type of vascular headache. This means that it is caused by a change in the blood vessels, usually enlargement, as well as a chemical added that is released by the surrounding nerve fibres. This process is known as vasodilatation, and is common in many people who have these chronic headaches.

Most migraine headaches start with a dull throbbing sensation. While this is not usually that painful, it is rather annoying. Most people who have frequent migraine headaches will tell you that this dull throbbing does not feel like any other headache and warns them of the impending massive pain to come.

From the dull throbbing the migraine progresses into a pain that pulsates almost like an electrical current. It is then felt all over the head, instead of one specific location. Through the course of this progression you are likely to feel some nausea. As the condition worsens you will develop a heightened sensitivity to light and sound, and it will feel like exposure to these only makes things worse.

The research into the effect that vitamins play in the prevention of these crippling headaches has shown that some people respond well to vitamins like magnesium, B2, and riboflavin. Our bodies cannot make these vitamins, but need them even down to the cellular level. In some cases, people who suffer from migraines suffer from lower levels of these vitamins which results in the headaches. Supplementing with these vitamins can rectify the issues.

However, finally, relief is in sight, Click HERE to read about a superb effective new cure for migraine. If you suffer from these crippling headaches, you owe it to yourself to read about it at Cure For Migraine

Some Effective Home Remedies to Treat Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches can be painful and often make it impossible to function. In most cases, treating a migraine is unsuccessful, but learning how to prevent migraines can be much more effective. It is important that you learn some of the things that cause migraines to occur so that you can understand how to prevent them, but in some cases these triggers don't always apply to your situation, and then it is more about how to get rid of the migraine that you have.

You can find a lot of products that you can purchase without a prescription, and there are many prescription migraine medications that are available. The problem is that most of these products don't really work all that well, not to mention they can be rather costly. In these cases there are a few home remedies that may help you.

Aromatherapy is one home remedy that may help you. There are certain scents that can actually combat the symptoms of a migraine headache. Peppermint and rosemary oils can be added to bath water. They can help reduce the pain of a migraine headache. Lavender and sweet marjoram can be used to help relaxation and worry.

There are also certain kinds of food that can help reduce the occurrence of migraine headaches. If you tend to indulge in chocolate a little too much, it may cause extra migraines. Increase the amount of fruits, grains, and vegetables that you eat.

Caffeine is another home remedy that you can use to treat migraine headaches. There are some migraine relief pills that you can buy that have caffeine in them as the active ingredient. There isn't usually enough caffeine in one dose to help. Try drinking a cup or two of coffee or tea. Make sure that the coffee and tea are caffeinated.

Finally, there is a superb effective new remedy for migraine. If you suffer from these crippling headaches, you owe it to yourself to read about it HERE

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eileen_Davies

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

What Are the Typical Symptoms of Atypical Migraine?

Well, first let me ask a question. What is the toughest question you have ever got?

To me, as a migraine doctor, the toughest question I ever get is when the migraine sufferer or one family member drag me to a corner and ask the following question secretly "I have checked the internet, I found a typical migraine should have these symptoms, I do not have this one, do I have an atypical migraine?"

Well, thanks to the Internet, the medical literacy did increase a lot, at least the patient is sober enough not bringing the Dr. House question to me.

Let us made it clear, so long you still have a headache, what you get is more or less a TYPICAL migraine.

Atypical migraine is usually referred as a silent migraine, which means this migraine attack do not have the symptom of the headache. In this situation, the sufferer have all the other symptoms of a typical migraine, including nausea, sensitive to light and noise, and it is usually the aura before those symptoms give us the hint that they may have an atypical migraine which involves certain kind of neurology problems.

There are also some cases involve abdominal pain and facial pain also considered to be an atypical migraine. Due to the same reason, an atypical migraine is hard to diagnose, because of the lack of headache, it is hard for the doctor to reach the right conclusion while the sufferer was describing.

The good news is there is no evidence indicating that an atypical migraine could cause permanent damage. And, the regular treatment of typical migraine also works on the atypical case.

The point I would like to strengthen is before you took any migraine meds, you should really try some migraine natural cure methods. It is unclear of the side effects of certain migraine meds.

For those sufferers who depends heavily on their computer doctor. I would like to strongly recommend the migraine natural cure first, if the traditional migraine treatment works, there is no need to go to the doctor and ask for special meds treatment. It did save you time and a lot of money.

This article was provided by Josh Goodall who helped set up Migraine Natural Cure , where you could find more information on migraine headache remedy .