YOUR HEALTH
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Coping with migraines
By Glenda Sanders • Contributing Writer
Suppose you were getting ready to present a big project at work after preparing all week when suddenly you are sidelined for hours with a throbbing headache , nausea and a sensitivity to light . Everyone gets mild headaches from time to time , but migraines are different .
“ The classic thing about a migraine is that you mostly get it on one side of your head . They are throbbing , pounding pressure headaches and may be associated with sensitivity to light and to sound . Some people complain about a squeezing feeling in their head . You may have nausea , and sometimes patients also have vomiting ,” said Dr . Zaineb Daud , a neurologist with Anderson Neurology Center . Dr . Daud , who specializes in migraines , is certified by the National Headache Foundation to treat headache patients .
For some people , an aura may occur during a migraine . Auras stem from the nervous system and may cause you to see floaters in your vision , flashes of light and bright spots or to experience difficulty speaking or to feel a tingling or numbness on one side of the face or body .
The pain from that throbbing headache gradually builds and can last anywhere from four hours to two or three days , Dr . Daub noted . Patients are affected differently . Migraines tend to run in families and occur in people of all ages , including children , she said . Both women and men typically suffer more with migraines between the ages of 15 and 35 . However , migraines are three times more common in women than in men .
One reason for this is because hormonal changes in women can be a trigger , according to Dr . Daud . Many women notice they have migraine headaches before or during menstrual periods , pregnancy and menopause – times when their estrogen levels are fluctuating .
“ Some women have more migraines when they are in their 30s or 40s ,” Dr . Daud said . “ But as they age and their estrogen level falls or stabilizes , the headaches sometimes get better .”
While the causes of migraines are not fully understood , several factors are known to be triggers , including stress and anxiety ; changes in sleep patterns ; intense physical exercise ; changes in the weather or barometric pressure ; smoking ; skipping meals or fasting ; encountering bright or flashing lights , loud sounds and strong smells , including paint , perfume and cigarette smoke ; drinking too much caffeine or a withdrawal from daily caffeine intake .
Certain foods and drinks also can trigger migraines . Among
32 • TIMELESS MERIDIAN