What causes a headache or a migraine?
I've only ever had four or five migraines in my life - (not just headaches), and lost the best part of today in bed wanting to die to make it stop. The whole nine yards - distress, vomitting etc.
But what causes the pain in your head? The brain is devoid of pain receptors so it's not actual 'brain pain' - what IS it?
Public Comments
1. Well im pretty sure its when the blood vessels in your brain swell. It can be caused by many things like, stress, an uncomfotable position, or an allergy of some kind.2. There is more them one thing that can cause them.
They are not enough water, worrying, not feeling well etc.
3. its because you have a very small brain almost minute
4. my other half
5. The blood vessels don't swell they constrict and become narrower, the blood doesn't flow as easily and this causes pain and throbbing as the blood pumps through the vessels.
6. Almost everyone gets headaches. You might feel throbbing in the front of your head during a cold or bout with the flu, for example. Or you might feel pain in your temples or at the back of your head from a tension headache after a busy day. Most regular headaches produce a dull pain around the front, top, and sides of your head, almost like someone stretched a rubber band around it.
A migraine is different. Doctors define it as a recurrent headache that has additional symptoms. The pain is often throbbing and on one or both sides of the head. People with migraines often feel dizzy or sick to their stomachs. They may be sensitive to light, noise, or smells. In a few people, migraines can also cause auras, such as seeing spots or halos, just before actually getting the headache. Migraines are disabling,
What Causes a Migraine?
Migraine headaches seem to be caused in part by changes in the level of a body chemical called serotonin. Serotonin plays many roles in the body, and it can have an effect on the blood vessels. When serotonin levels are high, blood vessels constrict (shrink). When serotonin levels fall, the blood vessels dilate (swell). This swelling can cause pain or other problems.
7. Hi,
The true cause of migraines is not yet known. We know what the most common triggers are and then what exactly happens in the brain to cause the pain. It is actually a complex process with many receptor sites in the brain involved, not just the seratonin ones.
Episodic migraines (yup that's you) respond very well to doses of triptans such as Imitrex. These are very safe drugs taken only as needed at the onset of a migraine. Talk to your doctor as this could prevent the day in bed routine.
Brain tissue itself is void of pain receptors but it does "register" pain. Something triggers the cascade in the brain and the end result is vasodilation of the blood vessels of the meninges. The meninges do have pain receptors as do the blood vessels...lots of them!
There is a video on the website http:www.headache-adviser.com
It shows the path of a migraine pretty well.
Good luck..hope you have pain free day
http://www.headache-adviser.com/migraine-headache-symptoms.html
8. strong foods can set it off,cheese ,chocolate, caffeine.
maybe curries.
9. Do you eat sour fruits? Pl avoid & observe. Probably your h/a may be because of excess of liver fire.
Acupuncture is the best treatment for H/A or Migraine. But many times shortcuts work wonderfully.
There is no medicine for H/A OR MIGRAINE. Not only these but for almost all painful diseases. Hence they become chronic.
Acidity, WORRY, excessive wind, cold , heat, sour food and sinusitis, constipation, intestinal inflammation; drug side effects, stress, bad smell, TV & COMPUTER SOMETIMES,
Blockage in the flow of Vital Energy are their causes. None of them can be treated with medicine. Our 100% success in treating migraine &H/A confirms it.
Acupuncture is the best treatment.
I can treat it with naturopathy and YOG, but how can you manage pl see.
Pain killers don't treat the pain but we loose the sense of pain for some time; in that duration our body itself treats sometime and credit goes to meds.
Avoid late sleeping if possible; worry, spicy foods, sour fruits, stale bakery foods and alcohole.
Sweet foods, COCOANUT WATER,sweet fruits, milk, rice, SPROUTS, SALADS and good sleep will help you.
But you try one herbal remedy- two drops of drumstick leaves' juice in opposite nostril if one side pains and both nostrils if full H/A will give you rescue. Betel leaf helps but it is very strong.
If it is acute pl search a painful point 3-6 mm behind your thumb nail and press it, H/A will disappear within 30 seconds.
Source(s):
SHREE SWASTHYAYOG TREATMENT, TRAINING & RESEARCH INSTITUTE
R.H. 19, Jhulelal Society, Sector 2/E, Airoli, Navi Mumbai, INDIA.
10. I think there are some changes in your blood vessels when you get migraine....Avoid dehydration,stress..I got mine before I get my period.Just make sure you drink enough water avoid coffee.And when it happens find cold,dark quiet place..some paracetamol.They can be pretty nasty migraines,can't they.
