Understanding Migraine Pain

Migraine is one of the severest types of headache. It is also called sick headache because the pain may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Migraine may be caused by increased stretching, swelling and throbbing of the arteries in the head. Such foods as chocolate and various cheeses may trigger migraines in some people. Migraine recurs from time to time and its often so painful that the victim must stay in bed. Some people suffer migraines as frequently as two or three times a week. In other cases, attacks occur several months or even years apart. For many sufferers, each migraine attack follows the same pattern. Before the pain begins, they may see flashing lights or have a blind spot in their field of vision. The pain usually strikes on one side of the head, and nausea and vomiting may follow. Some victims also shed tears, experience blurred vision, or have numbness in an arm or leg.

Different and painful.
Migraine headaches bring crushing pain to many people. For some, what they eat may play a role. If your migraines are triggered by certain foods, it's possible that avoiding those foods may help you avoid a headache. A migraine headache can last from four to 72 hours. It's different and more painful than a tension headache you might get after a stressful day. A migraine may include throbbing and sometimes disabling head pain. Some or all the following may accompany the pain; blurred vision; flashing lights; nausea and vomiting; tingling numbness in you arms or legs; and ususal sensitivity to light, sound or odors. Some people with migraines also have food cravings, mood swings, irritability and frequent yawning.
A link to what you eat?
Almost anything in your lifestyle or invironment can trigger changes in your brain that lead to a migraine . But up to 20 percent of the time, migraines may be linked to a certain food and combination of foods. Although it's still an issue debated by doctors, there may be chemicals in some foods that cause widening of blood vessels in the brains of people who have migraine pain. Foods and food ingredients that are sometimes associated with migraines include:
Alcohol, especially red wine and beer
Aged cheese
Caffeine, especially cutting back
Chocolate
Fermented, pickled or marinated foods
Meats preserved in nitrates
Nuts
Pizza
Foods prepared with monosodium glutamate (vetsin )
The important thing to keep in mind is that not all of these foods cause migraines in e veryone who gets the headaches. In fact, most people with migraines can eat these foods and not get a headache. In addition, if your migraines are linked to what you eat, it may be that only the one food involved. And that food may not provoke a migraine every time you eat it. Unfortunately, this means it takes time and patience to find any dietary connection to your headaches.
Keeping a migraine diary is one of the best way to pinpoint migraine triggers, whether it's food or something else. Use a notebook to keep track of migraine information, and make sure you record;
1. The date and time of your headache.
2. The symptoms you had not only during migraine but before and after.
3. A description of the pain, its location and how severe it was.
4. The treatment you used, such as taking aspirin or using ice.
5. What you are, drank and were doing on the day of headache and the days preceeding it.
You may also want to nte ant changes in your life that took place near the onset of your migraine. For instance, was there a change in your daily stress level, or was the amount of time you slept different?
If you see a pattern developing in your migraine diary, you may wish to talk to your doctor- even if you've already been diagnosed with migraines. If your doctors agrees that your migraines may be triggered by what you eat, you may be advised to avoid a particular food or drink. You may also wish to see a registered dietitian. A dietitian can recommend substitutes for suspected food triggers and help you plan menus to reduce migraine attacks.
Understanding migraine pain because they involve blood vessels in your brain, migraines are also known as vascular headahces. Although much of the origin of headahces is unknown researchers believe that changes in nerve pathways and imbalances in brain chemistry may cause these blood vessels to dilate and become inflamed. The swollen vessels may irritate nearby nerves, causing the intense throbbing pain for which migraines are known.