Migraine headaches: What causes them and how to treat them – taosnews

Flashing lights or zigzag lines appear in your field of vision. Perhaps you lose your peripheral vision or are not able to see at all. Your limbs may feel weak or like they dont belong to you. Speech may be slowed or impossible.

These symptoms are often followed by a feeling of nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and finally an intense headache on one or both sides of the head.

You may be having a migraine headache, which may then cause you to wonder: Why do some people get these painful episodes, while others do not? What distinguishes migraines from more typical headaches? And lastly, what can you do to treat them?

More than 37 million people in the United States, and about 1 billion people worldwide, suffer from migraine headaches, according to the American Migraine Foundation (AMF). At least one person in an estimated one out of every four households is impacted by the disorder, and one in eleven children experience migraines.

According to research published in Headache: Journal of Head and Face Pain, almost 15 percent of the population worldwide experiences some form of migraines. Even more people may be affected, as it is under-diagnosed.

In Taos County, with a population of 32,771 (U.S. Census 2021) that means there are close to 5,000 people here who suffer from migraines.

Migraine is an inherited neurological disorder that is characterized by over excitability of specific areas of the brain, according to the AMF website.

Although it is not fully understood what happens in the brain to bring on a migraine, people who are affected are more likely to be influenced by certain factors, called triggers. These can include bright lights, changes in the weather, allergies, smells, hormonal fluctuations, some foods, alcohol, caffeine, stress and sleep problems. Through tracking foods and other factors, some people are able to discover their triggers and work to reduce or eliminate them.

About one out of every three migraine sufferers experiences visual disturbances, including flashing lights, zigzag lines, or temporary loss of vision. A headache, nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound can follow (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke). Some who experience migraines become increasingly sensitive to triggers and may develop a pattern of chronic or even daily migraines.

What can you do about them?

Jamie Sampere, family nurse practitioner at Taos Whole Health Integrative Care, says that when people come to the practice with migraines, the first step involves looking at methods that avert the headaches at their onset. The triptan family of drugs is the first line of defense, explains Sampere.

These drugs, which include the medications sumatriptan and zolmitriptan, block pain pathways in the brain. If these medications arent enough to address the problem, she suggests that the patient see a neurologist to look more closely at the type of headache and potential causes. There are a lot of clinical trials because the condition is so common, Sampere says. There are injectable approaches including Botox that works because it helps relax the muscles near the jaw and diffuse tension that can trigger a migraine. Other drugs that may be used preventively include antidepressants, like amitriptyline.

In addition to medication, Sampere suggests looking at lifestyle to identify possible triggers, such as coffee, gluten, levels of activity and stress, time spent on electronics and family issues.

Consider lifestyle changes such as reducing stress and improving levels of activity to see if that can help alleviate symptoms, she recommends.

As Sampere notes, treatments that have been developed for other uses are also being used to address migraines. However, for the first time, a migraine-specific medication was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2018. Called Aimovig, this preventative treatment for adults with migraines is given by monthly self-injection. Aimovig is the first medication to be approved by the FDA from a new class of drug that works by blocking the activity of a peptide (a short chain of amino acids), which is involved in migraine attacks. Research has shown that the medication reduces the number of migraine days for many patients, according to the FDA.

To find relief from migraines, people also sometimes look to alternative therapies that can replace or be used in conjunction with medication and lifestyle changes. Although there are fewer clinical trials involving these types of therapies, some patients have found them to be effective.

Rob Hawley, co-founder of Taos Herb, explains that treating migraines is complicated. The causes are manifold, including hormones, food, chemical additives, stress, traumatic neck and head injuries, and vascular irregularities in the blood vessels," he said. "There is no single answer in complementary medicine to address all these different kinds of migraines, but there are a number of things worth trying.

Hawley emphasizes that it is important to work with your physician if you have migraines as they may be a symptom of an underlying condition. Additional causes to consider are food allergens, as well as airborne allergens, such as pollen and pet dander, among others. These can cause inflammation in the body, which can exacerbate many conditions. Looking at anti-inflammatory diets and adding healthy fats, like omega-3s, can reduce inflammation and lead to overall better health. Moderate exercise is also helpful but excessive activity can lead to an increase in inflammation. Reducing stress alone can lessen migraines.

Because tension in the neck can trigger a migraine in someone who is predisposed to get them, Hawley suggests stretching and massaging the neck and applying heat. Muscular tension can worsen if a person is dehydrated or has an imbalance in electrolytes, so drinking plenty of water is important.

Avoiding possible triggers, such as fermented food, wine, food additives and nuts like cashews may be worth exploring as well. Hawley explains that, along with complementary medicine, avoiding these triggers is a critical part of avoiding migraines. Certain lifestyle changes, like eating whole foods rather than sugary or processed foods, can make a big difference.

Hawley adds that increasing magnesium levels through supplements can help relax the muscles and reduce migraines.

Essential oils, such as lavender and sweet birch, when applied to the temples and back of the neck, can help soothe migraines as well, he said. But Hawley emphasizes that essential oils should be used in small quantities and kept out of the eyes.

Hawley also says that feverfew has aspirin-like qualities. Feverfew, in combination with butterbur, can be found in supplements like MigraEze at Taos Herb. With the availability of CBD oil, more people are using liquid preparations like Kinetic Gate CBD drops made in Taos and available at Cids and Taos Herb to treat migraines as they begin. Hawley points out that while CBD may have broad medicinal applications, there are not yet many studies that allow us to understand all of its components and its effectiveness. CDB does seem to reduce inflammation and pain in some people, says Hawley.

Acupuncture can also be used to regulate migraines, says Dr. Keith Christian, DOM at Taos Chiropractic. Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points in the body. These points have been mapped by Chinese practitioners over the past 2,000 years, according to the American Society of Acupuncturists. The effectiveness of acupuncture in treating migraines is supported by research reported by the National Center for Biotechnology Information in 2020.

Techniques like biofeedback, which involves monitoring body functions and learning to relax under stress, has shown promise in reducing the incidence of migraine headaches with 62 percent of patients in one study showing either a major or total improvement in the incidence of migraine. The researchers found that this method worked better than medication in reducing migraines, according to a 2010 study in Behavioral and Brain Functions Journal.

In the award-winning 2017 documentary film Out of my Head, health practitioners explore various healing approaches and recommend techniques like reflexology (which involves the application of pressure to the feet or hands), stress management, mindfulness and meditation and yoga as ways to help calm and regulate the nervous system.

The documentary reports that there are 113 million lost workdays per year in the US that results in a loss to the economy of $13 billion annually. Students sometimes have to miss school because of migraines. Anxiety and depression can also occur alongside migraines or serve as triggers.

Migraines are estimated to be the third most common disease in the world by the Migraine Research Foundation. But, with new medications, as well as lifestyle changes and alternative therapies, there is hope that migraines can be managed in such a way that those who suffer from them can lead healthier and happier lives.

Visit link:

Migraine headaches: What causes them and how to treat them - taosnews