If you suffer from migraines, you surely know how debilitating its effects can be on any given day. Migraines often cause people to suffer from throbbing pain in one part of the head, vomiting, nausea, and other symptoms. They effect almost thirty million people in the United States and can result in the filing of disability paperwork, due to the difficulty that people have in engaging in work and daily activities. It can be difficult to predict when a migraine is going to occur and it is even more difficult to control once one happens. One of the most exacerbating factors for a migraine is light, which makes many people retreat to a dark room when a migraine hits. Now researchers believe they know the reason that light is such a powerful contributor to the condition.
This new research has found that there is a visual pathway in the brain that 
underlies light sensitivity during migraines in blind people and in those with normal eyesight. The hope is that with identification of this pathway, certain treatments may be developed to block the pathway so that individuals can be in the light without suffering pain. More research will be needed, as the recent experiments were only conducted on rats, which do not always translate into helpful therapies for humans.
The impetus for the experiment was that approximately eight-five percent of migraine sufferers also have extreme sensitivity to light, which is known as photophobia. Interestingly, even blind individuals exhibit photophobia, which led the researchers to believe that the retina transmitted signals along the optic nerve that somehow triggered an intensification of pain. Scientists explored this phenomenon further by examining two groups of blind human patients who suffered with migraine headaches. The first group consisted of individuals who were totally blind and could not see images or sense light, while the second group consisted of individuals who were legally blind due to degenerative diseases and could not see images, but could sense light. The team found that those who were blind and couldn’t see light did not have increased migraine pain when exposed to light, however the second group, who could sense light, described more pain.
After this examination, the scientists concluded that photophobia must involve the optic nerve because the optic nerve does not send light signals to the brain in totally blind individuals. Further, the scientists realized that the second group did not have normal sleep-wake cycles, which are controlled by light. Therefore, they opined that retinal cells which dictate biological cycles, such as sleep, also dictate the light sensitivity phenomenon.
Filed under Migraine research by on Feb 2nd, 2010. Comment. 
When someone suffers from something like a heart attack, it is easy to assess the situation, since you know that there is a problem with the heart and likely the blood vessels surrounding it. When someone suffers from excruciating headaches, however, the cause may be much more difficult to pinpoint. What is even more frustrating is that the treatment options may be all over the map, requiring a lot of trial and error on the part of the patient. These painful circumstances are what many migraine sufferers must endure on a daily basis.
What makes migraines so difficult to manage in the beginning is that they are notoriously difficult to diagnose. Many of the most common migraine symptoms, such as nausea, dizziness, visual problems, pain, and sensitivity to light and sound, are the same symptoms pronounced in other conditions like cardiovascular problems or epilepsy. This lack of a sound diagnosis can then lead to other problems if a person is unable to manage the migraine pain adequately. Neurosurgeons have noted that if headache pain is left untreated or not effectively treated for a long amount of time, an individual may become more susceptible to pain over time as his/her pain threshold has been lowered. Conversely, some people over-medicate themselves for the pain associated with migraines. This can cause the condition to worsen and individuals may even experience more headaches due to the drug over-use. Finally, migraines can be problematic because treatment options vary from individual to individual. What may work for one person may do nothing to help another; therefore, some migraine sufferers must endure a litany of therapies before they find one that is suited to their particular condition.
With all of these problems, what can you do to manage your migraines? The following are some strategies to help you out.
Get a Proper Diagnosis:
If you suffer from debilitating headaches that cannot be managed by over the counter medications, you need to seek the advice of a health professional. You may have to find a specialist to diagnose the problem, rather than a primary care doctor. If you want to look beyond your family practitioner, you can locate a certified headache specialist through the Migraine Research Foundation’s website. Although these specialists are board certified on headaches, it is necessary for you to be your own best advocate. This means that you need to be frank with your doctor about your symptoms, as trivial or embarrassing as they may seem. You also need to be honest with your doctor even if he/she is not someone you feel comfortable with. You can always find a different doctor, but you only have this one life and body. Make sure to find a specialist that listens to you and answers any questions you may have. A specialist will probably rule out any other possible causes of your headaches by asking numerous questions. Once a migraine diagnosis has been made, you can then discuss treatment options.
Treatment Options:
The treatment available to patients suffering with migraines is as varied and individual as the people themselves. It is highly likely that you will have to test different options in order to find one that works for you. Most doctors will put a patient on a triptan drug after an initial diagnosis. Triptans work by controlling brain cell reactions that contribute to the development of migraines. Some people do not respond to these drugs and can then take ergot-related drugs, which work in the same manner. Even in the triptan family of drugs, it may take a while to find one that works for you. If you do not feel that you are responding well to a particular drug, let your doctor know so that he can prescribe a different form. Doctors also prescribe preventative drugs, such as anti-seizure medication, and natural remedies, such as magnesium, to help control migraines and manage the pain associated with them. With any treatment option, make certain to talk with your doctor about your reaction to them and side effects that you may experience. Additionally, do not be discouraged if the first medication or supplement you take does not work. There are many options available and by narrowing down your responses, you will find the one that works specifically for your needs.
Environmental Factors:
Migraines can occur due to environmental circumstances, such as stressful situations, food, noise, and bad weather. It is important to recognize what factors trigger your migraines. It may be necessary to keep a journal of your migraines and what was occurring in the days leading up to the migraine. This may be one of the most important factors in managing your migraines, as they help to prevent them from occurring in the first place. It may also be necessary for you to keep your routine predictable, rather than ever-changing, as jarring events can also trigger migraines.
Migraines can be very painful and often debilitating. Taking your healthcare into your own hands and advocating on your behalf can make a world of difference. Put these suggestions into practice and perhaps your migraines can become easier managed.
Filed under Living with Migraines, migraine treatment by on Feb 6th, 2010. Comment.
Migraine sufferers now have another symptom to monitor in addition to the traditional pain and debilitating discomfort associated with the condition. In a new report from Reuters Health, researchers have found that people who suffer from migraines may have a higher risk of heart attack or stroke than those who do not have the severe headaches. Previous studies have shown a link between cardiovascular disease and migraines with auras, however, none have been conclusive regarding migraines without auras, which account for eighty percent of migraine sufferers. Auras are neurological symptoms that include visual difficulties, tingling, and ringing of the ears that may precede a migraine.
The study followed 11,000 individuals with and without migraines. The researchers found that instances of heart attack, stroke, or other 
cardiovascular problems were much more likely in those people who had migraines. Moreover, there was no differential between migraines with auras and without; they were all equally susceptible to heart conditions. Although there is no specific known cause for migraines, it is generally accepted that migraine pain involves the constriction and swelling of blood vessels. The researchers believe that this study indicates that people with migraines may suffer from an overall problem with blood vessels throughout the body. Additionally, they found that migraine sufferers also exhibited high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, which all contribute to cardiovascular disease. The researchers were quick to note, however, that even these conditions did not demonstrate why a link between migraines and cardiovascular problems exists. Although they believe that there may be some underlying susceptibility of individuals with migraines to develop heart conditions, further research pinpointing the exact cause will be necessary.
The researchers also caution migraine sufferers against worrying too much about these findings. Although individuals suffering with migraines have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease, the overall, absolute risk is relatively small. For example, only four percent of the migraine sufferers studied also had cardiovascular problems. In the group who did not experience migraines, the rate was two percent, which is not a large gap. Despite this small difference between the two groups, the researchers do encourage migraine sufferers to monitor and guard against any risk factors that may contribute to heart problems, such as high blood pressure, obesity, and high cholesterol.
In addition to watching your risk factors, it may also be important to discuss possible cardiovascular problems with your doctor. Severe heart disease, as well as migraines, may prevent you from working and are considered disabilities by the Social Security Administration. Being properly diagnosed and treated will not only help you manage these conditions, but may also result in a faster outcome for disability benefits. If you are having any thoughts that you may have risk factors that could lead to heart disease in addition to your migraines, ask your doctor to take your blood work and begin any necessary treatment.
Filed under Migraine research by on Feb 17th, 2010. Comment.
Last week, we discussed the potential for migraine sufferers to develop heart disease in addition to their already chronic, debilitating headaches. Now, a new study presents evidence that women with a history of migraines may also be more prone to develop multiple sclerosis. The study examined the relationship between migraines and multiple sclerosis, but it did not definitively conclude that migraines were risk factors or if they were simply an early symptom of the neurological disorder. Although the overall risk for developing multiple sclerosis is relatively small among those living with migraines, this study does provide a great deal of insight regarding a possible link between the two.
The study, the first large-scale on of its kind, sought to recognize and understand the role that migraines play in the development of multiple sclerosis. The research team examined data from 116,000 nurses who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study for sixteen years since 1989. Researchers found that approximately 18,000 reported having migraines at the beginning of the study and 375 were eventually diagnosed with multiple sclerosis throughout the course of the study. The research team then adjusted the data for those who already had risk factors for multiple sclerosis and concluded that having a history of migraines correlated to a forty-seven percent risk for developing the neurological disorder. Those conducting the study already knew that women were twice as likely to develop multiple sclerosis as men, and three times as likely to suffer from migraines. Both of these conditions are usually diagnosed before the age of fifty. What the researchers did not know, however, was whether there was a clear association between migraines and multiple sclerosis. It appears from this study that the two disabilities do correlate with one another somehow, although the actual reason behind the interplay is still unknown. The research team published the conclusions of the study and plan to present the findings at the American Academy of Neurology meeting in April. One part of the study that the researchers did not publish was the fact that being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis is associated with an increased risk of developing migraines. As such, it seems that these conditions are linked in a particular manner, and it is a relationship that goes both ways.
This study is important to the millions who suffer with migraines and the many who must eventually file for social security disability benefits due to their inability to work. This information may help their cause because if migraines are linked to the development of yet another disability, such as multiple sclerosis, examiners and judges are much more likely to recognize the chronic, debilitating effects. The study is also important because knowing that migraines are part of multiple sclerosis will help in recommending the correct treatment option. If you suffer from migraines or multiple sclerosis, and feel that you may be developing symptoms of the other, please visit your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and therapy.
Filed under Migraine research by on Feb 22nd, 2010. Comment.
