Migraines

[Chica]

I have suffered with migraine headaches all my life. The only thing I can do when I get one is take special medication for it. My doctor prescribed a medication made to relieve migraines called Max-alt. It works very well. My triggers are alcohlic beverages of any kind, getting over heated,skipped meals, irregular sleep patterns, and a big one WEATHER CHANGES, also strong chemical odors. I was diagnosed with chronic motor rhionitis. I take sudafed every day and fiorinol when I need it. I feel pressure in my face around my eyes and the bridge of my nose. The weather changes really affect me. I was also told that this is a hereditery problem also. I inherited this from my mother, and my sister get migraines to.


Causes
Types of headaches
Although much about headaches still isn't understood, some researchers think migraines may be caused by functional changes in the trigeminal nerve system, a major pain pathway in your nervous system, and by imbalances in brain chemicals, including serotonin, which regulates pain messages going through this pathway.

During a headache, serotonin levels drop. Researchers believe this causes the trigeminal nerve to release substances called neuropeptides, which travel to your brain's outer covering. There they cause blood vessels to become dilated and inflamed. The result is headache pain.

Because levels of magnesium, a mineral involved in nerve cell function, also drop right before or during a migraine headache, it's possible that low amounts of magnesium may cause nerve cells in the brain to misfire.
The chemicals dopamine and serotonin are among those involved in migraine. These chemicals are found normally in the brain and can cause blood vessels to act abnormally if they are present in abnormal amounts or if the blood vessels are unusually sensitive to them.

Sumatriptan (Imitrex)


Zolmitriptan (Zomig)


Eletriptan (Relpax)


Naratriptan (Amerge, Naramig)


Rizatriptan (Maxalt)


Frovatriptan (Frova)


Almotriptan (Axert)

Try to ask your doctor for one of theses medications so you can have it on hand when you get a migraine.