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Migraine Headache
Can you suggest some form of relief for migraine type headache for someone suffering gastro-intestinal upset. Thanks?
(19 Mar 2009)
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A migraine problem is characterized primarily by continuous headaches, and sometimes even affects vision and causes stomach upsets. While suffering from a migraine, a person usually feels intense pain in one side of the head. A migraine is thought to be caused by the dilation of blood vessels in the head.
It is therefore also referred to as a ‘vascular headache’, although this theory – that migraine headaches are the result of problems with blood vessels – is now disputed. It is different from a regular headache, which is caused by muscle spasms in the head and neck. When a person has a migraine he or she also experiences a feeling of nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and constipation. In many cases, these symptoms are preceded by others such as numbness in certain parts of the body, and visual distortions such as flashing lights and blind spots. Once the headache starts, it lasts for several hours, and in some cases it can last for up to two and three days.
The causes of migraine are not fully understood, but there is strong evidence that heredity plays an important role. In addition, allergies seem to play an important role, along with some common triggers such as menstruation, stress, and even the weather. The main cause however seems to be problems with the way the brain functions, and all other causes seem to be merely triggers.
However, since there is as yet no clear evidence or understanding of how migraine attacks occur, the main course of action involves trigger avoidance and symptomatic treatment. Trigger avoidance of course requires you to keep track of all the possible causes of your migraine attacks, and then try to avoid them as far as possible. Identifying triggers is very difficult, and one technique that can simplify this task is maintaining a diet journal. Keep track of what you eat for each meal, every single day, and note down exactly when your migraine attacks appear. Eventually you should be able to notice a pattern in which the headaches can be linked to specific foods. Other triggers such as menstruation and changes in the weather are easier to identify, but are beyond your control.
Whenever the headaches do occur, you can take mild over the counter medications such as paracetamol, aspirin, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Gastric problems usually involve nausea and vomiting, and for this you can take an over the counter anti emetic. If you have more severe gastric problems, you should consult your doctor.
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answered by G R on 19 Mar 2009, 1:08:20
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