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Overview
Severe Migraine SymptomsA migraine is a neurological condition that occurs more frequently in men than women. The word migraine in French comes from the Greek hemicrania (meaning half-skull) and the Old English word megrim (which means severe headache). About 33 percent of individuals who get a migraine headache see an aura, a visual distortion that precedes the actual migraine headache. There are several types of migraines including the classic migraine (often called a migraine with aura), common migraines (no visual aura), ocular migraines (effects blood vessels of the eyes versus the skull or brain), ophthalmoplegic (similar to ocular but with more pain) and rebound headaches.
Causes
The causes of a migraine headache aren't clearly known, but it is believed that migraines are triggered by chemical imbalances in the brain. The chemical serotonin appears to play a part in regulating the pain messages throughout the brain. It is known that during a migraine headache, serotonin levels fall. The lowered serotonin level triggers the trigeminal nerve system to change, causing the blood vessels to become enlarged and inflamed, with a migraine headache soon following.
Triggers
Triggers of this chemical imbalance include hormonal changes, particularly estrogen in woman. Alcohol, chocolate, aspartame, MSG, aged cheeses, nuts, pickled food and caffeine are known to be culprits. Weekend migraines often occur when the body and mind relaxes after a hard week's work. Sensory stimuli, including bright lights and strong odors, have also been known to trigger a migraine. Changes in sleep patterns, environmental changes and medications have been known to be responsible for severe migraine symptoms as well. Another theory of the cause of some migraine headaches includes teeth grinding at night. Some menopausal women report that their migraines got worse as they approached menopause.
Symptom Severity
Symptoms of a migraine headache can be quite severe. The pain can be intense, throbbing and pounding. The pain can be one-sided or felt through most of the head. Some severe migraine symptoms may be so intense that the sufferer is extremely sensitive to sound, lights and even movement. The migraine pain can cause a person to become nauseated and vomit.
Time Frame
Most severe migraine symptoms resolve themselves within 72 hours. However, a mild migraine headache can linger for as long as a week. The sufferer may also feel exhausted and fatigued for a few days after a migraine episode.
Treatment
Severe migraine pain sufferers claim that lying down in a dark, quiet room eases the pain. Over-the-counter pain medications, which often include caffeine, help take away the edge of the migraine. When over-the-counter medications are not enough, your doctor may suggest a prescription pain medication, such as fovatriptan, sumatriptan or zolmitrptan. For the frequent sufferer, there are medications such as Imitrex that are taken daily to prevent the onset of migraines. Other preventive medications of severe migraine symptoms include beta-blockers, certain anti-convulsants, pizotifen and tricyclic antidepressants.
