What is a migraine headache

A migraine headache is considered a vascular headache because it is associated with changes in the size of the arteries within and outside of the brain.

http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/exit?to=www.clevelandclinic.org&uid=7bH4sIAAAAAAAAAE2IMQ7CMAwAv8IHSFKkdkBCTAy8orJsQyxZdpWkDQOPB6QOLHenQzeSJm7zjVaEX4EeCldfC3L9v.P9nVtbzjH23gMqb6xghComGLw8Y2bQlncdxR4eybHG05TSF8MQoC5XMeLXZUxp.ABXPkK5fQAAAA__

A migraine headache is a neurological disorder characterized by intense head pain that lasts from 4 hours to 4 days. The pain is just the start of a migraine, however, as migraines actually herald a whole host of changes to the entire body….

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_migrane

A migraine is much more than a bad headache. A migraine headache is a recurrent, throbbing headache usually felt on one side of the head. Migraines usually begin in early childhood, adolescence, or young adult life. Migraine pain can be exc…

http://www.mamashealth.com/migraine.asp

Related Questions Answered on Y!Answers

How do you reduce pain when you have a migraine headache?

Q: I’m looking for a home remedy to reduce the pain for a migraine headache. I went to the doctors and the medicine he gave me does’t work. Please help me. I have had this migraine for a week.

A: There is no medicine for H/A OR MIGRAINE. Not only these but for almost all painful diseases. Hence they become chronic.Acidity, excessive wind, cold , heat, sour food and sinusitis, constipation, intestinal inflammation;Blockage in the flow of Vital Energy are their causes. None of them can be treated with medicine. Our 100% success in treating migraine &H/A confirms it.Acupuncture is the best treatment. I can treat it with naturopathy and YOG, but how can you manage pl see.Avoid late sleeping if possible;spicy, sour, stale bakery foods and alcohole.Sweet foods, sweet fruits, milk, rice and good sleep will help you. But you try one herbal remedy- two drops of drumstick leaves’ juice in opposite nostril if one side pains and both nostrils if full H/A will give you rescue. Betel leaf helps but it isvery strong. If it is acute pl search a painful point 3-6 mm behind your thumb nail and press it, H/A will disappear within 30 seconds.Source(s):SHREE SWASTHYAYOG TREATMENT, TRAINING & RESEARCH INSTITUTER.H. – 19, Jhulelal Society, Sector – 2/E, Airoli, Navi Mumbai, INDIA.

What is the best way to try to prevent a migraine headache?

Q: I can tell I have a migraine headache about ready to start. What is the best way to try to ward one off? I just dread knowing I’m probably going to have a migraine for the next couple of days. Any advice?

A: The Mayo Clinic is a pretty good starting place for any health questions, and the link is shown below. Basically, there are two types of medication – one to abort or treat a migraine, and one to try to prevent them occuring if you get them frequently. I’m assuming that you have one starting and are trying to stop it. There are various medical drugs that can help. The most common one are the family of Triptans – there are various types. The other well known one is Ergotamines (eg DHE45). However, personally I can’t take them due to bad side effects, but they do work successfully for many people. You would have to talk to your doctor. There are other options, personally I take Tylenol 3s as soon as I feel the headache coming on or getting the warning signs and they will often stop it. Or failing that, at least they help reduce the pain. However, there are issues with them if you take them too frequently (rebound headaches). Other methods include caffeine (coffee, coke etc) as soon as you feel it starting. Either by itself or in combination with something like Advil or Tylenol. Excedrin Migraine worked surprisingly well for me. For the nausea I highly recommend Gravol’s Ginger tablets – they work really well without the side effects of traditional nausea reducing medication. There are various pressure points that you can try to stop the migraine: http://taichi.snowcron.com/shiatsu_headache.htm. Massaging the neck and/or scalp or face can sometimes help. Lying down in a dark, quiet place helps many people. Eating protein, lots of water and caffeine is what I often try first and I know many people who find it an effective and easy way to try to stop a migraine. Good luck – you have my sympathy!

how to get help rid of a migraine headache?

Q: my boyfriend has a terrible migraine he has had since last night, and he can’t eat or anything without it getting worse. he took 6 aleve and that didn’t do anything, and he tried to lay down and he can’t even go to sleep cause it hurts so bad.. what are some home remedies that can help his headache die down some, or all the way. so that he can go to bed?

A: HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT(s) FOR SINUSITIS / HEADACHES / MIGRAINES (Without any side effects or complications) :-SINUSITIS :-Right sided frontal sinusitis; discharge thick, yellowish; worse by cold,damp and exertion Penicillinum 30X or 200X, 6 hourly Sinusitis after mastoid operation Helka lava 3X or 6X, 4 hourly In acute or chronic sinusitis; catarrh with stringy discharge Kali Bich 30X 4 hourly Tearing pain in head; from root of nose, extending to forehead with nausea; dryness of mucous passages Natrum Mur 30X, 4 hourly Pain begins at the back of head and settles over the eyes; worse under a fan Silicea 1M, weekly (6 Doses) Chronic cold with loss of smell and yellow green phlegm; better in cool, open air Pulsatilla 30X or 200X 4 hourly Intercurrent remedy Bacillinum 200X or 1M fortnightly (3 Doses) Complaints worse early morning; aversion to take bath Sulphur 200X weekly (3 Doses) HEADACHE :-With constant nausea; clean tongue Ipecac 30X, 3 hourly With severe throbbing and rush of blood towards head Belladonna 30X, 3 hourlyDue to over eating; stomach disorders; tongue thickly whitish coated; worse bathing specially after river bathing Antim Crud 30X or 200 4 hourly(3 Doses) Due to exposure to dry, cold wind; sudden with anxiety Aconite Nap.30X or 200X, 1/2 hourly (3 Doses) With watering of eyes and sensitiveness to bright light Euphrasia 30X, 3 hourly Headache; better by bending backwards; due to nerve injury Hypericum 30X, 3 hourly Headache with humming in ears; due to nervous weakness Kali Phos.6X or 30X, 3 hourly Hammering headache; worse during menstrual cycle going in sun; school girls head ache, Natrum Mur.30X or 200X, 4 hourly Headache starts from nape of neck and shift over to the head; patient desires to lie down quietly; better passing urine Gelsemium 30X or 200X, 3 hourlyViolent headache due to working under gas light; sun-stroke Glonoine 6X or 30X, 2 hourlyBursting headache; worse by stooping and movements; excessive thirst and constipation Bryonia 30X or 200X, 3 hourly (6 Doses) Nervous headache; after grief, disappointment; worse inhaling smoke Ignatia 200X or 1M, 3 hourly (3 Doses) Headache; due to sinusitis, pressure and pain at the root of nose Kali Bich 30X, 4 hourly Due to eating rich fatty food, loss of thirst, better in open cold air Pulsatilla 30X, 4 hourly Due to eye strain; disturbances of accomodation of eye sight Ruta Grav 30X, 4 hourly After taking alcoholic drinks; sedentary habits; chilly patient Nux Vomica 30X, 4 hourlySun haedcahe; aggravation from sun rise to sunset; from cardiac origin Kalmia Lat.30X or 200X, 6 hourlyOf school children; crushing headache, pressure on top of head Acid Phos 30, 4 hourlyHeadache localised; at the nape of neck; worse by walking and noise Pneumococcin 200X, 10 min (3 Doses)Frontal headache; neuralgic pain above and behind the right eye; heaviness of head. Better by rest, lying down and eating Penicillinum 30X or 200X, 10 min (3 Doses) Headache worse early morning;empty gone sensation at 10 -11 A.M. Sulphur 200X or 1M, weekly (3 Doses) MIGRAINES :-From mental work; cold, uncovering head, pressure, sitting upright or sun-stroke Glonoinum 30X, 3 hourly For nervous, gastric, bilious individuals. Migraine due to mental over exertion in teachers and students. Right sided, specially Sunday migraine, blurred vision, hemiopia; blindness; often burning pain in entire gastro-intestinal tract with violent acid vomiting at the height of attack; worse hot weather; spring and fall; better after vomiting or sufficient night sleep Iris v.200X or above, 10 min (3 Doses)For irritable hypochondriacs of bad temper; cholerics, neuropathics; from abuse of alcohol, coffee, spices, tobacco, vexation and worry, mental over exertion, business worries, sexual excesses, sedentary habits, cold dry air and winds Nux Vomica 30X or 200X, 4 hourly For pronounced vasomotor individuals (irritable and full of fear) during pre-climacteric and menopausal stage.Tired expression, head congestion, circumscribed red cheeks; pain above right eye, throbbing, stitching, rhythmic pain, often in every 8 days, early morning, beginning in nape, extending upwards, locating in the region of eye, rising and falling with the sun; sensation of heavy congestion Sanguinaria C 200X, 10 min (3 Doses) For weak, fat and irritable patient; often apathetic, changing moods, strange changes of character (egocenteric), memory weak, due to disturbance during climacteric period, results of tobacco abuse. Person with shallow complexion, yellow saddle across the nose; pain located on left temple; throbbing, stitching pains Sepia 200X, 10 min (3 Doses) For neuropathic persons, full of fear caused by noises, change of weather or worms; with face pale, located above left eye; specially left pupil (ciliary neuralgia); sharp, shooting, tearing, stitching, periodical pain from occiput to left eye; slowly rising in intensity with sun. Bile vomiting at the height of attack, slowly improving with setting sun. Feeling as if head were open along sagittal suture Spigelia 200X or 1M, 10 min (3 Doses) Left sided; worse during and after sleep; before menstruation; heat; during menopause Lachesis 200X or 1M, 10 min (3 Doses) Intercurrent remedy Bacillinum 200X or 1M, fortnightly (3 Doses) .Take the remedy which is similar to your symptoms.No side effects or complications if taken as directed, please do not exceed the given dosage and under any circumstances do not try to mix any remedies and avoid Chocolates, Mints, Coffee, Red Meat, Alcoholic and Carbonated drinks, Spicy Rich Food while taking any Homeopathic remedies, and keep the medicines away from direct sunlight, heat strong smells and perfumes and do not store them in the fridge.Curing without any side effects or Complications Thats the Beauty of Homeopathic Medicine .Take Care and God Bless you !