Migraine Clinic

It may be hard to believe?particularly if you are a migraine sufferer?but migraine headaches were once considered spiritual experiences. The hallucinations and visions of bright light that occur with certain kinds of migraines were thought of as divine manifestations.

Migraines are caused by chemical changes on the surface of the brain. These chemical imbalances cause the blood vessels to expand. The enlarged blood vessels cause inflammations that can severely irritate nerve endings inside the skull. The result is acute pain, nausea, light and sound sensitivity, and, in some cases, visual hallucinations. Migraine attacks can involve the entire nervous system, causing various symptoms of physical illness such as vomiting.

Studies have shown a wide range of migraine "triggers," things that can cause an attack to start. Among these are stress, fatigue, and foods such as cheese, chocolate, coffee (caffeine in general), and red wine. Once the migraine begins, the pain and stress it causes act as additional triggers and serve to prolong the episode. Because of differences in bodily hormones, women tend to suffer from migraines more frequently than men. It has been estimated that as high as 20% of the total population is susceptible to migraine attacks.

There are drugs that can help reduce migraine severity, but there is no cure for the malady at this time. If you suffer from migraine headaches, there are a few simple solutions besides the available drug therapies. Avoid stress, get plenty of exercise, and avoid the foods that trigger migraine attacks.