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Easing that pain
By Sarah Ng
It usually starts as an intense, throbbing or pounding pain on one side of the head.
Often, the sensation is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, facial pallor, cold hands and feet, and sensitivity to light and sound.
Yes, we are talking abut migraine, the irritating chronic condition which leaves some of us totally useless when it hits.
According to Medicinenet.com, a medical information website run by US doctors, a migraine headache is a form of vascular headache.
During a migraine attack, the temporal artery, which lies outside the skull just under the skin of the temple, enlarges.
This causes the nerves that coil around the artery to stretch and release chemicals that cause inflammation, pain and further enlargement of the artery.
The increasing enlargement of the artery magnifies the pain.
Besides the temples, the pain can sometimes be felt in the forehead, around the eye or the back of the head.
It is also usually on one side of the head, although it can be on both sides a third of the time.
In fact, the word migraine comes from the Greek words "hemi-crania", which means "half-head".
Symptoms of an attack include sleepiness, irritability, fatigue, yawning or cravings for sweet or salty foods.
There are non-medication methods to relieve a migraine.
Putting ice on the head, for instance, can provide symptomatic relief. But for most sufferers, the best remedy is to lie down in a dark and quiet place.
If you want to prevent an attack, you need to identify and avoid the triggering factors.
They range from smoking, foods high in tyramine (sharp cheeses) or those containing sulphites (wines) and nitrates (nuts).
Too much caffeine – found in coffee, cola and chocolates – can also cause headaches. So it is best to limit your intake to not more than two caffeine-containing beverages daily.
Herbs and essential oils are also known to help relieve the severity of migraine.
According to Herbs2000.com, a database on herbs and homeopathy, an infusion of lavender or inhalation of the essential oil has a relaxing effect on the mind and body.
Research has also found that lavender is good for anxiety, nervousness and physical symptoms caused by stress such as tension headaches, migraine and insomnia.
The problem with migraine is that knowing what works for you may take a while to figure out, but with a typical attack lasting anything between four and 72 hours, no effort is too troublesome.
How to avoid migraine
- Sleep and wake up at the same time each day.
- Exercise regularly, even when traveling, as it improves the quality of sleep.
- Manage your stress level.
- If sunlight is a trigger, wear sunglasses when out.
- Don’t skip meals.
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