Understanding Chronic Migraines & Treatment Options

It is believed that every type of headache has a similar underlying cause, including:

• Increased stress
• Inflammation
• Changes in neurotransmitter levels (e.g., serotonin)

Migraines may become more prevalent once an individual reaches his or her 30s. Migraines become worse when an individual is experiencing a stressful situation or during a period of transition (e.g., going away to college, starting a new job, etc.). Migraines tend to run in families as well. Since the majority of headaches are related to one another, natural headache remedies can keep migraine symptoms under control. These remedies include managing stress and eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. Abnormal neurological events related to changes in the body include blood flow, muscle functions, and nerve signaling.

There are numerous factors that can trigger a migraine, these factors include:

• Stress (feeling nervous, rushed and/or overly anxious)
• Brain stem dysfunction from a past illness or previous injury
• A lack of sleep
• Variations in the neurotransmitter levels and nerve signals, which leads to pain: Including low levels of serotonin
• Inflammation, which makes it difficult for blood to flow through the blood vessels and up to the brain
• Due to certain medications that affect the hormones, nerves and blood pressure
• Hormonal changes/imbalances (could be due to a poor diet and/or some other health condition)
• Genetic susceptibility – research indicates that 70 to 90 percent of people who suffer from migraines have family members who are afflicted with intense headaches as well
• Food sensitivities (eggs, peanuts and/or dairy)
• Magnesium deficiency – Magnesium is considered the ‘relaxation mineral.’ Without enough of it, migraines and headaches are common
• Vitamin B deficiency
• Melatonin imbalances – could be related to an individual’s sleep cycle
• Sensitivity to gluten (causes inflammation) – this protein is present in rye, barley, wheat, spelt and oats

Migraine symptoms are broken down into four stages: prodrome, aura, headache, and postdrome. These stages are designed to describe the transition from the onset of the symptoms and pain associated with a migraine through the intense periods of pain, finally reaching the point when the pain declines, but continues to linger.

The most common symptoms of a migraine:

• Nausea
• Upset stomach
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Irritability
• Severe pounding in the head – may occur on one side or both sides
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Dizziness
• Increased thirst
• Shakiness
• Blurred vision, seeing lines and shapes as well as flashing lights – these symptoms usually occur when the attack has just started
• Difficulty concentrating, speaking normally or carrying on a conversation
• Weakness or numbness in the neck or facial muscles

The conventional treatment for migraines involves the use of medications to reduce inflammation and decrease the pain level.

Some of the drugs frequently used to treat/control migraines include:

• Ibuprofen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Anti-anxiety/antidepressant medications (including beta-blockers, which alter the neurotransmitter levels)
• Triptan medications – used nearly exclusively for the treatment of migraines
• Anti-nausea medications
• Calcium-channel blockers
• On occasion, patients need anti-seizure medications to control their nerve signals
• Sleep medications
• Botox