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August 16, 2009

Migraine Headache Medication: What You Need to Know



Before you start putting any medication into your body, you are going to want to take the time to learn about what this medication is and what its purpose is. One of the biggest problems in today’s world is that there are so many people on so many different medications, and since most medications come with their own list of side effects, there are more people out there with health problems than ever before.

Whether it is migraine headache medication or any other type of medication prescription, you want to make sure that you are taking the time to learn about it and to weigh out the risks versus benefits before getting started on it.

Medication

There are a few types of migraine prescription medication that your doctor may choose to prescribe for you. The type that they choose is going to depend on a few different factors, including how old you are, how serious your migraines are, and what sort of allergies you may have.

They are going to offer you information on your migraine headache medication before you begin taking it and you have to realize even if they don’t let you know this right away about your migraine headache medication, that this is not something that you can use as a treatment for the long term. Instead, you are going to have to use this medication only for the short term to find relief and after this you are going to need to find a long term solution to deal with your migraines.

The best way to find a long term solution of your migraines is to actually find out what the cause is. This may take some time because there are a few different possibilities, but working alongside your doctor you should be able to figure this out.

In the meantime, make sure that you are prepared for any side effects of your migraine prescription medication, and if the negative side effects of the medication ever start to overwhelm the benefits of the medication, you know that it is pretty much time to stop and that you are going to want to find another means of dealing with your migraines.

They are never fun to deal with but at least knowing that you are not alone is comforting ad you know that you are going to be able to find a treatment that is actually going to work for your migraines.

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August 15, 2009

New Migraine Medication: Stay up to Date



The worst thing that you could do as a migraine sufferer is not pay attention to the news about migraines and the different migraine headache medication as it is released. Especially if you have been dealing with serious migraines for some time now, the only way that you are going to be able to find effective treatment that helps for the long term is if you stay abreast of the news and revelations in the world of new migraine medication.

There are always new migraine medication options that are coming out and you never know, the next one may just be the one that is going to solve things for you and make sure that you get the treatment that you need here.

How to Find Out Information

So of course if you want to try and stay up to date with all the latest and most informative and relevant details on new migraine medication, there are a few ways to go about it. Watching television is probably one of the best ways, along with using the Internet as a resource. With these two means of media, you have access to all the latest and greatest breaking news.

The Internet is really going to be handy because with it you can even actually sign up to feeds for instance, which means that whenever there is new information being released on any topic of your choice, you are going to get the details of it sent to your email.

Of course you can also talk to your doctor and keep in close contact with them when you want to be aware of any new migraine medication. You are going to want to talk to them first before going ahead with any new migraine medication anyway, and so this is something that you are not going to want to forget.

Dealing with migraines is certainly not an easy thing. Migraines are much worse than headaches, and they are often so painful that they are unbearable to deal with. Most people who have migraines are not even sure of what their migraines were caused from in the first place and so in turn they find it quite hard to find effective treatment.

However, with the medication you are at least going to get relief of your migraine pain for now, while you attempt to find the cause of your migraines so that you can get rid of them for good.

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August 14, 2009

Finding the Right Migraine Medication



Anyone suffering from migraines knows just how difficult it can be to deal with migraines which are worse than normal headaches, and to live a normal life. Well there are now new migraine medications out there that may be able to offer you the relief that you are looking for, and with fewer side effects than the other migraine medications that are out there already.

Your Options

Before you are going to be able to decide on the right migraine medication for you, it is going to be important to take the time to learn about what your options for migraine medication are to begin with. There are a few of the migraine medications that you are really going to want to learn more about.

There are actually three particular medications which have been approved by the FDA to treat migraines, and which are the most important to learn more about. There is the Excedrin Migraine product for one, which has a combination of aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine, and which has proven to work very well for migraine sufferers around the world.

Then there is also the Motrin Migraine Pain medication which has also been approved which means that it is considered as being safe to use when you are dealing with a migraine. This is a very effective product that can be used for migraine sufferers of almost all ages which is a really great thing.

Just make sure that you talk to your doctor before deciding on any migraine medication so that you can learn more about what is out there and available to you and most importantly so that you are going to be able to ensure that you are not putting yourself at any risk by taking one of these medications.

At least it is reassuring to know that there are enough options for migraine sufferers. No longer are you going to have to suffer from your migraines and not be able to find any relief. In the world we live in today, there are better medicines and treatment ideas than ever before, and so you can just make sure that you talk to your doctor and they will let you know what you can do to deal effectively with your migraines and get better.

Migraines are never fun to deal with but you can treat them effectively and get rid of them once and for all as long as you go about it the right way.

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August 13, 2009

A Guide to Causes of Ocular Migraine



Most of the people suffer from the traditional migraine headaches, but few also get other types of migraine. Common characteristics of traditional migraine are powerful head pains, nausea and sensitivity to light. Ocular migraine has become more common these days, and is associated with eye and vision more so than the brain. This type of migraine usually starts with the small blind spot within the peripheral vision, and the spot increases gradually over 5-10 minutes to encompass the full peripheral portion of the vision, resulting in object fuzziness or complete blindness.

Causes of Ocular Migraine

Most scientists believe that the causes of ocular migraine are quite similar to those of traditional migraine. The only difference is the change in the area impacted by the blood supply, but all kinds of migraines are caused due to change in the supply of the blood. Traditional migraine usually generates from the surface area of the brain, but cause of ocular migraine is the reduction in the blood supply to the vision center of the brain.

Some of the main causes of ocular migraine include anxiety, chocolates, travel, lack of sleep, bright lights, and artificial sweeteners. Occurrence of ocular migraine can be reduced by identifying the triggers, and then limiting the exposure to them. Seasonal allergies can also act as triggers. Some of the other causes of ocular migraine are certain foods, alcohol consumption, medications, or changes on hormone levels due to menstruation. Make sure that you eat regular small meals as hunger can sometimes trigger the ocular episode. Stress is one of the leading causes of ocular migraine, so learn different ways to relax such as yoga, meditation or tai chi.

Foods such as hard cheese, preserved lunchmeats and bacon, milk, red wine and MSG can also be the causes of ocular migraine. Following a strict vegan diet that excludes all cheese, meat and other animal derived foods can easily control symptoms of ocular headache.

At the onset of ocular migraine, it can be very disturbing to become slowly blind in one eye, but the key is to keep the calm. Find a quiet and dark place, and rest there for 20-30 minutes to disable the effects of ocular migraine. People suffering from frequent ocular migraines should consult their doctor to identify, and then eliminate the causes of ocular migraine. A simple analgesic such as aspirin can provide the immediate relief. Cafergot is the combination of caffeine and tartrate, and is usually quite helpful. Ergotamine is useful migraine medication, and is helpful in treating the headaches and other associated side effects such as vomiting, nausea, tingling sensation and cramps.

 

 

 

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August 12, 2009

A Guide to Frequent Ocular Migraine



Ocular migraine is a type of migraine centering around the eye, followed by aura or blind spot during the development stage, along with the fuzzy vision. Some people experience nausea and pain around their eye when suffering from ocular migraine. There are many factors contributing to the ocular headaches, including hypertension, tumors, sinus conditions, stress and hormonal changes. These headaches are usually not associated with problems related to eyes.

Preventing Frequent Ocular Migraine Attacks

People suffering from ocular migraine feel the throbbing, dull headache along with fuzziness and blind spots. These symptoms usually last for 20-30 minutes, leaving the person fatigued. Some of the most common factors that cause the frequent ocular migraine are alcoholic beverages, stress, foods that contain monosodium glutamate, caffeine and nitrates, environmental factors, lack of sleep, hunger, glare from windows or chrome, use of oral contraceptives, eyestrain, inappropriate intake of food, alcohol, flickering lights, medications, hormonal changes in women and different smells.

To avoid getting frequent ocular migraine, it is advisable to stay hydrated, as dehydration is also a common trigger. Make sure that you drink at least 8 glasses of water each day, and if you take beverages, these must be caffeine-free. Keep the record of the frequency of ocular migraine, what you did and ate just before you got the symptoms, and what you experience during the entire episode. Once you aware of the triggers, it is easier to avoid frequent ocular migraine.

If it is safe for you, take daily aspirin to avoid frequent ocular migraine attacks. There are also certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that encourage the blood flow, preventing the migraine.

To prevent frequent ocular migraine attacks, it is essential to make some lifestyle changes, and stay committed to them. As the ocular migraine causes are still unknown, it is very difficult to prevent the attack from happening. In case of visual distortion, you just need to stay calm till the attack subsides. If there are frequent ocular migraine attacks, it is advisable to consult your doctor and take the medication. You might have to take these medications to avoid the recurrence of ocular migraine.

Just keep in mind that ocular migraine is a harmless condition, and normally resolves without any medical intervention. However, if the symptoms are recurring very frequently, consult an eye care professional for investigation so that other causes are ruled out. Ocular migraines can be very scary, but identifying the symptoms, and getting the appropriate treatment helps reduce frequent ocular migraine attacks. The idea is to reduce the frequency by treating the symptoms each time they occur.

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August 11, 2009

A Guide to Ocular Migraine Treatment



Ocular migraine is also known as silent or painless migraine that involves no headache, and is quite hard to diagnose. The symptoms of ocular migraine vary greatly, and are different from those of traditional migraine. Ocular or opthalmoplegic migraine is accompanied by vomiting, nausea and diplopia. The exact cause of this migraine is not known, but evidence suggest that it involves the blood vessels of the head. The sufferer experiences the gripping and intense pain on one side of the head, and the pain spreads gradually. Unless treated, the pain can last for hours or days together, but at times, it is terminated by sleep. Some of the common symptoms of ocular migraine are visual hallucinations such as visual field defects, zigzags of light, sparks and light flashes. Aneurysms and diabetes are more common causes of ocular migraine.

Ocular Migraine Treatment

There is no precise ocular migraine treatment available, and as per doctors, it is best to identify the triggers, and then avoid them. During acute attacks, many people find resting in the dark, quite room quite helpful until the symptoms subside. Taking a simple analgesic as the ocular migraine treatment for temporary relief is helpful, but other treatments with extracranial vasoconstrictors might be necessary as well.

Many people find the combination of caffeine and ergotamine tartrate beneficial as ocular migraine treatment. For acute ocular migraine, the drug called ergotamine is quite helpful. Sometimes, it is used along with an analgesic painkiller. It is important to note that these medications must be used only few times a week, and must be totally avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you suffer from frequent ocular migraine attacks, it is important to see your physician, and get the appropriate treatment.

Controlling blood pressure, managing stress, or using medication for maintaining the appropriate hormonal levels might be necessary to manage the symptoms. Doctor may also prescribe different work lighting or new glasses as ocular migraine treatment.

There are certain natural remedies that can be used for ocular migraine treatment. These include eliminating sodas and caffeine, avoiding aspartame, eliminating deep fried foods, limiting the consumption of alcohol, exercising daily, limiting the amount of prescription and non-prescription medications and avoiding smoking.

Doing the eye exercise daily is a good ocular migraine treatment, especially if you do a lot of close-up work. Try relaxing the eyes for a couple of minutes for each hour of work. Managing the emotional health is also very important, along with the physical health. Fear and stress are major factors in many diseases, and if you suffer from anxiety, try taking up yoga, meditation or tai chi on the daily basis.

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August 10, 2009

A Guide to Ocular Migraine Stroke



Ocular migraine is common among people who suffer from classic migraine, and they experience a series of unusual visual sensations which are usually followed by the migraine headache. Ocular migraine occurs only in one eye, and as it progresses, you may experience something odd with your vision. You might see a small spot, which keeps getting bigger, followed by a colored, shimmering zigzag border.

Symptoms and Treatment of Ocular Migraine Stroke

Exact cause of ocular migraine is not known, but it is believed to be caused by the unusual stimulation of some nerves at the backside of the brain. In case of classical migraine, spasm affects the surface of the brain, but in case of ocular migraine stroke, the blood supply to the brain’s vision area or eye is affected. There are no fixed patterns associated with this migraine, and it is possible to have several ocular migraine strokes in a week and then not have them for months or even years.

Becoming sensitive to the sound or light could be the indication of oncoming ocular migraine stroke. It is best to consult your ophthalmologist in case you are worried about losing your sight. It is also advisable to consult the neurologist who can rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms such as migraine with aura, stroke or blood clot in the retinal artery.

There is usually no need of ocular migraine treatment, and prevention is the best possible way to deal with the symptoms. Try to avoid the environmental factors or foods that seem to trigger the migraine. If you get the ocular migraine after migraine headache, medications for migraine headache help relieve the symtoms. However, it is best to avoid Triptans to treat migraine as it can adversely affect the retinal blood vessels, and can cause vision loss.

Ocular migraine stroke is more common is people under 40, women, people suffering from diseases like hardening of arteries, lupus, epilepsy, sickle cell disease and depression, and people who have the family history of migraine or other kinds of headache.

If you suffer from regular headaches, it is best to consult your physician so that other reasons of headache and vision distortion can be ruled out. Gather as much information as possible regarding your triggers, symptoms and family history to share with the doctor. Brief visual impairment during ocular migraine stroke can be the indicative of a serious condition such as eye damage or stroke, so see the doctor for correct diagnosis.

 

 

 

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August 9, 2009

A Guide to Ocular Migraine Symptoms



Most of the people feel that all migraine headaches are same, however more than 15% of the population suffers from the ocular migraine stroke. The truth is that there are many different types of migraine, but the symptoms are almost similar. Ocular migraine is the type of migraine in which the aura mainly consists of visual symptoms, and there might not be actual headaches at all.

Ocular Migraine Symptoms and Treatment

If there is no headache, it is very difficult to know if you are suffering from ocular migraine. Ocular migraine is usually known as the migraine without headache, and is a type of migraine that distorts the images. The distortion starts in the center of the image, and then shifts to one side. Ocular migraine usually affects one eye at a time, and as the migraine progresses, the images may turn wavy or grey, and you may lose the sight temporarily.  Holes in the field of vision is one of the most prominent ocular migraine symptoms. You might just miss the part of a picture such as center of the flower, screen of the television and so on. Closing the unaffected eye clears the vision, and you can see the entire picture, however the affected eye has a blind spot.  Another common ocular migraine symptom is that when you look through the affected eye, it seems as if everything has been hidden behind a grey screen.

Nothing is very sharp and clear.  It is important to note that all the ocular migraine symptoms are temporary, and though you might feel that your vision will never be normal again, there is no lasting damage done to the eye. However, the ocular migraine symptoms may interfere with daily activities such as driving, reading and so on.  A good test to find out if you have ocular migraine is to close or cover one eye, and if the symptoms persist, close or cover the other eye. Now, if the symptoms stop, chances are that you are suffering from ocular migraine. And if the symptoms do not disappear, you might just be experiencing the traditional migraine aura.  If the ocular migraine symptoms are rare, the treatment may not be prescribed, as the problem is temporary, but if there is intense pain, the doctor may prescribe the painkillers. For the visual disturbance, any fast working medication is prescribed. It is important to get the proper diagnosis as ocular migraine symptoms might be the sign of a serious problem other than migraine itself. It is also important to rule out any eye disorder or disease of blood vessels.

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August 8, 2009

A Guide to Ocular Migraine



A Guide to Ocular Migraine  Ocular migraine is a type of migraine, and is usually not a cause of concern unless it starts interfering with daily activities. Some of the most common ocular migraine symptoms are flashes of light, blind spots, zigzagging patterns and shimmering stars or spots. The causes of ocular migraine are not known exactly, but in some people, eating certain foods such as shellfish, artificial sweeteners, nuts or chocolates can trigger it. Ocular migraine is also known as ophthalmic migraine or silent migraine.

Cures for Ocular Migraine

The patients of ocular migraine also suffer the usual symptoms of classical migraine, however, there is a basic underlying difference. In case of regular migraine, the visual disturbance occurs in the occipital cortex, but in case of ocular migraine, the disturbance arises from the retinal blood vessels in the eyes. In classical migraine, the aura arises from the brain, however in ocular migraine, it arises from within the eye.  There is a disagreement regarding the causes of ocular migraine, and some health professionals believe that any effect on the retinal blood vessels originates from the occipital cortex. Symptoms of ocular migraine are temporary, and do not cause any lasting harm.

But, having this migraine can interfere with the daily activities, such as watching television, reading, driving and so on. Ocular migraine is treated using the same medications that are used for general migraine.  The sufferer may experience a throbbing, dull headache, along with fuzziness or blind spots. These symptoms usually disappear within 20-30 minutes, but the individual may feel quite fatigued. There might be some issues with learning, and concentrating on the specific objects. There is no sensitivity to the sound or light, but the person may feel nauseated due to irregular sightlessness.  The episodes of ocular migraine can be reduced by restricting the exposure to triggers. Seasonal allergic reactions add to these migraines, as atmospheric alterations are similar to journeying cross-country by airplane.  If you feel that the ocular migraine might be coming, do not panic as it is important to stay calm. Look for a dark and calm place to lie down for 20-30 minutes, or you can take the regular headache medicines such as Tylenol or aspirin.  A good test to verify if you have ocular migraine is to cover your one eye. If the symptoms do not change, close the other eye. If the symptoms stop, you might be suffering from ocular migraine, but if the symptoms do not change, you might be suffering from regular migraine. In any case, it is important to seek advice from your physician so as to rule out any serious eye disease or disorder in blood vessels near the eye.

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August 7, 2009

A Guide to Migraine Headache



A Guide to Migraine Headache Migraine headache is a type of vascular headache caused by several vasodilatations and the release of chemicals by the nerve fibers surrounding the blood vessels. There is a temporary artery that lies just under the skin of the temple, on the outside of the skull. During the attack of migraine, this temporary artery enlarges, and stretches the nerves coiling around the artery, causing them to release chemicals. These chemicals cause pain, inflammation, and further enlarge the artery, magnifying the pain.

Symptoms and Treatment of Migraine Headache

Migraine is a chronic condition with recurrent attacks, but not all are associated with migraine headache. If headache is experienced, it is usually throbbing, intense with a pounding pain on one temple. Sometimes, the pain is also felt around the eyes, in the forehead or in the back of the head. Daily activities usually make the migraine headache worse. Vomiting, nausea, facial pallor, cold feet and hands, diarrhea and sensitivity to sound and light are some of the other symptoms of migraine headache.

A typical attack lasts between 4-72 hours, and the sufferer prefers to lie down in a dark, quiet room to get some relief.  Aura is one of the typical characteristics of migraine headache, and almost 20% of the sufferers experience it. Some of the most common auras are bright, flashing lights of zigzag pattern, and a hole in the visual field. Some people also feel the pins-and needles sensations in the arm and hand. Complicated migraine headaches are associated with neurological dysfunction. Use of biofeedback, ice and relaxation techniques can be helpful in dealing with the attack, however, sleep is the best medicine. To prevent migraine headache, it is essential to make some lifestyle changes, and avoiding the triggers.

People suffering from irregular migraine headache that does not become hindrance in their daily activities only require OTC analgesics. However, to deal with moderate or severe symptoms, make some changes in your daily routine. These changes include fixing the sleeping and waking up time and sticking to it, not skipping meals, limiting stress and caffeine consumption, avoiding flashing bright and identifying the factors or foods that trigger the headache.  It also helps to stop smoking, drinking plenty of water, getting sufficient sleep, and exercising regularly. Ocular migraine is characterized by lateralized pain usually around the eye, and is accompanied by vomiting, nausea and diplopia. Visual disturbance is common, and there can also be visual hallucinations such as light flashes, sparks, visual field defects or zigzags of light. This type of migraine is rare, and is caused due to nerve palsy or weakness. Aneurysms and diabetes are more common causes of opthalmoplegic migraine.

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