Migraine - The Killer Headache

The word migraine is a derivative of a Greek word meaning half of the head. Migraine has been the most common problem that we come across. Migraine is a painful neurogical (related to the brain) condition, of which the most common symptom is an intense episodic headache. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head and are often accompanied by photophobia (hypersensitivity to light), phonophobia (hypersensitivity to sound) and nausea.

Migraine which is a commonly faced problem is of various types. Familial hemiplegic migraine 'FHM' is a type of migraine with a possible polygenetic component. These headaches may last 1-3 days and are apparently caused by ion channel mutations. Patients who experience this syndrome have relatively typical migraine headaches preceded or are accompanied by reversible limb weakness on one side as well as visual, sensory or speech difficulties.

Abdominal migraine syndrome which is yet another type usually gives the patient migraines only felt behind and near the eyes. This variant of migraine has all the features of a regular migraine, except not only does the patient get a migraine, they get a stomach ache as well. These symptoms come at the same time and the stomach ache is described as feeling like a migraine in the abdomen. Abdominal migraine is most likely to affect children, and may present without any head pain at all.

Acephalgic migraine is a neurological syndrome. It is a variant of migraine in which the patient may experience nausea and photophobia. The only problem lies in the fact that acephalgic migraine does not cause headaches and so it cannot be detected easily.

There are two ways to approach the treatment of migraine headache with drugs: prevent the attacks, or relieve the symptoms during the attacks. Many people with migraine use both approaches by taking medications originally developed for epilepsy and depression to prevent future attacks, and treating attacks when they happen with drugs called triptans that relieve pain and restore function. Hormone therapy may help some women whose migraines seem to be linked to their menstrual cycle.

Stress management strategies, such as exercise, relaxation, biofeedback, and other therapies designed to help limit discomfort, may also reduce the occurrence and intensity of migraine