MIGRAINE

Migraine is the commonest cause of recurrent, severe headache. The tendency to suffer from migraine has a genetic basis, but individual attacks may be triggered by internal or external influences, or simply come by themselves for no apparent reason.

The name ‘migraine’ originally comes from the Greek word hemicrania, meaning ‘half of the head’, representing one of the most striking features of the condition: that in many cases pain only affects one half of the head. However, pain is felt bilaterally, at the front or the back of the head, more rarely in the face. The pain is generally throbbing in nature, and typically made worse by any form of movement or even modest exertion.

The pain of migraine is typically accompanied by other features such as nausea, dizziness, extreme sensitivity to lights, noises, and smells, lack of appetite, disturbances of bowel function, and so on.

It’s not clear exactly what causes migraines. According to one theory, it has something to do with inflamed blood vessels in the brain. Stress is often an important factor when it comes to pain. An irregular eating and sleeping schedule can increase the likelihood of migraine attacks too.

There are two main types of migraine: migraine without aura ,and migraine with aura.

MIGRAINE WITHOUT AURA

Formerly called common migraine, the diagnosis of Migraine without aura is suggested by a history of episodic disabling headache lasting between a few hours and a few days, accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms or by heightened special senses.

MIGRAINE WITH AURA

In Migraine with aura, formerly called focal or classical migraine, the aura evolves over time, usually many minutes; one aspect of the aura improves while another is deteriorating. Visual aura usually leads to easy diagnosis. Auras affecting sensation, movement, cognition, vestibular function, or consciousness. People presenting with aura may usually had a history of migraine without aura for longer time. Aura is not always contralateral to pain. Migraine aura without headache is common, especially in middle age.

DIAGNOSIS

Accurate history taking is vitally important in the diagnosis of migraine. It is important to give patients time to describe their attacks fully, about the pattern of the pain, including when, and how headaches begin; whether they are continuous, episodic or (as is often the case in chronic migraine) continuous with episodic exacerbations; the duration of episodes or exacerbations; and if there are any triggers or exacerbating factors etc.

Migraines are easily curable with classical homoeopathy treatment and rapid recovery of the patient is assured.