A migraine is a very painful type of headache. People who get migraines often describe the pain as pulsing or throbbing in one area of the head. During migraines, people are very sensitive to light and sound. They may also become nauseated and vomit.
Migraine is three times more common in women than in men. Some people can tell when they are about to have a migraine because they see flashing lights or zigzag lines or they temporarily lose their vision.
Many things can trigger a migraine. These include
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Lack of food or sleep
• Exposure to light
• Hormonal changes (in women)
Doctors used to believe migraines were linked to the opening and narrowing of blood vessels in the head. Now they believe the cause is related to genes that control the activity of some brain cells. Medicines can help prevent migraine attacks or help relieve symptoms of attacks when they happen. For many people, treatments to relieve stress can also help.
For a long time, sumatriptan (or any of the triptans) have been the drug of choice to treat migraines.
Now health scientists indicate that if a triptan is taken with naproxen (i.e. Aleve), effectiveness is significantly enhanced. Not only is the pain alleviated but other symptoms commonly related to migraine, such as light sensitivity and nausea/vomitting.
It is believed that these combination drugs target two different pathways, therefore, more significant relief occurs.
del.icio.us
Digg this
