How to manage chronic migraine pain?

Synonyms: Migraine, Severe Headache, Headache Hitamine, Episodic Paroxysmal Hemicrania, Cluster Headache, Migranious Neuralgia, Sick Headache

If you see the overall revalence of some of the chronic diseass like Diabetes, Asthma or Hypertension, you will find that migraine is one of the commonest of all and though very few people seek advice for preventing its severe headache. There has been few studies carried out which suggests that one of four woman suffers from migraine and incidence of its attacks are far common in reproductive age group.

Also in developing world still there is not enough awareness about disease and as female very often express their feelings and go for expert advice. Most of the patients believe that this is tension headache due to stress and it does not require any treatment.

Most important of all in preventing migraine attack s to understand what is it? Migraine usually starts with dull aching pain in head or neck, usually only on one side. Aura precedes the pain is classical and nause, sweating, visual disturbances, photophobia are common. Migraine is caused by lack of serotonin which dilates the blood vessels and causes pain. Stress, lack of sleep, spicy food, chocolate all reduces the serotonin in body and thus avaoiding this precipitating factors reduce chances of migraine attack.

• Here are some simple steps and medications to prevent migraine headache:
• Avoid above mentioned precipitating factors.
• Regular sleep and food habits and relaxation techniques may be helpful.
• Menstruation also is trigger for migraine and this sometimes can be treated with hormonal balance by oral contraceptive pills.  But consult before self medication as oral contraceptive pills can sometimes worsen the migraine and iit has side effects too.
• Use regular pain killers like aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen, naproxen for mild to moderate headache.
• Use stronger medicines like ergotamine, tryptan only in severe headaches.