Causes and Symptoms of Migraine

It is the most common problem seen in society today. A migraine is a common neurological condition characterised by a headache, but some people have associated symptoms of eye and ear.
Classic symptoms of a migraine:

1. Severe throbbing headache on one side of head
2. Nausea and vomiting
3. Sensitivity to light and noise.
4. Prefer quite a dark room to sleep

Vestibular symptoms:

1. Vertigo
2. Dizziness
3. Imbalance
4. Unsteadiness
5. Sensitivity to motion

Hearing symptoms:

1. Muffled hearing
2. Ear fullness
3. Ringing in the ear or tinnitus

Causes of a migraine:
Migraine headaches probably relate to both abnormal discharges in cells within the brain and to the construction of the walls of the blood vessels in and around the brain. But the exact cause of a migraine is not known. Following are the provocating factors which make the condition worse

1. Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
2. Stress altered sleep patterns
3. Diet fast food, oily food, processed food
4. Chocolates, cheeses
5. Coffee sodas with caffeine
6. Alcohol

Factors related to a migraine

1. More common in women than men
2. Symptoms are often worse during menstruation
3. Family history

Management

1. Avoid food, which triggers migraines e.g. Chocolate, alcohol, cheese, oily, spicy, junk and processed food
2. Relaxation exercise
3. Stress management
4. During menstrual period decrease the salt intake and take some diuretic
5. Ibruphen for pain after meal
6. Other treatment with the advice of neuro physician e.g.
   1. Beta blockers agents
   2. Calcium channel blockers
   3. Tricyclic antidepressants
   4. Seratonergic agents
   5. Gabapantin or neurontin
   6. Clongepam
   7. Acetazolamides or diamox
   8. Sodium valporate or depakots
   9. Topiramax
   10. Oxycarbazapine or trieptal