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Migraine is a type of headache marked by severe head pain lasting several hours or more. Migraine headache is caused by vasodilatation (enlargement of blood vessels) that causes the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the large arteries of the brain. Enlargement of these blood vessels stretches the nerves that coil around them and causes the nerves to release chemicals. The chemicals cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. The increasing enlargement of the arteries magnifies the pain. Approximately one third of people who experience migraine get a preceding aura, in which a patient senses a strange light or unpleasant smell. The cause of migraine headache is unknown; the most common theory is a disorder of the serotonergic control system.
Some migraine patients have warning symptoms (an "aura") before the headache, including visual disturbance, weakness, numbness, or dizziness. If a stimulus (e.g., a particular food or drink) is found to trigger attacks, avoidance can prevent them. Drugs may be taken as an attack begins (to abort it) or daily by patients with very frequent attacks (to prevent them or reduce their severity).
The treatment of migraine begins with simple painkillers for headache and anti-emetics for nausea, and avoidance of triggers if present. Specific anti-migraine drugs can be used to treat migraine.
Drugs associated with Migraines: |
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