Read 26 times since Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The World Health Organization compares people suffering migraines to quadriplegic and blind patients to illustrate this condition's degree of incapacitation. Specifically, the WHO states that migraine equals tetraplegia and is more incapacitating than blindness- in terms of the number of patients consuming as much health resources as 1000 healthy people.
In Europe, recent estimates show that migraine is the costliest neurological disorder after dementias. The condition especially affects adult women in their working and reproductive years, with a very high prevalence (again European figures) nearing one out of five women. In Spain, more than 12% of the population between 18 and 65 years of age suffer migraine, and there is a long way to go for cultural and institutional recognition of the disease.
Associations and health professionals in the country highlight the benefits of prevention in patients diagnosed with migraine. The condition is episodic, with attacks lasting up to 72 hours. Diverse specific pharmacological substances are available for migraine treatment, further than over-the-counter popular analgesic & anti-inflammatory drugs. Also, therapies based in relaxation and stress management have shown considerable effectiveness in dealing with this downright brutal headache.
Some of the choice drugs used to relieve pain & other symptoms (e.g. nausea, vomits, sensitivity to light and sound) are indomethacin, Excedrin (acetaminophen, aspirin & caffeine), triptans (like sumatriptan, almotriptan, eletriptan, zolmitriptan, rizatriptan and others), Treximet (sumatriptan and naproxen sodium), and dihydroergotamine. They have side effects, especially when taken often or for long periods of time. For instance, triptans provoke nausea, dizziness and weakness and are not recommended if the patient is at risk for heart attacks or strokes.
Regarding prevention, the choice drugs include cardiovascular medicines in the beta blockers group like propanolol, calcium channel blockers and lisinopril; tricyclic antidepressants like nortriptyline, protriptyline and especially amitriptyline; a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, venlafaxine; anti-seizure medication like lamotrigine, valproate, gabapentin or topiramate; and botox (botulinum toxin type A). These drugs also have important side effects and contraindications.
Recently, a Swedish study with 91 women aged 18-65, diagnosed with migraine and suffering
2-8 attacks per month, compared the effectiveness of topiramate, a standard form of relaxation therapy and physical exercise, to prevent migraine attacks and relieve symptoms. The three forms of intervention had similar positive results regarding their effects on migraine frequency and pain intensity relief.
Researchers noted that patients with this condition tend to lead a less physically active life than the general population, and that physical exercise had no side effects when compared to topiramate, making it an excellent preventive intervention choice. The activity recommended to the women in the physical exercise group was 40 minutes, three times per week, on a stationary bike. Maria Gonzales, health blogger for Medico.com on a variety of topics including enxaqueca, diabetes, health 2.0 and more.
|
|
