Migraine, easy to diagnose, difficult to treat

Migraines are primarily Migraine pain, due to spasms or abnormal stretching of the blood vessels. Few migraine cases due to sinus disease, ear-nose-throat disease, or brain tumor .

Migraine Pain (Photo: dw-world)

Diagnosis of Migraine pain is not difficult, mainly based on the patient's main words, rarely needing additional tests. But the treatment and prevention of migraine pain is not simple, it depends very much on the patient's interest and understanding of the pain.

According to US statistics, about 20% of women and 6% of men with migraine headaches suffer. The disease can occur at any age, from children to older people, but is most common in the age range of 35 to 45 years. Headache Miglaine, from age 50 onwards, the pain will subside, even go away. Recent studies show that about 75% of migraine headaches are related to family factors.

Migraine headaches always appear in sharp bouts, lasting several hours, maybe even up to three days.

A typical pain starts on one side of the temple, or one side of the eye, or one ear, then quickly spreads to the whole side of the head, rarely seeing pain spread to the other side. The pain was intense, pain was sweating, the sick felt like there was a drum beating in his head like the heartbeat. May be accompanied by dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Severe cases, manifestations of hemorrhagic anemia include hemodialysis, sensory and half-hearted disorders, one-on-one look, slow thinking, difficulty speaking. Changing posture, hearing sounds, seeing light is a pain that can increase, the patient just wants to lie still in the silent darkness, afraid to contact people and the surrounding environment.

About 30% of patients before the appearance of pain for about 10 to 30 minutes, with warning signs such as seeing unusual light rays with different shapes and colors, the surrounding objects only see half or look at one, two, think slowly, speak difficult, weak even half-human.

Amitriptyline medicine
(Photo: life-extension)

The remaining 70% have no signs, and are difficult to distinguish from headaches due to stress. If the pain manifests itself clearly, there have been more than five similar attacks before, the pain of Migraine must be considered.

When the weather changes, the living and working environment is too noisy, the stresses in life, sleep does not guarantee the time, diet, alcohol, cigarettes, stimulants . may be the Risk factors increase the likelihood of migraine pain occurrence.

Women in the menstrual cycle, pregnant, using oral contraceptives, using hormone replacement . will alter the levels of sex hormones Estrogen and Progesterone, may also cause Migraine pain.

After many pain, patients need to pay attention to detect risk factors, to take preventive measures, limit the occurrence of pain. The International Migraine Headache Association advises patients to have a diary to keep a record of all pain related information so that the doctor can make effective prevention and treatment measures.

The use of medication and prophylaxis for migraine headaches needs to be directed and closely followed by a doctor. Treatment for pain should be taken early, as soon as the pain appears to increase the ability to absorb the drug. Initially, non-steroidal analgesics should be used to treat seizures. If the patient does not respond to a non-steroidal group of drugs, it is possible to use the Triptans group, which is quite effective in cutting pain. If more than three migraine pain occurs each month, prophylactic medications such as Amitriptyline, propranolol, timolol, divalproex sodium, and methysergide can be used.

Doctor TRAN VAN PHUC
(Imaging Department - Green Hospital)