Migraine Headaches

Migraine Headaches
What is a migraine headache?



A migraine headache is a form of vascular headache. Migraine headache is caused by vasodilatation (enlargement of blood vessels) that causes the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the large arteries of the brain. Enlargement of these blood vessels stretches the nerves that coil around them and causes the nerves to release chemicals. The chemicals cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. The increasing enlargement of the arteries magnifies the pain.
Migraine attacks commonly activate the sympathetic nervous system in the body. The sympathetic nervous system is often thought of as the part of the nervous system that controls primitive responses to stress and pain, the so-called "fight or flight" response, and this activation causes many of the symptoms associated with migraine attacks; for example, the increased sympathetic nervous activity in the intestine causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

• Sympathetic activity also delays emptying of the stomach into the small intestine and thereby prevents oral medications from entering the intestine and being absorbed.
  
• The impaired absorption of oral medications is a common reason for the ineffectiveness of medications taken to treat migraine headaches.
  
• The increased sympathetic activity also decreases the circulation of blood, and this leads to pallor of the skin as well as cold hands and feet.
  
• The increased sympathetic activity also contributes to the sensitivity to light and sound sensitivity as well as blurred vision.
  

"So this means when you take oral medications for this, It will not absord into your body so therefore, oral med's are no good"

WOW... I have an auntie that complains of these and she goes into her dark room and request no loud talking. WOW she also says she see flashy things before she has the thunder headache as she calls it.

Oh Ebony I have heard of those flashes and Aura's
Visual changes

• Bright lights and blobs
  
• Zigzag lines
  
• Distortions in the size or shape of objects
  
• Vibrating visual field
  
• Scintillating scotoma
  
  
  
  • Shimmering, pulsating patches, often curved
    
  • Tunnel vision
    
  
  
• Scotoma
  
  
  
  • Blind or dark spots in the field of vision
    
  • Curtain-like effect over one eye
    
  • Slowly spreading spots
    
  
  
• Kaleidoscope effects on visual field
  
• Total temporary monocular (in one eye) blindness (in retinal migraine)^[2]
  
• Heightened sensitivity to light
  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aura_(symptom)

PARIS (AFP) – Scientists have uncovered a trio of genes tied to migraine headaches, including one in which the link is exclusive to women, according to a study published Sunday.
Migraines are acutely debilitating headaches -- sometimes with an "aura", in which patients have the impression of seeing through frosted glass -- that strike up to 20 percent of the population.
Scientists describe the condition, which is three to four times more common in women, as a brain disorder in which neurons, or brain cells, respond abnormally to stimuli.
The precise cause is unknown, but inheritance is thought to play a significant role.
To assess the genetic component, Markus Schuerks of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston coordinated an international sweep of genomes in 23,230 women, 5,122 of whom suffered from migraines.
So-called genome-wide association studies compare differences between individuals across the approximately three billion pairs of basic molecular building blocks found in the human genetic code.
The study, published Sunday in the British journal Nature Genetics, is the largest to date of its kind. It found variations in three genes that showed up more frequently in migraine patients.
Two of them, known as PRDM16 and TRPM8, were specific to migraines, as opposed to other kinds of headaches.
TRPM8, in addition, was linked to migraines only in women. Earlier studies have shown that the same gene contains the genetic "blueprint" for a pain sensor, in both men and women.
The third suspect gene, LRP1, is involved in sensing the external world and in chemical pathways inside the brain.
"The brain of a person with migraine responds differently to certain stimuli, their nerve cells 'talk' differently to each other," explained Shuerks in an email.
"Many neurotransmitters are involved in this cross-talk and some seem to have a special role in migraines. LRP1 interacts with some of these neurotransmitter pathways and may thus modulate nerve responses that promote or suppress migraine attacks."
None of the genetic variants appeared to be connected specifically to migraines with or without auras.
The findings, published in Nature Genetics, were replicated in two smaller population-based studies, one in the Netherlands and the other in Germany, and in a clinical group followed by the International Headache Genetics Consortium.
"Inheritance of any of the genetic variants alters migraine risk by about 10 to 15 percent," said Schuerks.
The influence of these genes is probably not large enough to be immediately used as a diagnostic tool. But the result "is an advancement of the understanding of migraine biology," he said.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110612/hl_afp/healthgenesmigraines_20110612173029

Thanks for this article dear. It was good reading

. Great, Many, many thanks for this post .

Assalimu Alaikum Sister Nazleen, Mashallah sister may Allah be pleased with all your work here on this forum, AMEN

This topic of Migraine's is growing. I work with about 6 or more people who complain of this pain and how they describe how bad it hurts, May Allah help, mashallah. Im praying we can post some helpful information that will help others in any way and give ALL PRAISE to ALLAH.



Thanks again sister, Miss you much. I will soon be on break and back to doing Allah's work here.

In Sha Allah