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Complex Migraine -- Causes and Top 10 Natural Remedies Related Links: Tension Headaches -Top 10 Natural Remedies Butterbur Helps Reduce Migraines Why Is Yawning Contagious? Ideal Breakfast to Prevent Stroke Stroke News Conditions Owning a Cat Cuts Stroke Risk by 40% Snoring Increases Stroke Risk by 67% Last updated March 31, 2017 (originally published March 11, 2011) By Louise Carr, Associate Editor and Featured Columnist Have a splitting headache that feels unlike any other? Do people say your crippling migraine is “just a headache” when you know the pain and discomfort adds up to much more than that? Should you panic when your migraine comes with an additional set of worrying symptoms? Over 36 million Americans suffer from migraines each year, according to the American Migraine Association. That’s one in every four households with a migraine sufferer. The type of sufferer varies from working mom to teenage athlete, just as the type of migraine varies. But a complex migraine is quite different. A complex migraine is a severe headache coupled with neurological symptoms such as loss of vision and weakness. The American Headache Society says one in five migraine sufferers experience these neurological symptoms, or “auras”, before, during or after a migraine. How do you know if you suffer from complex migraines? How can you help prevent these severe headaches? What natural remedies and lifestyle changes reduce the power of complex migraine? Complex Migraine Mimics a Stroke Complex migraine is much more than a headache – in fact, complex migraine produces stroke-like symptoms according to experts. Did you see Serene Branson, the news reporter at February 2011’s Grammy Awards who suddenly slurred and stuttered her speech during the live broadcast? She is said to have suffered a complex migraine, according to Branson's physician, UCLA Chief of Neurosurgery Neil Martin, MD. Difficulty speaking, difficulty seeing and weakness in one side of the body is often mistaken for a stroke. However, a complex migraine is not a stroke and the neurological symptoms usually go away. Do you suffer from complex migraines? How can you help prevent these severe headaches? What natural remedies and lifestyle changes reduce the power of complex migraine? What Are the Causes of Complex Migraines? Complex migraines are caused by the same factors as other types of migraine. The splitting headache comes, experts believe, from blood vessels in the brain that suddenly narrow then dilate. When the blood vessels narrow abruptly, the brain may not be getting enough blood, which would account for the stroke-like symptoms. When the blood vessels dilate, the headache attacks. The blood flow is not permanently blocked, however, so the symptoms of stroke are temporary. Like other types of migraines, complex migraines occur in 4 phases: prodrome (the phase before pain occurs), pain, aura and postdrome. The prodrome phase can last an hour up to over 9 hours. In one 2004 study from the Headache Center of Atlanta, 32.9% of migraine sufferers reported a prodrome phase lasting an average of 9.4 hours. Symptoms included tiredness, mood changes and gastrointestinal problems. Other experts point to the role of dopamine and serotonin (neurotransmitters) that cause blood vessels in the brain to act abnormally if there is an unusual amount of the chemicals or the blood vessels are particularly sensitive to them. Migraines, and complex migraines, can be triggered by certain foods, chemicals or activities. Everyone is different – while your personal trigger could be chocolate or cheese, another’s weak spot may be smoking or alcohol. Who Suffers from Complex Migraine? It seems women more than men suffer from complex migraine - three times more according to the American Migraine Association. According to Robert Cowan, MD, at the Huntington Memorial Hospital, migraines affect 17 percent of females and six percent of males in the United States and white women have the highest frequency of migraines. Migraines, and complex migraines, can affect anyone, at any age. [Update: In fact, a 2012 study from the Griffin Health Institute of Griffin University in Australia led by Dr. S. Stuart has theorized that women have a higher incidence of migraines than men because of a dysfunction in the mitochondrial DNA inherited from our mothers' side.] Are Complex Migraines Dangerous? Apart from causing pain and disrupting your life, could complex migraines be the sign of something serious? According to experts, complex migraines may suggest an increased risk of stroke further down the line. If the blood flow is blocked for too long, stroke is a real danger. A 1990 study of complex migraine by the Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de San Carlos, Madrid reports the association between migraine and stroke is well known – 15 percent of strokes in people aged under 45 were due to migraine. And a 1999 study from the Imperial College School of Medicine, London found migraines in adult women significantly increased the chance of ischemic but not hemorrhagic stroke. This, however, could also be due to the accumulated factors of oral contraceptives, high blood pressure and smoking. Complex migraines can also be dangerous when weakness and vision problems affect you when you are driving, or using power tools. How can you stop complex migraine from crippling your life? Which natural remedies help prevent and reduce migraines? We’ve scoured the scientific literature for the best ways to stop a complex migraine in its tracks. Does Biofeedback Help Complex Migraines Migraines, in general, can be helped by biofeedback and relaxation techniques. This fact has been established over 25 years of research. The studies by and large have used Electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback and thermal biofeedback coupled with relaxation therapy. In one mega-study led by Dr. Angele McGrady of Medical College of Ohio, scientists found that biofeedback resulted in a decrease of 48% decrease of the headache. This study reviewed many other existing studies on the effectiveness of biofeedback. Importantly, scientists have confirmed that the effectiveness of biofeedback in reducing migraine headache severity can last for years. Are there techniques other than biofeedback that reduce complex migraines. We have gathered all the foods and herbs proved to be of help: Top 10 Natural Remedies for Complex Migraine Continue Reading Page 1 Page 2 |
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