Migraines

Migraines are a chronic condition that consists of recurrent attacks of severe headaches. Migraines are a form of vascular headache that can last from 4 to 72 hours. The temporal artery enlarges during a migraine headache. The enlargement of the artery impacts the nerves that surround the artery. Migraines activate the sympathetic nervous system.

The sympathetic nervous system impacts the primitive “fight or flight” response of the body. During a migraine the sympathetic nervous system’s impact on the intestine can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The activation of the sympathetic nervous system also delays the emptying of the stomach into the small intestine. If the stomach does not empty to the small intestine the body will be unable to absorb medication into the blood stream. This is the reason that medication has little effect on people suffering from migraines once the pain of the migraine headache begins.

Women tend to suffer from migraines more often than men, but overall, nearly 30 million people in the United States experience regular migraines. Migraines usually begin in childhood or early adulthood, but can also begin late in life. Most people who suffer with migraines do not receive a migraine diagnosis from the physician.