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Migraine Headache
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Migraines afflict about 24 million people in the United States. They may occur at any age, but usually begin between the ages of 10 and 40 and diminish after age 50. Some people experience several migraines a month, while others have only a few migraines throughout their lifetime. Approximately 75% of migraine sufferers are women. Migraines are classified according to the symptoms they produce. The two most common types are migraine with aura and migraine without aura. Less common types include the following: basilar artery migraine, Carotidynia, headache-free migraine, ophthalmologic migraine, Status migraine. The cause of migraine is unknown. The condition may result from a series of reactions in the central nervous system caused by changes in the body or in the environment. There is often a family history of the disorder, suggesting that migraine sufferers may inherit sensitivity to triggers that produce inflammation in the blood vessels end nerves around the brain, causing pain. Common migraine triggers are: alcohol; environmental factors such as weather, altitude, time zone changes; caffeine (coffee, chocolate); monosodium glutamate (MSG - found in Chinese food); nitrates (found in processed foods, hot dogs, bacon, etc.) ; glare or flashing lights; hormonal changes in women (monthly periods, birth control pills, estrogen therapy); hunger and fasting; problems with sleep - too much, too little or interrupted; medications (over-the-counter and prescription); smells, fumes and odors (perfume, smoke, pet odors, cleaning solvents); stress, time pressure, hassles, major losses, anger, arguments and conflict; excessive or constant noise. |
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