Migraine Headache Causes Nausea, Vomiting Symptoms for Migraine Headaches Relief Treatment

Are you experiencing a headache?  Are you wondering if it is the migraine type?  And if so, what to do about it?  Following sheds some painless light.

A migraine is a very painful headache, often described as involving pulsating, throbbing pain in one area. During migraine’s brutal attack many experience these additional symptoms:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • light, sound heightened sensitivity

Some report they are given a pre-migraine notice via vision distortion symptoms in the form of:

  • zigzag lines
  • flashing lights
  • temporary vision lose
  • slowly spreading blind spots
  • tingling sensation in an arm or leg

Or some may experience other unusual feelings before a migraine headache strikes, such as:

The cause for a migraine headache is not fully understood.  But serotonin and other brain chemical imbalances are prime suspects for causing its agonizing symptoms.

What has been discovered are some of migraine headache’s triggers.  Avoiding these migraine causes can help you stave off another dreadful episode.

Some general trigger causes include:

Certain foods seem to be the cause for migraine headaches for some, especially:

  • MSG
  • chocolate
  • aspartame
  • excessive caffeine
  • certain seasonings
  • alcohol ~ beer, red wine
  • many canned, processed foods
  • fermented, pickled, marinated foods
  • foods containing tyramine ~ aged cheeses
  • preserved meats containing nitrates & nitrites

Also, certain environmental and sensory related factors give pulsating cause for this extreme headache simply expressed as a migraine:

  • sun glare
  • bright lights
  • high altitude
  • strong odors
  • weather changes
  • seasonal changes
  • glaring, fluorescent lights
  • barometric pressure changes
  • pleasant scents ~ perfume, flowers
  • unpleasant odors ~ paint thinner, secondhand smoke

Once you’ve had a couple of bouts with a migraine headache, you may be able to detect your particular triggers to dodge.

The other issue to tackle in your migraine headache world is relief treatment.  Medications for pain relief and prevention are two basic strategies.  Throw in some healthy lifestyle adjustments and you may go headache free for longer.

Several options available for your migraine headache pain relief after it starts:

  • NSAIDs ~ mild migraine relief
  • triptans ~ severe migraine attacks, drug of choice
  • ergotamine ~ less expensive, less effective than triptans
  • dihydroergotamine ~ more effective, fewer side effects than ergotamine
  • acetaminophen, aspirin, caffeine combination drug ~ moderate migraine relief
  • butalbital combinations ~ high risk of rebound headaches, withdrawal symptoms
  • opiates ~ used for those who can’t take triptans or ergots, habit forming, last resort

Suggested use for these pain relievers is to start taking them upon your first symptom and rest in a dark room.  Also, triptans may come along with side effects, like:

In some cases, migraine headaches are treated with preventive medications.  Preventive drug treatment is typically advised if:

  • 2+ arduous attacks per month
  • pain relief medications isn’t working
  • pain relieving drugs used more than 2x week
  • predictable trigger is approaching ~ menstruation
  • migraine symptoms ~ prolonged aura, numbness, impaired movement

Some examples of what may be prescribed as a preventatives:

  • antidepressants
  • cyproheptadine ~ antihistamine
  • beta blockers ~ typically used to treat high blood pressure,coronary artery disease; side effects can include dizziness, drowsiness, lightheadedness
  • anti seizure drugs ~ typically used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disease; side effects can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, hair loss, dizziness

The negatives for this type of treatment relief is it may not do away with your headaches altogether and some come with side effects.

You may also discover some migraine avoidance benefit from a few healthy lifestyle adjustments, such as:

  • control stress
  • don’t oversleep
  • establish a daily routine
  • ice the back of your neck
  • muscle relaxation exercises
  • avoid your identified causes
  • apply gentle pressure to your head
  • adhere to regular sleep & eating patterns
  • aerobic exercise regularly ~ not too intense
  • birth control & hormone replacement may need to be adjusted
  • rest and relax in a dark, quiet room if you feel a migraine coming on

Additionally, some have found relief with these alternative medicine approaches:

  • massage
  • biofeedback
  • acupuncture
  • cervical manipulation

You may want to give the following herbs, vitamins or minerals a try, as some find them helpful:

Don’t take fever few or butterbur if pregnant.  And discuss these with your health care professional before taking them if you are on any medication or suffer with another health condition.

If migraine headaches are a part of your life, making healthy lifestyle choices do help.

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