Sometimes you think that if you could just know that it's coming, then you could try preventative methods to avoid as much pain as possible. Just how does a migraine start?
Unfortunately, no one really understands the exact cause of a migraine. The symptoms are known. We also know that something happens to the blood vessels in the brain during a migraine. We also know that chemicals in the body send unusual message with will precipitate a migraine.
The migraine control center is found in the brain stem. This is the area just above the spinal cord and below the cortex. The brain stem is very important to life functions within the body: breathing, blood pressure, and sleep patterns. During a migraine attack, messages from the brain stem are coming out wrong and sending confusing messages. This leads to the migraine chain reaction.
Does something external cause migraines? Is it genetic? Research is confirming that migraines are a genetically based disease. Migraine sufferers are also known as migraineurs . If both parents suffer from migraines, your chances of suffering are great as well.
If only one parent has migraine headaches, you have a 50% chance of developing them as well. The brain of a migraineur reacts differently to visual input. Hypersensitivity may cause the brain to over react to triggers that would not occur in a non-sufferer. Today migraines are sometimes referred to as a neurological disease that is based on an inherited genetic abnormality. More research is being conducted.
So what is really going on, and how does a migraine start in the first place? The brain stem may send out confusing signals. The correct messages could be short circuited, and migraine auras may be triggered due to a wave of increased electrical activity and blood flow. This could be followed by a period of calm. Blood vessels or the covering of the brain could become inflated. This will cause a migraine headache to begin and bring throbbing pain.
This chain reaction will cause a number of things to happen throughout the body. Everybody has different symptoms of a migraine. Some people do not have actual pain, but others do. You may experience nausea, but not everybody does. Most people do not see strange blinking lights right before a migraine starts, but some people do.
How does a migraine start? The answer is that it is unique to every sufferer. The weather can act as a trigger, stress can affect migraines, and some attribute the cause to hormones. If you are confused, know that you are not alone as even scientists do not have all of the answers. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and ways to treat the pain. If you are interested in seeking a more natural approach, talk to your doctor about that as well.
