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The concept of abdominal migraine seems strange to most people. Surely, migraine is a pain in the head and nothing to do with stomach ache? While this is true in most cases, we understand that migraine is a condition originating in the brain, which usually results in headache. And, similar physical conditions can sometimes trigger pain in the abdomen.
Around 20% of migraine sufferers experience aura warning signs before the onset of headache pain. Sometimes, taking prompt medication action when these signs occur can abort the pain completely, allowing normal activity to continue. Time windows vary, but migraine aura usually lasts between five minutes to an hour, with an average being around 20 minutes.
Having frequent migraine headaches is bad enough, but a surprising number of sufferers also have other chronic illnesses to complicate matters and that add to their suffering. Sometimes, the illnesses are linked or have similar symptoms and causes. Recognizing both, and getting the correct diagnosis in all cases can help patients understand what’s happening to them, which leads to more effective coping strategies and pain management.
There are dozens of different treatments available to those who suffer from migraines, ranging from various drug medications to surgical interventions.
For many, conventional treatments work well, but they don’t work for everyone. And even when treatments are working well there can be side effects that the patient would rather not have. For sufferers who find drugs don’t work, or those with other medical complications, the emotional upset of frequent drug or dose changes can leave migraineurs...
The first time migraine hits can be a frightening experience. There is a whole army of migraineurs out there, with new sufferers being diagnosed every day. For all of them there was that dreadful, first time experience.
Autumn is a beautiful time of year. There’s relief from summer heat, glorious colorful landscapes as the leaves start to turn, and plenty of fun festivals and holidays to look forward to.
Yes, fall can be wonderful… unless you also suffer from migraines. In which case it can herald the start of your seasonal migraines and just the thought of it can be enough to cause trepidation.
Obesity is such a common condition in the modern world that we tend to take it for granted. Most of us are carrying a few pounds more than we ideally should, with some of us having rather more than a few.
Links between weight and migraine are nothing new, but until now no studies have specifically examined whether being overweight is a contributing factor in episodic migraine.
Women, and increasingly men too, use cosmetics and makeup on a daily basis. We grow up with them and rarely give a second thought to the number of products we rub into our skin. Many of today’s products for cleanliness and beauty are manufactured with a myriad of artificially created substances. Sometimes this is a good thing as they’re often cheaper than the natural alternatives, putting them into the reach of just about everyone’s budget.
Despite countless studies and years of meticulous research by leading experts around the world, migraine has so far defied conclusive explanation or understanding. It’s a common and widely suffered illness, affecting around one in seven people. Symptoms range from those that are relatively mild and which can be easily treated with the correct medication for the individual, to those that are totally debilitating, sometimes for days at a time.
Migraine affects all the members of a family, not just the person suffering the pain although they, of course, bear the brunt. Marriages are weakened if not lost, children can become resentful and confused (even believing they’re to blame for the illness), and friendships can crack under the disappointment of broken promises and missed social events.
