Migraine

Introduction

Migraine is more than just a bad headache. With over six million sufferers in the UK alone, Migraines have a substantial impact on both personal and working life.

Figures show that 1 in 10 people suffer with Migraine of which nearly 70% are women.

In business Migraines account for approximately 57 million working days of absenteeism, costing the economy almost £32billion when added to medical expenses.

A Migraine attack can last from anything of several hours duration to several days and stress can be a major factor in sufferers. Symptoms can include:

Classic Migraine (with aura)

Visual disturbances include blind spots, flashing lights and zig-zag patterns, or confusion, inability to concentrate, problems with co-ordination, or tingling, pins and needles or numbness on the affected side. These symptoms, known as aura are most often identified with Migraine but in fact only about 10-15% of sufferers experience them.

Common Migraine (without aura)

Intense throbbing headache, often on one side of the head only
Nausea and/or vomiting and/or diarrhea
Increased sensitivity to light, sounds or smells

Migraine triggers include:

Environmental Factors – Pollution
Dietary Factors - Chocolate, Dairy Products, Alcohol, Excess Caffeine, Lack of Food
Hormonal Factors – Menstruation, High Blood Pressure, Toothache or Sinus Problems
Emotional Factors – Tension, Stress, Anxiety
Physical Factors – Travel, Exertion, Lack of Sleep

Although there is as yet no miracle cure for Migraine it is possible to bring the condition under control. There are a wide range of treatments available which can be very effective.

Many people treat their Migraine with simple pain killers purchased from the chemist or prescribed by their GP. Many sufferers feel dependent on medication and appreciate the availability of a non-drug alternative; Cold and dark therapy, herbal remedies, homeopathy, acupuncture, reflexology, aromatherapy, and various techniques which encourage relaxation have been helpful for some people.

Complementary Therapies

Omega 3

Studies on the use of Omega 3 (which is known as a natural anti-inflammatory food) have not proved conclusive in the management of Migraine.

One such study (By Harel Z, Gascon G, Riggs S, Vaz R, Brown W, Exil G.) concluded that "Patients experienced a similar reduction in frequency, duration, and severity of headaches during treatment with fish oil and during treatment with olive oil. Although there was no significant difference between treatments, the marked improvement from baseline experienced by the patients suggests that the effect should not be dismissed as simply a placebo effect. In fact, results of this preliminary study suggest that both fish oil and olive oil may be beneficial in the treatment of recurrent migraines in adolescents. Further studies are warranted to compare each of these treatments with other interventions."

Considering the general usefulness of Omega 3 supplementation in the diet, sufferers of Migraine may simply choose to increase their intake of Omega 3s as the basis of a healthy lifestyle choice and in doing so may find their symptoms improve.