Complicated Migraines
News About Complicated Migraines
A transient ischemic attack describes what complicated migraines are. People experience these complicated migraines because of a temporary lack of blood flow to specific areas of the brain. During an attack, blood vessels in the brain can constrict or swell stopping the blood flow to the brain. Since all of our functions such as speaking or walking has an area in the brain that controls it, these functions can be affected by an ischemic attack. Along with obvious disruption to body functions, severe and pounding head pain can also occur.
Another possibility for suffering with an ischemic attack is a blood clot. They too can cause the vessels and artery's to swell or constrict and blow flow slows down considerably. While complicated migraines are mainly due to a spasm and they rarely last over five minutes.
To make sure a person does have complicated migraines and nothing more serious like tumors or blot clots, they will have to undergo tests. A MRI or CT scan can identify what is causing the restriction of blood flow. Once these tests have been done and they rule out things like tangled blood vessels or more serious conditions, a diagnosis of complicated migraines can be made.
Patients who suffer with this condition may be given simple migraine medications to relieve the throbbing and pain. Occasionally, people can have the symptoms of complicated migraines without the severe pain. They may have problems with functioning but they will have no painful systems. This is called a transient migraine accompaniment. This condition is exactly the same as the transient ischemic attack because it has to do with blood restriction. But it is different because of the absence of pain.
Complicated migraines are not considered dangerous or life threatening. But sometimes they can be. From a spasm, the blood vessels can become severely constricted and cause a clot that cuts off the blood supply. When this happens a stroke can occur. With these types of strokes a blood clot buster medication must be administered immediately. Time is of the essence in this situation because of the permanent damage that can be done to the brain from a lack of blood flow. If the person suffering is not given the proper medication and hospitalized quickly, the results can be fatal.
Most people who suffer with complicated migraines started out with simple headaches that became severe. Being pregnant, advancing age and general health all figure into this condition. An event can happen to trigger or worsen headaches and seemingly for no reason they become more painful. This is why it is important to seek medical help if any headache becomes more painful.
It is a good idea to document all headaches if you have them even on scarce occasions. You should discuss them with your doctor and he might want to do tests to see what is causing the problem. When people have complicated migraines and are hospitalized, it helps the physician to know that they have suffered with migraines before. This gives them a better indication of the problem and how to deal with it. Otherwise he may not know how to proceed and ignore the warning signs of complicated migraines.
A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in treating people who suffer from all types of migraine headaches. So it may be important to find this type of doctor who understands how your particular headache problems affect you. He can prescribe not only pain medications but he can also offer drugs that are available now, that prevent complicated migraines. This can also help if any extreme spasm happens, blocking off the blood flow to the brain.