As part of the 12% of the American
population who suffer from migraines, more specifically, the 4% of
chronic migraine patients, I realize that not many people are aware that it is
an actual neurological disease and nervous system disorder. Migraines are more
than just sever headaches. They often come with auras and can cause nausea,
vomiting, dizziness, numbness in facial muscles, and tend to painfully enhance
the senses. Sensitivity to light, sound, touch, smells, and motion make it
difficult for one to go about their daily life, and more than 90% of sufferers
are disrupted in their ability to work or go to school. Some common triggers
for episodic migraines may be anything from dehydration and motion sickness, to
abrupt weather changes or reduced levels of magnesium. Affecting over 37
million people in a year in America alone, there is no clear prognosis for the
victims of migraines aside from further research.
Migraines are more common in women and comprise over 27 million of the people affected by them in the US. This would be because unstable hormonal or estrogen levels are some of the main reasons for migraines. For some people, once their hormonal levels stabilize after puberty, or estrogen levels decline after menopause, the affliction may decrease or stop altogether. Other triggers may be a person’s genetics, a lack of sleep, or skipping meals. Tension-type migraines are caused by stress and depression, and anxiety or insomnia are quite common for people who suffer from chronic migraines. The people whose triggers may be due to food sensitivity are sometimes able to adapt their life-style accordingly, however, narrowing down the specific food products or chemical components is almost impossible as humans have such complex meals in this modern day-and-age—be it fast-food or Asian snacks full of preservatives and flavor enhancers.
According to the Migraine Research Foundation, there are three methods to treat migraines: acute, preventative, and complementary treatment. Acute is the direct use of drugs and medication when the attacks begin. Preventative are daily drugs or supplements taken to lessen the number of attacks and pain intensity. Complementary are non-drug treatments, and include biofeedback, acupuncture, exercise, and relaxation techniques such as yoga or increasing sleep. Although over-the-counter and prescription drugs are the easiest response to a sudden migraine, it’s a complicated issue for those who get the pulsating headaches on almost a daily basis.
Chronic migraines are classified as reoccurring for more than 15 days of the average month. This may be a mild headache at the base of one’s skull for an ongoing period of time, or full blown attacks on seemingly random days of the week, that force a person to rest in a dark room for the rest of the evening as they swallow down nausea and the rush of blood roaring past their ears. Unfortunately, this leads to many problems. People who suffer from migraines are advised against taking more than nine doses of their current medication in a month. Having migraines almost every other day, the math is simple but all the numbers point to too many anguish-filled, miserable days toughing it out without painkillers. Taking any more tends to result in overdosing, body becoming addicted to the painkillers, or quickly building a tolerance to the drugs, rendering the medicine useless after a period of time.
Having suffered from migraines since the age of seven, I have personally built up a tolerance to several standard painkillers over the years and am well aware that some of the drugs I take are meant for grown men twice my weight. However, medicines such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen have not worked since I was a child and even now, Aleve, Excedrin, or MigraStat are almost completely ineffective for me. Some swear by natural remedies of ginger, lavender, and eucalyptus blends, but even my daily preventative supplement of B² and magnesium vitamins make no difference in the intensity of my migraines. The chronic illness sends a person to the hospital every 10 seconds in the USA alone, and affects millions of people everyday, but only some find successful cures to relieve attacks. Those who receive accurate diagnosis and effective treatments are able to go about their daily lives and suppress and manage their pain, but that does not occur often enough.
Bibliography:
"Migraine Research Foundation -- Migraine Treatment." Migraine Research Foundation -- Migraine Treatment. N.p., n.d. Web. Jan. 2015.
Jasmine, Luc. "Migraine." Health Guide. The New York Times,
2 Nov. 2012. Web. Jan. 2015.
"Migraine: MedlinePlus." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2 Oct. 2014. Web. Jan. 2015.
Migraines are more common in women and comprise over 27 million of the people affected by them in the US. This would be because unstable hormonal or estrogen levels are some of the main reasons for migraines. For some people, once their hormonal levels stabilize after puberty, or estrogen levels decline after menopause, the affliction may decrease or stop altogether. Other triggers may be a person’s genetics, a lack of sleep, or skipping meals. Tension-type migraines are caused by stress and depression, and anxiety or insomnia are quite common for people who suffer from chronic migraines. The people whose triggers may be due to food sensitivity are sometimes able to adapt their life-style accordingly, however, narrowing down the specific food products or chemical components is almost impossible as humans have such complex meals in this modern day-and-age—be it fast-food or Asian snacks full of preservatives and flavor enhancers.
According to the Migraine Research Foundation, there are three methods to treat migraines: acute, preventative, and complementary treatment. Acute is the direct use of drugs and medication when the attacks begin. Preventative are daily drugs or supplements taken to lessen the number of attacks and pain intensity. Complementary are non-drug treatments, and include biofeedback, acupuncture, exercise, and relaxation techniques such as yoga or increasing sleep. Although over-the-counter and prescription drugs are the easiest response to a sudden migraine, it’s a complicated issue for those who get the pulsating headaches on almost a daily basis.
Chronic migraines are classified as reoccurring for more than 15 days of the average month. This may be a mild headache at the base of one’s skull for an ongoing period of time, or full blown attacks on seemingly random days of the week, that force a person to rest in a dark room for the rest of the evening as they swallow down nausea and the rush of blood roaring past their ears. Unfortunately, this leads to many problems. People who suffer from migraines are advised against taking more than nine doses of their current medication in a month. Having migraines almost every other day, the math is simple but all the numbers point to too many anguish-filled, miserable days toughing it out without painkillers. Taking any more tends to result in overdosing, body becoming addicted to the painkillers, or quickly building a tolerance to the drugs, rendering the medicine useless after a period of time.
Having suffered from migraines since the age of seven, I have personally built up a tolerance to several standard painkillers over the years and am well aware that some of the drugs I take are meant for grown men twice my weight. However, medicines such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen have not worked since I was a child and even now, Aleve, Excedrin, or MigraStat are almost completely ineffective for me. Some swear by natural remedies of ginger, lavender, and eucalyptus blends, but even my daily preventative supplement of B² and magnesium vitamins make no difference in the intensity of my migraines. The chronic illness sends a person to the hospital every 10 seconds in the USA alone, and affects millions of people everyday, but only some find successful cures to relieve attacks. Those who receive accurate diagnosis and effective treatments are able to go about their daily lives and suppress and manage their pain, but that does not occur often enough.
Bibliography:
"Migraine Research Foundation -- Migraine Treatment." Migraine Research Foundation -- Migraine Treatment. N.p., n.d. Web. Jan. 2015.
Jasmine, Luc. "Migraine." Health Guide. The New York Times,
2 Nov. 2012. Web. Jan. 2015.
"Migraine: MedlinePlus." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2 Oct. 2014. Web. Jan. 2015.
