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    Migraine Headaches, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions
    Migraine Headaches, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions
    Migraine Headaches, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions
    Ebook174 pages1 hour

    Migraine Headaches, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

    By Kenneth Kee

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    About this ebook

    This book describes Migraine Headaches, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases
    A migraine is a form of headache.
    It may happen with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound.
    In many people, a throbbing pain is felt only on one side of the head.
    The migraine is the second most frequent type of headache that may be so intense and debilitating that people with migraine are not able to work.
    Each migraine can last from four hours to three days.
    At times, it will last longer (status migraineous)
    Migraines have a tendency to run in families.
    Four out of 5 migraine sufferers have a family history of migraines.
    If one parent has a history of migraines, the child has a 50% possibility of forming migraines and if both parents have a history of migraines the risk goes up to 75%.
    Migraine headaches tend to first appear between the ages of 10 and 45.
    Occasionally they may begin later in life.
    Migraines happen more often in women than men (5 to 1).
    Causes
    It is now thought that migraine is produced by inherited abnormalities in certain parts of the brain.
    There is a migraine "pain center" or generator in the mid-brain area.
    A migraine starts when hyperactive nerve cells transmit impulses to the blood vessels resulting in the dilation of these vessels and the release of prostaglandins, serotonin and other inflammatory substances that cause the pulsation to be painful.
    Certain brain cells use serotonin as a messenger in regulating mood, attention, sleep and pain.
    The chronic changes in serotonin can lead to anxiety, panic disorder and depression
    Potential triggers are
    1.Emotional stress
    2.Sensitivity to specific chemicals
    3.Caffeine
    4.Changing weather
    5.Changes in hormone levels during a menstrual cycle
    6.Changes in normal sleep
    7.Smoking
    8.Alcohol
    9.Certain odors or perfumes
    10.Loud noises or bright lights
    Symptoms
    There used to be 2 main types of migraines:
    1.Migraine with aura (classic migraine)
    2.Migraine without aura (common migraine)
    An aura is a cluster of nervous system symptoms that is a warning sign that a migraine is coming
    The vision is affected :
    1.Temporary blind spots
    2.Blurred vision
    3.Eye pain
    4.Seeing stars, zigzag lines, or flashing lights
    5.Tunnel vision
    Diagnosis
    There is no specific test to confirm that the headache is actually a migraine
    The doctor may order a brain CT or MRI scan
    An EEG may be required
    Treatment
    There is no specific cure for migraine headaches.
    The purpose is to treat the migraine symptoms right away, and to prevent symptoms by avoiding or changing the triggers.
    Lifestyle changes are:
    1.Better sleep habits
    2. Better eating habits
    3. Managing stress
    4. Losing weight, if overweight
    5. If the patient has frequent migraines, the doctor may give medicine to reduce the number of attacks.
    Medicines may be:
    1.Antidepressants
    2.Blood pressure medicines, such as beta blockers
    3.Seizure medicines
    4.Calcitonin gene-related peptide agents
    5.Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) injections may decrease migraine attacks
    6.Some people find relief with minerals and vitamins
    Treating an Attack
    Pain medicines are taken at the first sign of a migraine attack
    1. Taking medicines more than 3 days a week may lead to rebound headaches that keep coming back from the overuse of pain medicine.
    Too much acetaminophen can damage the liver.
    Too much ibuprofen or aspirin can harm the stomach or kidneys.
    2.Antiemetics for nausea and vomiting
    3.The doctor can select:
    a.Triptans
    b.Ergots
    c.Isometheptene
    4. Other medicines are given to treat the symptoms:
    Sedatives such as butalbital, diazepam
    Narcotic pain relievers
    Imigran a newer drug stops pain
    Spring trans-cranial magnetic stimulation stops pain
    TABLE OF

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKenneth Kee
    Release dateJun 6, 2018
    ISBN9780463679012
    Migraine Headaches, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions
    Author

    Kenneth Kee

    Medical doctor since 1972.Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours inthe afternoon.He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.comThis autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.The later books go into more details of medical disorders.He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) startingwith the Apple computer and going to PC.The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.Dr Kee is the author of:"A Family Doctor's Tale""Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine""Case Notes From A Family Doctor"

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      Book preview

      Migraine Headaches, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions - Kenneth Kee

      Migraine Headaches,

      A

      Simple

      Guide

      To

      The Condition,

      Diagnosis,

      Treatment

      And

      Related Conditions

      By

      Dr Kenneth Kee

      M.B.,B.S. (Singapore)

      Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)

      Copyright Kenneth Kee 2018 Smashwords Edition

      Published by Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com

      Dedication

      This book is dedicated

      To my wife Dorothy

      And my children

      Carolyn, Grace

      And Kelvin

      This book describes Migraine Headaches, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases which is seen in some of my patients in my Family Clinic.

      (What The patient Need to Treat Migraine Headaches)

      This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.

      If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

      Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Introduction

      I have been writing medical articles for my blog http://kennethkee.blogspot.com (A Simple Guide to Medical Disorder) for the benefit of my patients since 2007.

      My purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of my patients.

      Health Education was also my dissertation for my Ph.D (Healthcare Administration).

      I then wrote an autobiolographical account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.com.

      This autobiolographical account A Family Doctor’s Tale was combined with my early A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders into a new Wordpress Blog A Family Doctor’s Tale on http://kenkee481.wordpress.com.

      From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 800 eBooks.

      Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.

      For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.

      The later books go into more details of medical disorders.

      The first chapter is always from my earlier blogs which unfortunately tends to have typos and spelling mistakes.

      Since 2013, I have tried to improve my spelling and writing.

      As I tried to bring the patient the latest information about a disorder or illness by reading the latest journals both online and offline, I find that I am learning more and improving on my own medical knowledge in diagnosis and treatment for my patients.

      Just by writing all these simple guides I find that I have learned a lot from your reviews (good or bad), criticism and advice.

      I am sorry for the repetitions in these simple guides as the second chapters onwards have new information as compared to my first chapter taken from my blog.

      I also find repetition definitely help me and maybe some readers to remember the facts in the books more easily.

      I apologize if these repetitions are irritating to some readers.

      Chapter 1

      Migraine Headaches

      What is Migraine Headaches?

      A migraine is a form of headache.

      It may happen with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound.

      In many people, a throbbing pain is felt only on one side of the head.

      The migraine is the second most frequent type of headache that may be so intense and debilitating that people with migraine are not able to work.

      Each migraine can last from four hours to three days.

      At times, it will last longer.

      Are migraines inherited?

      Migraines have a tendency to run in families.

      Four out of 5 migraine sufferers have a family history of migraines.

      If one parent has a history of migraines, the child has a 50% possibility of forming migraines and if both parents have a history of migraines the risk goes up to 75%.

      Migraine headaches tend to first appear between the ages of 10 and 45.

      Occasionally they may begin later in life.

      Migraines happen more often in women than men (5 to 1).

      Some women but not all may have lesser migraines when they are pregnant.

      What are the causes of Migraine Headaches?

      Causes

      A migraine headache is produced by abnormal brain activity.

      This activity can be triggered by many things.

      But the precise sequence of events is not clear.

      Most medical neurologists think that the attack starts in the brain and affects the nerve pathways and chemicals.

      The changes involve blood flow in the brain and surrounding tissues.

      The precise causes of migraines are not known even though they are related to changes in the brain and genetic causes.

      The cause is thought to be linked to genes that regulate the activity of some brain cells.

      For many years, scientists believed that migraines were linked to the expanding (dilation) and constriction (narrowing) of blood vessels on the brain’s surface.

      It is now thought that migraine is produced by inherited abnormalities in certain parts of the brain.

      There is a migraine pain center or generator in the mid-brain area.

      A migraine starts when hyperactive nerve cells transmit impulses to the blood vessels resulting in the dilation of these vessels and the release of prostaglandins, serotonin and other inflammatory substances that cause the pulsation to be painful.

      Certain brain cells that use serotonin as a messenger are affected in regulating mood, attention, sleep and pain.

      The chronic changes in serotonin can result in anxiety, panic disorder and depression.

      What are triggers of the Migraine?

      Potential triggers of the migraine are:

      1. Emotional stress is one of the most frequent triggers of migraine headache.

      Migraine sufferers normally are greatly influenced by stressful events.

      During stressful events, certain chemicals in the brain are secreted to combat the condition (known as the flight or fight response).

      The secretion of these chemicals can stimulate migraine.

      Repressed emotions surrounding stress, such as anxiety, worry, excitement and fatigue can raise muscle tension and dilated blood vessels can strengthen the severity of migraine.

      2. Sensitivity to specific chemicals and preservatives in foods are common in:

      a. Any processed, fermented, pickled, or marinated foods, and foods that contain monosodium glutamate (MSG)

      b. Baked goods, chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, and dairy products

      c. Foods containing tyramine, which is present in red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, and certain beans

      c. Fruits (avocado, banana, citrus fruit)

      d. Meats containing nitrates (bacon, hot dogs, salami, cured meats)

      e. Onions

      f. Monosodium glutamate (MSG, commonly found in Chinese food) may be responsible for triggering up to 30% of migraines.

      3. Caffeine.

      Excessive caffeine consumption or withdrawal from caffeine can cause headaches when the caffeine level abruptly drops.

      The blood vessels appear to become sensitized to caffeine, and when caffeine is not taken, a headache may happen.

      Caffeine itself is often useful in treating acute migraine attacks.

      4. Changing weather conditions such as storm fronts, barometric pressure changes, strong winds or changes in altitude

      5. Changes in hormone levels during a woman's menstrual cycle or with the use of birth control pills.

      Migraine may disappear after menopause.

      6. Exercise or other physical stress

      7. Excessive fatigue

      8. Missed meals

      9. Changes in normal sleep pattern

      10. Smoking or exposure to smoke

      11. Alcohol or alcoholic beverages,

      12. Certain odors or perfumes,

      13. Loud noises or bright lights,

      True migraine headaches are not an effect of a brain tumor or other serious medical disorder.

      Only an experienced doctor can determine whether the symptoms are due to a migraine or another disorder.

      Migraine attacks may be triggered by any of:

      1. Caffeine withdrawal

      2. Changes in hormone levels during a woman's menstrual cycle or with the use of birth control pills

      3. Changes in sleep patterns, such as not getting enough sleep

      4. Drinking alcohol

      5. Exercise or other physical stress

      6. Loud noises or bright lights

      7. Missed meals

      8. Odors or perfumes

      9. Smoking or exposure to smoke

      10. Stress and anxiety

      Migraines can also be triggered by certain foods:

      1. Chocolate

      2. Dairy foods, especially certain cheeses

      3. Foods with monosodium glutamate (MSG)

      4. Foods with tyramine,

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