USF-COM
Department
of Family Medicine
Patient Education Information on...
Index of
Patient Education Topics
What causes migraines?
Migraines are caused by a rapid widening and narrowing of blood vessel
walls in the brain and head. This causes pain fibers in the blood vessel
wall to become irritated. The following items have been reported to cause
migraine attacks: hunger, cheese, changes in weather, nuts, fatigue, avocados,
birth control pills, chocolate, menstrual periods, food containing nitrates,
emotion stress, meat tenderizers, alcoholic beverages, bright lights, sunlight,
excessive
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Am I at risk?
Migraine affects 26 million Americans and can occur at any age. However,
it usually begins between the ages of 10 and 30, and is more common in
women. Migraine is familial and often hereditary: if you have migraines,
chances are another family member does too!
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What can I do?
There are many measures you can try to reduce the pain. Some people find
relief in applying a warm towel to the area of the head where the pain
is the most severe. Other individuals prefer lying down in a dark, quiet
room with an ice bag placed on the painful area. In addition, relaxation
techniques, such as soothing images and deep breaths, may minimize the
severity of a migraine headache.
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Can I do anything to prevent migraine headaches?
Yes! Here are a few ideas:
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decrease stress at work and home
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don’t get overtired
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eat at regular times, and don’t skip meals
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avoids foods that you think may bring on a headache
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limit the amount of caffeine in your diet
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avoid glare or exposure to flickering lights, noise, or strong smells
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keep your muscles as relaxed as possible when not physically active
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How can I tell if I have migraines?
The diagnostic criteria for a classic migraine is as follows...
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A headache lasting 4 to 72 hours when left untreated or if treatment is
unsuccessful
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A headache having two or more of the following characteristics:
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located on one side of the head
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throbbing in quality
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moderate or severe in intensity
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made worse with physical activity
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A headache associated with one or more of the following characteristics:
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nausea
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vomiting
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sensitivity to light or sound
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A headache that is not due to intracranial pathologic changes
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A history of five or more previous headache attacks
However, a migraine headache may also be associated with:
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visual changes such as bright spots, zigzag lines, or partial blindness
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numbness or tingling of the lips, face, or hands
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weakness of an arm or leg
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dizziness
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unsteadiness in walking
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drowsiness
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slight confusion of thinking
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inability to speak or slurred speech
Important!
If you are experiencing a headache accompanied
by loss of consciousness, fever, stiff neck, personality changes, seizures,
weakness, irritability, vision loss, difficulty in speaking, or paralyzation,
please see a physician immediately. This could be a sign of a more serious
problem!
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What can my health care provider do?
Your health care provider may prescribe one or more of the following medications
for relief during a migraine attack:
Analgesics:
These medications reduce the pain of a migraine and are usually taken
as tablets. Examples include Tylenol, Motrin,
Aleve,
Orudis,
Voltaren,
Toradol,
Darvocet,
Percodan,
Percocet,
Tylenol
#3,
Fiorinal,
Fioricet,
and Midrin.
Side effects of these medications may include cramps, diarrhea,
heartburn or indigestion, nausea or vomiting, constipation, drowsiness,
or dizziness.
Ergotamine preparations
These medications interfere with the widening of the blood vessels
in the head and decrease the pain of migraines. Examples include Ergomar,
Cafergot,
and DHE45.
Side effects of these medications may include nausea or vomiting,
diarrhea, dizziness, leg cramps, or chest discomfort.
Serotonin Agonists
This medication relieves pain and associated migraine symptoms. It
can be taken in tablet form, as a nasal spray, or by an injection.
Examples include Imitrex, Amerge,
and Zomig.
Side effects may include burning or redness at injection site,
warmth and tingling feeling, dizziness, drowsiness, muscle aches, nausea
or vomiting, feeling of chest or throat tightness.
Your healthcare provider may also prescribe a medication that you take
every day to prevent migraine headaches:
Beta-blockers work by affecting the response to nerve impulses
in certain parts of the body. Common examples include
Inderal, Lopressor, and Corgard.
The most common side effects are fatigue, dizziness, depression,
nightmares, and insomnia.
Calcium channel blockers relax blood vessels. Some commonly
used brand names are Calan and Cardizem.
Side effects may include constipation, nausea, and arrythmias.
Antidepressants enhance the function of chemicals in the
brain believed to have a role in the management of pain. Brand names include
Elavil,
Pamelor,
and Prozac.
Patients may experience side effects such as dry mouth, weight
gain or loss, drowsiness, or insomnia while using these medications.
Anticonvulsants, antihistamines, and benzodiazepines
are used less often.
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Websites for more information
Be sure to check out these internet sites for more
information!