Alzheimer's DiseaseMigraine
Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder causing painful headache and nausea due to 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 causing nerves to release chemicals which develop pain, inflammation and further enlargement of the artery. The enlargement of the arteries further magnifies the pain. Migraine is more common in women than in men. In some cases migraine is preceded by visual, sensory, language, or motor disturbances signalling migraine attack. The symptoms of migraine include nausea, vomiting,increased sensitivity to light and sound.
Many things can trigger a migraine. These include
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Fasting or lack of sleep
- Bright or flickering lights
- Cigerette Smoke
- Hormonal changes (in women)
Treatment
Instead of OTC Analgesics, migraine specific medications are necessary for moderate to severe migraine headaches.
These medicines abort headaches by counteracting the cause of the headache, dilating the temporal arteries. Examples are
Triptans and ergot. Triptans specifically target serotonin receptors. Patients with severe nausea and vomiting at the onset of an attack may respond well to intravenous prochlorperazine.
Botox is also used for treatment of migraine headaches, muscle spasms and excessive sweating. However only qualified and trained health care professionals are licensed to inject Botox.