Migraine FAQ
Answering the ten worst fears of migraine sufferers.
- Does having migraine mean that I have a psychological imbalance?
- Am I more at risk of having a stroke?
- Does my brain function normally during an attack?
- Can I pass migraine on to my children?
- Should I avoid all possible trigger of migraine?
- Can migraine be cured?
- Does migraine have any thing to do with my spine?
- Is migraine affected by my hormones?
- Must I rely on drugs for the relief of my symptoms?
- Can I trust the diagnosis since all investigations have been negative?
1. Does having migraine mean that I have a psychological imbalance?
Absolutely not. Migraine occurs in all social groups, no matter what race, personality-type, or I.Q. level. Also the fact that more women are affected by migraine than men is purely the result of hormonal factors, and does not imply that women are psychologically more prone to migraine than men.
2. Am I more at risk of having a stroke?
Although the migraine symptoms of speech and visual disturbances may mimic the symptoms of a stroke, in fact, strokes in association with migraines are extremely rare, and are usually seen in people who have other major risk factors such as smoking.
3. Does my brain function normally during an attack?
A great deal is happening in the brain during a migraine, which can be frightening for the sufferer. But rest assured the changes return to normal after the migraine has finished.
4. Can I pass migraine on to my children?
Between 40% and 60% of migraine sufferers have a family history of the condition; therefore the likelihood of passing it on to your family cannot be dismissed.
5. Should I avoid all possible trigger of migraine?
Although the list of possible trigger factors is extensive, It is wise to try to determine those that influence your own attacks, and avoid them.
6. Can migraine be cured?
Unfortunately, the answer is no.
Although there is no cure for a migraine, there are ways of reducing the intensity and/or frequency of an attack.
It is important to work with your GP.
7. Does migraine have any thing to do with my spine?
The tension that some people feel in their neck at the beginning of a migraine attack is generally the result of the migraine, not the cause.
8. Is migraine affected by my hormones?
During adolescence the ratio of migraine sufferers changes, with women becoming four times more prone to migraine than men.
The contraceptive pill can bring on migraine or increase the frequency of attacks, and up to 15% of women regularly suffer migraine during menstruation. In some patients migraine may improve after menopause.
9. Must I rely on drugs for the relief of my symptoms?
As with most claims of treatment with alternative medicine there are few controlled studies to verify results. Treatments such as psychotherapy, analysis, acupuncture and hypnosis appear to help some people, while having no effect for others.
10. Can I trust the diagnosis since all investigations have been negative?
The diagnosis of migraine does rely entirely on taking an accurate patient history, because to date, there are no investigative techniques that can confirm your diagnosis. Many of the investigations are used to exclude other causes of severe headache
