Could depression be a cause of a migraine or is it the case that suffering from migraines is the cause of depression? People who suffer from migraine headaches are five times more likely to develop clinical depression than those who do not. On the other hand those who suffer from depression are three times more likely to become migraine sufferers.

This intertwining of depression and migraine is viewed by many scientists as a chicken and egg situation. Which came first? The two are obviously co-morbid but does one really cause the other and if so which one? There is no simple answer. Migraine, depression and not surprisingly insomnia, which is associated with both these conditions, have in common that they are all associated with neurotransmitter, or serotonin, deficiencies in the brain.

Depression and migraine headaches are thought by doctors to be related even though they both have clear causes with related neurobiology. For many years doctors thought the resultant loss of quality of life experienced by migraine sufferers was a result of depression brought on by the debilitating effect of the headaches. The link now between the two is thought to be a shared biological mechanism as opposed to psychological. (more…)

Irrespective of the cause of a migraine many of those who are affected find caffeine helps to relieve their pain. The only problem is there are just as many who find the opposite happens and caffeine actually triggers their headaches. So the relationship between caffeine and migraines is not particularly straight forward.

The problem of caffeine is even more difficult for those who discover their daily fix of caffeine is the trigger that starts their headaches off. Withdrawal headaches are often experienced by regular caffeine drinkers when they cut back in an effort to curtail their headaches. And if they are already prone to getting headaches the headache they experience when they stop the caffeine intake is likely to be a humdinger. Ideally therefore you should reduce your caffeine intake on a gradual and measured basis so that you do not shock your body into withdrawal.

You will find that many of the specialised migraine pain relievers contain caffeine. Caffeine exerts a vasoconstrictive action which helps to relieve the pain of a migraine. When suffering a migraine the blood vessels in your head dilate for some uncertain reason. This then stretches the nerves that are wrapped around the blood vessels causing inflammation and pain. Caffeine, as a vasoconstrictor, attempts to bring the size of the blood vessels back towards their regular size which then helps to reduce the pain. Caffeine also acts as a supplement to the main analgesic and helps to boost its performance helping it to fight your migraine pain far more effectively than if there was no caffeine present at all. (more…)

A completely non-invasive migraines headaches treatment acupressure has a high success rate for treating migraine sufferers, more commonly known as migraineurs. Not only does acupressure have a proven track record in dealing with the headache pain of a migraine it is also effective in lowering the frequency and severity of migraine episodes.

Traditional Chinese Medicine details more than 800 energy points in the human body which are located along meridians which run through your body. Your life energy, or chi, is believed to flow along these lines and through the energy points. In healthy people this energy flows fluently. Illness and pain is thought to be caused by blocked energy lines.

To release chi and invigorate the body’s healing mechanisms acupressure massage exerts pressure to these energy points. Pressure is brought to bear on these energy points by massaging the body with fingers, thumbs or blunt or rounded objects. (more…)

Is it possible there is any link between sticking needles in your body and effective migraine headaches treatments? One of the oldest medical techniques in the world acupuncture has been used in China for over 2000 years. And lest you think there is no scientific basis for it you should know that it is a FDA approved treatment model for several ailments but particularly for the management of pain and chronic pain. It is especially effective in migraine headaches treatments.

A traditional Chinese medical procedure acupuncture uses very fine hair like needles to release chi, or energy, from some of the more than 800 energy points located throughout your body. These energy points run on meridian lines that go from head to toe.

Your life energy or chi, pronounced as chee, runs through these meridian lines and energy points. The basis of the technique is that chi when blocked causes illness and or pain and blockages can be caused by poor diet, weather and many other outside factors.

Acupuncture treatment plans are developed by practitioners that take into account not just the blockages but also the causes of them. In a similar way to modern western medicine diet and lifestyle changes are often incorporated in this plan in order to address the patients needs in a holistic manner. (more…)

Pain so bad that the only recourse is to hide away in a dark, quiet room until it is over, several times a year would make anyone feel despair.

People who suffer with migraines, though, are far more likely to develop depression than people who do not have these severe headaches.

On the other hand, people who are depressed are more likely to suffer with migraines.

Scientists view the marriage of migraine and depression as a chicken and egg scenario.

Does one cause the other? If so, which one starts the whole process, the migraine or the depression?

The answer is never simple. Migraines, depression, and, surprisingly, insomnia, are in fact associated with both inflictions and have something in common.

All three are in a way associated with the lack of neurotransmitters in the brain. (more…)

A House for Headaches

When a migraine strikes, many migraine suffers head for home and settle in to wait out the excruciating pain.

This in fact may be the problem????

While today’s studies of rare migraines types show the condition to be about sixty percent inherited, the other forty environmental.

If someone already prone to migraines is exposed to an environmental trigger, this is often enough to start proceedings for a migraine to ensue.

Can migraine suffers make sure their homes aren’t giving them headaches? A process of elimination one thing at a time is needed. Things to look out for:

* Carbon monoxide. This is odorless, colorless, and a poisonous gas can come from poorly ventilated, furnaces, fireplaces, gas appliances, or vehicles running in the garage. Installing carbon monoxide detectors and checking the batteries regularly may not only prevent migraines, it could save a life.

* Tobacco smoke. Whether it’s a cigarette or a pipe, ask smokers to smoke outside. (more…)

Migraines are the second most common type of headaches, after tension headaches. They tend to be hereditary, commonly running in families. Age of onset may vary, but most commonly begin in the 20s and 30s. Migraines rarely, however, commence in middle age or older.

Types of Migraine:

• Migraine without aura, also known as “common migraine”.

• Migraine with aura

• Others: basilar artery migraine, hemiplegic migraine, ophthalmoplegic migraine, retinal migraine, abdominal migraine etc.

Symptoms:

The signs and symptoms of migraine attacks vary greatly among individuals. There are 4 phases of a migraine attack commonly described, but not all phases are experienced by all individuals.

Prodrome Phase:

Prodromal symptoms occurs in about 40 – 60% of migraine sufferers. Symptoms include altered mood, irritability, fatigue, yawning, craving for certain foods etc, and may precede the actual headaches by several hours or days.

Aura Phase:

These migraine auras may be visual, sensory or motor disturbances, with the visual auras being, by far, the most common. Visual disturbances may include flashes of light, zigzag lines, cloudy vision etc. These auras usually do not last more than an hour. (more…)

Usually whenever we get a headache, it is a result of some allergic reaction or some other cause as well. In case it is a result of some allergic reaction, it can be avoided provided we are able to locate the trigger of this allergy. For instance, some people suffer with a headache when they are over exposed to the hydrocarbons such as petroleum & perfumes. This implies that their allergy with the hydrocarbons resulted in a headache.

Another interesting example can be the food allergy. When ever you have a headache immediately followed by eating something it means that you are suffering with an allergy headache. Usually the allergy headaches are accompanied with the hives, difficulty in breathing, swelling of lips, vomiting, and / or rapid heartbeats! In case are facing the similar trouble next time, consult your doctor immediately as it might turn out to be a serious one!

Now a point worth mentioning here is that often people get confused that the headache they are going through is migraine or the allergy headache. (more…)