Migraine causes

The causes of migraines remain unknown but it is believed that inflammatory factors, triggered by hypersensitivity to food, environmental factors and others play a large role. The inflammation is brought about by nerves in the head (like the trigeminal or fifth cranial nerve) that have their endings in the blood vessels of the brain, leading to blood vessel dilatation and pain. Most of the time, nothing is found. In other words, medical science has not yet elucidated the causes of migraines. Some research suggests chronic viral infections or genetic factors but none of the hypotheses are yet proven. Many migraines sufferers are believed to have complex genetic abnormalities which are inherited although a very small group of patients is indeed known to be afflicted by inherited specific mutations on a single gene.

Migraine diagnosis.

The diagnosis of migraine is based on a clinical and neurological examination. Neuroscientists have developed scoring systems for each symptom to arrive at a diagnosis. Typical symptoms include the type of head pain such throbbing, duration of the headache, presence of nausea, sensitivity to light, noise, worsening of the pain with head motion and others. Migraines generally begin in childhood to early adulthood. While migraines can first occur in an individual beyond the age of fifty, advancing age makes other types of headaches more likely.

Migraine Dangers

Patients with a history of a first bad headache, worst headache ever, or where there is a significant change in headache or symptoms like visual or hearing or loss, focal weakness, focal numbness or fever may need additional tests. The tests may include blood testing, brain imaging or a spinal tap. This is necessary to exclude other dangerous conditions underlying a migraine-like headache.

Migraine Treatment

Migraines are not curable. However, substantial migraine relief can be achieved. The treatment of migraines includes two simultaneous approaches. The first is administration of a prophylactic treatment aimed at reducing the frequency and severity of the headache pain. Most patients encountered on a neurological clinic were never placed on these types of medications. There are many kinds of prophylactic medications. Most of them are individually selected. These types of medications are taken every day. One important aspect of this treatment is that no drug is effective one hundred percent of the time and studies show that it is impossible to predict which drug will work better. Therefore, several types of prophylactic agents may have to be tried till the best one for a particular patient is found. Understanding of this concept and patience to work with your doctor is key to success and headache relief. The second type of treatment is the use of abortive medications (used to stop a headache right on its tracks). This type of medications include ALL type of pain killers, from ibuprofen to narcotics, DHE, non steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs), the tryptans like Imitrex, Zomig, Axert and many others you see advertised on TV. The most important concept to be learned by the patient is that taken abortive medications more than twice per week will generally worsen the headaches. In fact, half of the headaches seen at a neurology clinic have been worsened already by the overuse of analgesic drugs. If you have this problem, your neurologist will devise a treatment for headache relief.

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Notice: This article is for educational purposes only and not to be used to diagnose or  treat migraines or headaches. You should consult your health care provider if you have any questions or desire treatment. You can also contact our Clinics by calling us (832-448-0706) or by requesting an appointment on line (see above).


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