Migraines
A migraine is a chronic headache that causes severe pain. There are many different symptoms that occur with migraines and everyone is different. Those with migraines can experience nausea and vomiting, numbness in extremities and face, and commonly sensitivity to light and sound. Some people can have aura that precedes a migraine which can be blurred vision or tingling in extremities. The cause of migraines is still unclear, but there are many environmental factors that can contribute to the onset of a migraine. The main treatment for migraines is a pain reliever, and there are some preventative medications.
Migraines are of interest to me because my husband gets migraines and it can be scary. I have tried to find research on what causes them and how to treat them, because I want to have more knowledge about them. My husband’s migraines are severe in pain and he gets a sensitivity to light and sound. He finally found a pain medication that helps prevent severe pain but only if he takes it at the beginning of its onset. He also has aura that accompanies his migraines. His hands and face start to go numb before the pain starts in.
I found a list of resources that are reputable for information about migraines. They are all either government websites or organizational websites. These websites are updated and are published by qualified professionals. All of these resources contain “About Us” links that share background information. These websites were put out on the web to be public and professional resources and to help others gain knowledge.
Medline Plus-Migraine
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/migraine.html
Medline Plus is a website for the National Institutes of Health. This database has great information on migraine headaches. It gives information about symptoms, treatments, prevention/screening, disease management and more. You can find links to articles and organizations for this specific disease.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Migraine
http://www.healthfinder.gov/scripts/SearchContext.asp?topic=549
This website allows you to search health topics A-Z. Once you find a topic there is a section that allows you to narrow your search results. You can narrow it down to disease & conditions, prevention & wellness, or to find a service provider.
National Headache Foundation-Migraine
http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Migraine
The National Headache Foundation, NHF, gives an overview of what symptoms can be seen with migraines while also including treatments and preventive measures. It also includes headache education and personal headache stories.
American Headache Society-Sinus Headache or Migraine
http://www.achenet.org/education/patients/SinusHeadacheorMigraine.asp
American Headache Society, AHS, gives information for the public, patients, and health professionals. It provides resources and tools that can enhance knowledge of headaches.
American Pain Foundation-Headache Versus Migraine (Q&A About Pain)
http://www.painfoundation.org/archive/learn/library/qa/headache-versus-migraine.html
The American Pain Foundation, APF, is an independent nonprofit organization. It gives multiple links to information about pain. This certain article is a Q & A forum differentiating headaches and migraines. APF is great for searching knowledge about many types of pain.
Migraine Research Foundation-About Migraine
http://www.migraineresearchfoundation.org/for-migraine-sufferers.html
The Migraine Research Foundation is a nonprofit organization that focuses on research for migraines. It has links for sufferers, for children, and researchers. This website also contains a migraine fact sheet, FAQs, and everything you need to know about migraines.
