STAY WELL & SPARKLE  –  Migraine Headache

migraine black female“E toh fehyah! (She too lazy!) Is she alone dat getting headache den?!” You may have heard them casting such remarks. “I get headaches too, but I do what I have to do! I doh understand that!”

The fact is one headache is not like the other. At some point, the vast majority of us have suffered a tension or cluster headache associated with hunger or some viral syndrome. A migraine headache is a different beast altogether. Today we are going to review how to distinguish it, treatment options and hopefully, how to prevent it.

Causes and symptoms

Migraines can be triggered by a number of things including stress, noise, menstrual hormonal changes as well as certain smells and foods. The final common pathway appears to be swelling of the blood vessels in the head which stretch the nerves resulting in pain.

By definition, a migraine headache presents as an intense pulsating pain in one area of the head. It is the accompanying symptoms that define it. Oftentimes there is nausea, vomiting, light-headedness and even fainting. For hours and days, patients are irritated by light and everyday sounds. All they can think about is finding a dark, quiet place to lie down.

Migraine headaches tend to begin in the younger years which have the effect of colouring ones personality among their peers. The condition may progress through four stages, including prodrome, aura, headache and postdrome, though all patients may not experience all the stages.

Prodrome is the red flag that signals a migraine is imminent. Californians are sensitive to any little sign that ‘The Big One’ (earthquake) is coming. Before there were experts at the Government Met(eorolgical) Office, our grandparents knew ‘Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors warning.’ It is even documented in Scripture

One or two days ahead, these can signal that an episode is on its way. They include hyperactivity, irritability, depression, food cravings, constipation, neck stiffness and uncontrollable yawning.

Aura may occur before or during some migraine headaches. Auras are nervous system symptoms disturbances, such as flashes of light. Sometimes auras can also involve sensory, movement motor or speech disturbances. These symptoms usually begin gradually and build up over to last anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes. Some people see various shapes, bright spots or electric flashes of light. There may be some temporary loss of vision, pins and needles sensations and weakness in an arm or leg, even experience difficulty speaking.

The migraine attack itself, if not treated, may last up to 3 days, but this varies from one individual to the next. The postdrome is the winding down phase. The patient feels drained and washed out during that time. This is sometimes mixed with palpable relief and happiness that the storm raging inside the head has finally passed.

When to seek urgent medical care

Ask any doctor and they will tell you that few things make them snap to attention than a patient complaining, “this is the worse headache I’ve ever had!” A patient of mine was packing for a trip when she stumbled into her suitcase. “Help me!” she cried out to her husband. He made her some bush tea and cradled her in her arms for some time. When she showed no signs of improvement, he finally called the ambulance. She had suffered a massive stroke. Those were her last words. She never regained consciousness until she was called home a couple years later.

Migraines can be so intense with such dramatic symptoms; some patients fear they are having a stroke. At some point in time, it is advisable to invest in a CT scan to make sure we are not missing a brain tumour, ruptured aneurysm or worse.

There is so much more about migraines in all its manifestations. But suffice it to say, by the time a patient comes for medical assistance, Paracetamol is of little help. Diclofenac and Co-codamol would be more effective at this stage. Something even stronger may be needed. This unfortunately places migraine sufferers at risk of becoming malingerers (frequent flyers wanting excuse for missing school or work) or developing a dependence on pain medication.

It is therefore helpful to have a stable relationship with a doctor who knows your medical history and knows what has worked and not worked before. First thing, early in the attack try drinking a cup or two of coffee, whether you are a ‘coffee drinker’ or not. Caffeine shrinks the blood vessels and relieves the pain. In fact, it is a major component in Cafergot, traditionally, the quintessential migraine medicine.

Next in line is the Triptan medications. Certain anti-depression and anti-seizure heart drugs may also be helpful as well as acupuncture. But the focus has to be on nutrition, exercise and relaxation lifestyle changes to minimize migraine triggers.

At the end of the day, you just haven’t got time for the pain. Migraine headaches can be so savage one might feel better off going to Iraq or Syria and just have them cut it off for you. But there is new hope. We can be kinder and gentler with migraine sufferers, but careful with them too. It is after all, a chronic condition which can be managed better now we have a deeper understanding from whence it came.

Click here for more information from Dr. Christian

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16 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    September 16, 2014

    Tonopan works for me thanks Doc. i can relate to this article

  2. Thomasville
    September 15, 2014

    Good information. I’m a migraine sufferer who tries not to use overthecorner medication. Do drink coffee and also a dark room. There are several remedies but will very among sufferers. Do what’s best for you. Thanks Doc.

  3. As if....
    September 15, 2014

    As soon as I feel one coming on, I eat, then take 2 ibuprofen (400 mg each tablet) with a cup of black coffee, i then use an ice pack at the back of my neck. I lie on my back with my head on my pillow and I fit the ice pack beneath my neck. I go to sleep in that same position in darkness and quiet with the fan on so I can stay cool.

  4. Anonymous
    September 14, 2014

    Great article and wonderful comments. I have been a migraine sufferer for many years, since early teens. It is usually women who suffer this illness, but it happens to men also.

    I was prescribed many different medications, none of which worked. By fluke, at age 34 I took two Advil and it was like a miracle. Half an hour later the migraine was gone. Later on, Advil came up with an extra strong migraine formula in capsule form.

    I’m not sure if Advil is sold in DA, but any Ibuprofen type medicine will work. It is an anti-inflamatory and helps to shrink the swelling veins.

  5. anonymous2
    September 14, 2014

    Are you sure that you are talking about migraine headaches? If someone has a true migraine they want to get into a dark room as the light bothers the eyes. Migraines are triggered by something, mainly weather changes, toxic odors (including perfumes), certain foods or additives , beverages that have caffeine,, hormonal changes, certain medications (including oral contraceptives and nitroglycerin) bright lights, glare or environmental factors.

    • Anonymous
      September 15, 2014

      Are you sure you know what a migraine headache is? I do and the doctor is right on point.

  6. louis
    September 14, 2014

    This is a must read to all ,thanks doc.

  7. September 14, 2014

    DNO can you tell me who is the thumbs rating working for? Because I have not been able to use it–neither up or down, for the past 6 weeks or so–I live in Toronto.

    Admin: We are happy to inform you that the feature has been restored

  8. citizen
    September 14, 2014

    Thanks doc for the info…as of now im suffering from a migraine headache..the coffee thing works sometimes but wat really works for me is an icepack to the forehead

  9. Encouragement
    September 14, 2014

    Doc, You made me smile when you wrote about just going to Iraq or Syria so they can cut it off for you!

    That’s exactly how it feels. Sometimes my migraine so bad, I wish I had a spare head somewhere that I could just switch. It as if this one is about to explode.

    Thanks for the good ideas you gave and other readers too. Your article raise awareness and encouragement for us who suffer and people don’t understand.

  10. sufferer
    September 14, 2014

    Great read. Been a sufferer since teenage years. Now I know how to manage although sometimes I do end up hospital for a prick. The weather also plays a role in mine. When it’s “tie up” I know soon to expect an attack. My doc also told me about the coffee few years back great help. My room, according to my boyfriend, is a bat cave. Dark curtains in case I get an attack. All in all migraine sufferers go through a lot just to get by everyday life.

  11. DC
    September 14, 2014

    Anyone suffering from migraines should visit a neurologist, especially, those who have not had any previous history of migraines. This is a very common symptom of the many illnesses which stem from abnormalities in the brain, spine and optic nerves. Multiple Sclerosis is very difficult to diagnose, however, migraine headache is usually one of the symptoms associated with the disease. Very rare in the tropics, therefore, it is not uncommon for a patient to be misdiagnosed….. stroke, aneurysm of the brain etc. We need to invest in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) asap. One Love!

  12. Anonymous
    September 14, 2014

    Thanks Doc. I have been a migraine sufferer for many years. Recently, I came across another non-medicated way to deal with it. As soon as I feel the tension coming on, I massage the back of my neck down to my shoulders and my temples up across my forehead several times.

    A cold, prolonged shower also helps tremendoulsy.

    • Poor wife
      September 14, 2014

      Once she gets a migraine, the whole household is on hold. We try everything. Thanks for mentioning the long cold shower. We’ll see how that helps.

    • September 14, 2014

      @Anonymous September 14, 2014

      I tried to give you a thumbs up instead of writing, but this website won’t allow me.

      However you have mentioned something which I do all the time. I do not get migraine–or no headache at all, for that matter; I don’t even know why. But many times when I feel very tense–I do that rubbing before I lie down–just like you say you do it.

      Better yet I use bayrum, limacol, or alcalado to aide my rubbing–I immediately fall asleep, and sleep like a baby–thanks to God for natural medicine.

  13. D/can
    September 14, 2014

    Great Article.

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