Migraines affect about 23 million Americans. Among these, 8 million suffer from debilitating pain every year. These attacks render them incapacitated to the point that they can no longer perform their daily activities. In fact, about 60 million work days are collectively lost every year, costing the United States some 17 billion dollars because of the lost time and medical expenses. More women than men suffer from migraine.

Different types of migraine

Although there are other forms of migraines, migraines are often classified as either the classical and the common. Classical migraines have auras, symptoms that are not typically seen in migraine attacks. One example of an aura is the visual aura where a c-shaped rotating light that is bright is seen by the eye.

Other types of aura include temporary double visions or temporary blindness in one or both eyes; numbness in some parts of the body; tingling sensations; vertigo; muscle weakness and even speech difficulties. These are typically seen at the early stages of the migraine.

About eighty percent of people suffering from migraine do not have this problem (common migraine). The remaining twenty percent suffer from the classical form. With the common migraine, typical symptoms include severe headache, vomiting, and nausea.

Ways to combat migraines

There are many ways to treat migraines. Some use behavior modification techniques while others focus on diet restrictions. Because migraine episodes are frequently 'triggered' by environmental factors, doctors recommend that patients avoid these factors as best as they could to prevent the recurrence of another migraine attack. Of course, triggering factors are different for every individual. One must first know what triggers migraine episodes. Some of the most common triggering factors are food, stress and strong sense stimulants such as bright lights and strong odors.

Going for non-prescripted drugs

Perhaps one of the most convenient ways to treat the disease is through medication. In fact, a lot of Americans already self-medicate by taking in non-prescription drugs for pain relief. Although this is not exactly wrong, doctors advice that patients first consult their problem before self-medicating. Severe headaches and the other symptoms of migraines are also symptoms of other diseases. Still, non-prescription drug treatment has become very popular among patients. Among the most popular are aspirin; ibuprofen, ketoprofen; naproxenl; and acetaminophen.

Preventive medications
For preventive medication, there are four kinds of medications that are used. These are the calcium channel blockers such as Calan, Verelan and Covera; the beta blockers, which include medications such as Inderal and Corgard; the anti-depressants Serzone, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft; and of course the anti-seizure medicines such as Neurontin, Gabitril, Keppra, Depakote, and Zonegran.

Calcium channel blockers, which work by blocking the hole that can be found in the blood vessels and the nerves, thereby stabilizing the overactive vessels, are often used as first-line medication for people who are suffering from the classical form of migraine.

People with common migraines, on the other hand, respond well with beta blockers. One must remember though that Beta blockers cannot be used by people who have asthma and diabetes. Chronic migraine is often treated with the anti-depressants, which target the brain' serotonin levels, which can be lowered when there is a migraine episode and the anti-seizure medications, which stabilize the nervous system.