Understanding Migraines -- Diagnosis and Treatment
How Are Migraines Diagnosed?
There is no specific test to diagnose a migraine headache. If you seek help from your health care provider for recurring headaches, you may be asked to keep a headache diary in which you record information about symptoms leading up to a headache, symptoms of the actual headache, and possible triggers that may have provoked the episode.
Your health care provider will want to take a careful history to determine any patterns to your headaches and to learn whether such headaches run in your family. He or she will also perform a careful physical exam to make sure you don't have any other symptoms or signs that point to another problem as the source of your headaches.
Are Migraine Sufferers Sexier?
If you're a migraine sufferer, sex may be the last thing on your mind -- especially when painful migraine symptoms force you to seek solitude in a dark, quiet room. Yet new findings suggest that sex may be linked to migraines and headache relief. According to a study published in the journal Headache, young adult migraine sufferers (men and women) reported having 20% more sexual desire than other adults who had headaches (but not migraine headaches). This study found that migraine headaches...
Read the Are Migraine Sufferers Sexier? article > >
What Are the Treatments for Migraines?
There are two main approaches to migraine treatment. The first is stopping (aborting) an acute attack, if possible, or at least controlling the pain and nausea. The second approach is preventing future attacks.
Conventional Medicine for Migraines
In abortive therapy for migraines, it's important to take medication as early as possible in the course of the headache. So, if you have an aura or other prodrome (early symptoms before headache onset), take the medicine then. Many drugs can help, but the leading ones are called triptans. They include sumatriptan (including recently available nasal spray) (Imitrex), zolmitriptan (Zomig), rizatriptan (Maxalt), and others. People respond differently, and one of these drugs may work better for you than others.
Ergot alkaloids are another class of drug that can be used to abort a migraine. The most popular one is dihydroergotamine (DHE). It is available as a nasal spray or an injection. NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as ketoprophen and ibuprofen, may also abort a migraine attack. Often, doctors recommend taking antinausea drugs such as Reglan or Phenergan.
Prophylactic treatment (preventive therapy) is usually recommended if you have more than two or three migraines per month. Medications intended to head off a migraine episode, so that it never fully develops, include:
- Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline, or doxepin.
- Beta-blocking agents (also used to treat high blood pressure), such as propanolol, metoprolol, timolol, nadolol, and atenolol
- Calcium-channel blockers (also used to treat high blood pressure), such as verapamil and nifedipine
- Antiseizure medications including Depakote, Neurontin, and Topamax
- Vitamin B-2 (riboflavin)
During an acute episode of migraine headache, you'll probably be most comfortable lying down in a darkened, quiet room and trying to sleep. A cold pack on your head may feel comforting. If you are unable to take medications by mouth, you may need to go to a hospital emergency room or be admitted to a hospital for treatment.
Alternative Medicine, Mind/Body Medicine for Migraines
More alternative methods to help migraines include:
Biofeedback, which can train you to control your pulse, blood pressure, and temperature. Usually thought of as involuntary processes, they are related to stress responses, which may contribute to migraines.
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