A lot of people get migraines -- about 11 out of 100. The headaches tend to start between the ages of 10 and 46 and may run in families. Migraine is an extremely common condition which will affect 12-28% of people at some point in their lives.A migraine headache is a special kind of headache that can last for hours to days.Migraines occur more often in women than men. Pregnancy may reduce the number of migraines attacks. At least 60 percent of women with a history of migraines have fewer such headaches during the last two trimesters of pregnancy.
Absent serious head injuries, stroke, and tumors, the recurring severity of the pain indicates a vascular headache rather than a tension headache. Migraines are often accompanied by photophobia (hypersensitivity to light), phonophobia (hypersensitivity to sound) and nausea.
For years migraine headaches were thought to be caused when blood vessels in the head contract and then swell, producing pain. Certain brain chemicals, called neurotransmitters, may cause the vessels to contract. Common migraine triggers include:
*stress
*tiredness
*changes in the weather
*certain foods, such as wine, cheese, or chocolate
*MSG or food preservatives, such as nitrates
*red wine
*bright lights.
Migraines are classified as either "with aura" or "without aura." An aura is a group of neurological symptoms, usually vision disturbances that serve as warning sign. Patients who get auras typically see a flash of brightly colored or blinking lights shortly before the headache pain begins. However, most people with migraines do not have such warning signs.Some people with migraines also have muscle weakness, lose their sense of coordination, stumble, or even have trouble talking either just before or while they have a headache.
Conventional treatment focuses on three areas: trigger avoidance, symptomatic control, and preventive drugs. Patients who experience migraines often find that the recommended treatments are not 100% effective at preventing migraines.
At one time, aspirin was almost the only available treatment for headaches. Now there are drugs specifically designed to treat migraines. Several drugs commonly used to treat other conditions also may help relieve migraines in some people. All of these medications fall into two classes:
*Pain-relieving medications. These stop pain once it has started; such as NSAID,Triptans like drug as Sumatriptan (Imitrex),Ergots. Drugs such as ergotamine (Ergomar) etc.
*Preventive medications. These reduce or prevent a migraine headache ;such as Cardiovascular drugs :Beta blockers, Antidepressants, Anti-seizure drugs etc.
Treatment of migraine has traditionally been divided into managing acute attacks and prophylactic treatment. The choice of medication clearly depends on the patient_s profile [age, co-morbid medical conditions] and the contraindication and side effect profile of the drug.Treatment of acute migraine has been the subject of many research papers and review articles in recent literature partly at the cost of prophylactic treatment.The objective of prophylactic therapy is to reduce frequency, duration and severity of attacks in addition to optimize the patient_s ability to function normally.
Taking a daily medication to prevent migraine headaches can boost worker productivity and save companies money, a U.S. study shows.
Half of the 325 migraine-plagued workers in the study took the drug topiramate (brand name Topamax) each day, and the other half took a placebo.
The study was funded by Ortho-McNeil Neurologics Inc., the maker of Topamax.
The drug's effect on work absenteeism was minimal, say researchers from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Among those taking the drug, average missed work time per week was one hour, compared to 1.5 hours for those taking the placebo.
However, the drug had a much greater effect on "presenteeism" -- days that employees were on the job but not able to work at full capacity due to a migraine. When the researchers added absenteeism and presenteeism together, they found that the total lost productive time for workers with migraines was 14.6 hours per month before they started taking topiramate, compared to 5.1 hours per month while they were taking the drug.
Workers taking the placebo also showed a decrease in total lost productive time when their presenteeism and absenteeism were added together, but the gain in productivity was higher among workers taking topiramate, the study said.
It's estimated that migraines cost U.S. businesses up to $28.7 billion a year in lost productivity, according to background information in a news release about the study.
Because migraines are so different for different people, it helps to keep a headache diary and get to know what provokes migraines in your own case. The more you understand your headaches, the better prepared you can be to fight them.
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