Migraine Headache Treatment
A migraine headache is what is known as a vascular headache. Vascular headaches are caused by the dilation of the blood vessels, in particular the temporal artery that lies under the skin in the temple region of the head for migraine sufferers. The pain is initiated by the nerves that are wrapped around the veins and arteries that then in turn affect what is called the sympathetic nervous system which is the way that the whole body reacts to certain stimuli. The affects of this can be dramatic and can affect a number of different systems within the body in different ways, usually including nausea, numbness, dizziness, faintness and sensitivity to light and sound to name a few causes.
There does not exist a single, effective cure for migraine headaches as migraine symptoms and possible causes may differ greatly between patients, therefore a doctor will make a detailed diagnosis of the specifics of the condition before prescribing medicines.
One of the best and most frequently prescribed therapies are actually non-medicinal ones. The reason for this is that chemicals are generally bad for a person’s body and therefore any lifestyle, dietary, environmental changes that can be made should be first in an attempt to reduce migraine intensity or frequency. It is also possible that these are the root causes for triggering a migraine attack, therefore taking a holistic view and tackling it on all fronts is the best course.
If you’re considering a lifestyle change to better yourself the basic preventative measures to be used are the same for every person. Being regularly well rested and avoiding a number of food stuffs such as foods high in tyramine (strong flavored cheeses) and sulphates (wine – especially red wine) as well as nitrates (nuts and seeds as well as processed meats) can help substantially. Smoking should also be stopped, as should any drug usage (recreational or otherwise). Patients should also make sure to drink a lot of water to maintain hydration and exercise at least relatively frequently. All of these measures will help to prevent the onset of a migraine headache, and though they may not necessarily prove a reliable cure they can at least help reduce both frequency and severity.
A more traditional alternative headache remedy for migraine headaches have also been tried and that helped many sufferers, including massage, acupuncture and herbal remedies, especially those that are linked with stress reduction have show positive results.
