Chief Headache Case Study

Chief Headache Case Study
Chief Complaint
Headache.
History
Patient is a 19–year–old right–handed white female who is a fair historian. She states that she started
having headaches as a child. Her father told her that he also had headaches and that they would
eventually go away. She describes having a severe headache, which she calls her first migraine, after
softball practice at age 12. Menarche was at age 13 with no change in her headaches. Her headaches
have not been menstrually related. There was no clear change in her headaches during pregnancy or
in the postpartum period. She states that she gets a dull headache two to three days out of a week.
This is in variable locations on her head, but can also be a nuchal. The pain is of variable quality, but
it does worsen with exertion. She also gets more ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In the past, they have been on the average of one everyone and half weeks. They start at the vertex
and radiate to the nuchal area and retrobulbar area. They are throbbing, worsen with exertion. She
has nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia with these. Precipitants include stress. She has never
been on any prophylactic medications or triptans. She had a severe migraine a few months ago,
resulting in a dull, daily headache for one month. She had another severe migraine two weeks ago,
which was present for a whole week. She had a spinal tap done. She previously had negative serum
Lyme titers. The CSF Lyme Western blot was positive for four bands. Her primary care physician
did give her a course of doxycycline. The emergency room gave her Tramadol, which does not
work. She has been using Tylenol with Motrin two to three days out of the week. Family history
includes a sister and
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Informative Speech About Herbal Medicine
General Purpose: To inform.
Specific Purpose: To inform the audience about herbal medicine.
Central Idea: To inform the audience about the history of herbal medicine, provide examples of
common herbal medicines and uses, and share my own experiences with herbal medicine.
Introduction
I. "Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are"– Alfred Austin (1835–1913)
II. Herbal medicine has been used for many, many years and is a great natural alternative to modern
medicine.
III. My name is Kristen Cox and I have found myself becoming more and more inclined to use
herbal medicine for a few years now. I am Pagan and have used herbs a lot in my daily life for
spiritual practices and now I am also learning more about herbs for medicinal ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
C. In the 16–1800s having a garden was thought to be a necessity of life says Martha White in
Traditional Home Remedies. (White 2000)
1. Depending on what each person's purpose was for having a garden, each garden would have
different elements. A nurse or midwife would have medicinal herbs, a spinner or weaver would have
dye plants, or a decorative garden would have brightly colored flowers. (Pleasant 2004)
2. In 1651 the reference book Culpeper's Complete Herbal came out and created an even bigger
community of avid herbal users. This book was the most popular herb book for decades.
D. Throughout the course of history, herbs started to receive a negative reputation due to practices
like Native American medicine and Pagan ceremonies becoming superstitious and almost taboo in
modern culture.
1. In the 1960s there was a large population of people trying to become more Earth oriented and
nature friendly, so the herbal culture exploded once again.
2. Today herbs are more accepted for medicinal purposes, health purposes, and religious purposes.
Transition: Now that we have discussed the history of herbal medicine I would like to tell you some
common herbs and uses in modern day.
II. In modern day, herbal medicine is making a comeback.
A. Today we have three different groups of medicinal herbs. These are

Lifestyle Modification
The role of lifestyle modification in the treatment of migraines is to prevent future migraines by
identifying the triggers, finding suitable medications, and enforcing preventative measures. The first
step of making a lifestyle change to treat migraines would be to identify the environmental triggers
that cause migraines. There is not an identifiable cause of migraines because of the wide variety of
them, but there are some known triggers that cause migraines. These include hormone imbalances in
women, food triggers, changes in weather, and possible alcohol (Mayo Clinic). Some food triggers
include cheeses, salty foods, and processed foods. By identifying these triggers, it is possible to
prevent future migraines. The second step is to find

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome: A Case Study
Introduction Approximately 2% of children are thought to suffer from cyclic vomiting syndrome
(CVS), with an increasing number of cases in adults as well. (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2013) It is a
chronic disease; the individual will suffer bouts of severe nausea and vomiting, and then go into
remission for a period of time. Some of the patients have noticed episodes occurring more
frequently at certain times of the year, while others experience it during certain times of the day;
especially in the morning. CVS occurs in four phases; prodromal, emetic, recovery, and
asymptomatic. During the prodromal phase, the individual may feel nausea, fatigue, feverish,
lightheadedness, and a sense of doom, among others. They may also experience tachycardia and
hypertension due to adrenaline. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It also includes hot flashes, chills, headache, photo/audio sensitivity, and diarrhea. Patients will
frequently feel horrendously dehydrated and will drink large amounts of water; only to throw it back
up soon after. Finally, some patients have reported being in a "conscious coma", which includes
lethargy, listlessness, withdrawal, and disorientation. This phase can last for several hours to several
days and can have serious consequences such as electrolyte abnormalities, GI bleeding, and
esophageal perforation. The recovery and asymptomatic phases occur afterwards, where the patient
is able to take oral medications without issue. (McCallum, R. W., Parkman, H. P., et al, 2015.)
Causes for this condition are unknown, but it's thought to be activated by certain kinds of stress on
the body. This is including but not limited to colds/allergies, emotional stress, anxiety, overeating,
menstruation, and motion sickness. Migraines and the use of marijuana have been studied in their
relationship with CVS, but there is nothing yet proving these possible links. (Mayo Clinic Staff,

Case Study: Vertebral Dissection And Stroke
Chief Complaint
Vertebral dissection and stroke.
History
Patient is a 26–year–old right–handed white female who presents with her husband for followup
after a vertebral dissection and stroke. This is an individual who has a long history of migraines.
They went away during her pregnancy. Her child is six months old. After pregnancy, they started to
recur again. She had a migraine on August 1, 2015 that was very severe and included intractable
nausea and vomiting. For this she went to Wentworth Douglass Hospital Express care, where she
was treated with medication for the symptoms. She went home, but later that night noted that the
symptoms worsened, and she started having some visual field problem. At the time, she was lying
on the sofa ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It was felt that these represent prior dissections or vasculopathy. The MRI of the brain did show the
acute infarct involving the left medial occipital lobe with mild associated edema, but it did show that
the small bilateral cerebellar hemisphere infarcts seemed more chronic. She had a cardiac
echocardiogram, which was negative. She had ultrasound of the renal arteries, which was negative.
She did have a PFO on cardiac echocardiogram. They thought that most likely she got a vertebral
dissection during labor and delivery. Because of the size of the stroke, anticoagulation was not
given. She was put on aspirin 325 mg and discharged for follow up with her primary care and
neurology. They recommended a three month follow up CT angiogram of head. They continued her
on her Topamax 50 mg for her headaches. Currently, she is compliant with these medications. She
does state that she still has some neck pain and a visual field cut. On the day she arrived home from
the hospital, she had a severe headache with a scintillating scotoma. This is the first time she ever
had a scintillating scotoma. She has had migraines her whole life. She was seen by Coastal
Neurology for a while and was doing great on Topamax 75 mg. She got off this to

Pathogenesis of Menstural Migraines Essay
A migraine is a common, chronic, and debilitating neurovascular disorder. It is characterized by
attacks of serve headache along with autonomic nervous system dysfunction and some patients an
aura neurological symptom (Goadsby, Lipton, & Ferrari, 2002). Migraine attacks start at any age but
they peak in the early to mid adolescence age. Migraines rates were observed for a year and the
results showed the prevalence of migraines being 11% overall, 6% among men and 15–18% in
women(Stewart WF, Lipton RB, Celentano DD, & Reed ML, 1992). Although prevalence of
migraine is similar in preadolescent boys and girls, when the onset of the menstrual cycle occurs, it
changes. After onset, migraine attacks are two to three times higher in girls ... Show more content on
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If there is menstrual association with migraines they are subdivided by a more menstrual cycle
related frequency.
Characteristics of menstrual migraines are usually that they are more resistant to treatment, not
associated with aura, of longer duration than other migraine types and have more functional
disability compared to migraine attacks other times of the month (Headache Classification
Subcommittee of the International Headache Society, 2004). The International Headache Society
characterizes menstrual migraines as ones that occur without aura but they may also occur with aura.
Migraine without Aura
These migraines last as long 4–72 hours. They are characterized by one–sided location, moderate to
severe pain strength, pulsating or provoked by routine physical activity. They are associated with at
least 2 of the following: nausea, vomiting, photophobia (sensitivity to light), phonophobia(fear of
loud sounds) or osmophobia(fear of odors) (Headache Classification Subcommittee of the
International Headache Society, 2004)
Catamenial Migraine
Migraines that have a temporal associate with menses are referred to as catamenial migraines and
can be either pure menstrual or menstrual related migraine. Precise diagnosis of catamenial migraine
can be known by using headache diary recoding of at least 3 months to determine if there is any
temporal associated between headache and menstruation cycle

Glaxo Wellcome Mini Case Essay
Glaxo Wellcome Inc.
Mini–case Report
April 2, 2007
[pic]
Executive Summary
Glaxo Wellcome Inc's primary business is to market prescription products to physicians and health
care providers. One of the top three pharmaceutical firms in the world, Glaxo Wellcome Inc. held
about 4 percent of the worldwide prescription pharmaceutical market. The U.K. based company was
formed in 1995 when Glaxo Pharmaceuticals acquired Burroughs Wellcome. While the company is
based in the U.K., the U.S. market represented approximately 40 percent of worldwide sales while
the U.K. produced about seven percent. As of 1997 Glaxo Wellcome Inc. had 22 local operating
companies in nine countries including the U.S. Because of the harsh requirements of the ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The implications of these two differences in terms of positioning strategies are vast. The inability to
utilize DTC advertising prevented the U.K. from successfully pursuing alternative positioning
strategies, such patient–based segmentation, due to concerns about the physician's ability to identify
such segments and further confusing the prescribing process. Moreover, in a socialized health care
system where patients are entitled to free medical care, patients can seek treatment easier and can be
less involved in the prescribing process than in an insurance–based system where there is more
monetary involvement. Although this strategy might communicate a clear message about the drug's
superiority, it would devalue the brand name built for Imitrex, drastically impacting its potential
profitability as well as the ability to continue to recuperate the high investments already sunk into
the R&D and marketing of Imitrex.
2. Competition Strategy: since Zomig is expected to be launched prior to the FDA approval of
Amerge, Glaxo U.S. can position Amerge directly against Zomig. They can utilize their position as
the market leader to leverage Amerge's positioning as the true second–generation triptan providing
the best relief on the market. Glaxo U.S. can back up their claims with the results from the UK
where the majority of previous non–triptan users prefer Naramig. Although this strategy could

Ptinue Continued Research
The search for a new anti–migraine drug was started by Glaxo in 1972. In the 1960s, studies showed
that vasoconstriction from 5–HT, ergotamine and nor–adrenaline could reduce migraine attacks.
Research also showed that platelet 5–HT level reduces during migraine attacks. Many side–effects
were associated with the use of 5–HT as a drug and then scientists started research on the receptors
of 5–HT in order to discover and develop a more specific agonist for 5–HT receptors. Research on
the 5–HT receptors and their effect led to discovery of several types and subtypes of 5–HT.
AH24167 showed a vasodilatory effect instead of vasoconstrictory due to the agonist effect on
another type of 5–HT receptors later assigned the name 5–HT7. AH25086 was the second
compound developed and showed a vasoconstrictory effect but was not released as a drug due to
low per oral bioavailability. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Clinical trials with subcutaneous sumatriptan showed that 70–80 per cent of patients had reduced
pain by one hour after treatment. Sumatriptan was launched in the subcutaneous formulation in
1991. In subsequent studies of oral sumatriptan 100mg–300mg, around 70 % of patients responded
to treatment within two hours of administration and this led to the launch of 100mg sumatriptan
tablets. Sumatriptan was first launched in the Netherlands in 1991 and became available in the USA
during 1993. In year 2008, Treximet, a combination of sumatriptan and naproxen was approved by
US–FDA for the treatment of migraine attacks. This combination has shown better efficacy in
treating migraine attacks over other anti–migraine

Adults Who Suffer From Chronic Migraine
Population– Adults who suffer from chronic migraine.
Intervention– Onabotulinum toxin A [botox].
Comparison– Botox injections versus topiramate as prophylactic therapy for chronic migraine.
Outcome– Efficacy of botox as a prophylactic therapy for chronic migraine patients.
Methods
A limited literature search was conducted on July 15, 2015 using PubMed, TripDatabase as well as a
focused Internet search. The retrieval was limited to human populations and documents published
within the past 5 years. A total of 99 journal articles were found and reviewed. The abstracts were
scanned for relevance and 20 were identified as containing important information. These 20 articles
elucidated 18 new articles which were included as well.
Chronic migraine is a debilitating condition with over $1 billion in medical cost and $16 billion in
lost productivity per year in the United States. (25) Here we examine the efficacy of
onabotulinumtoxinA [botox] injections versus topiramate as prophylactic therapy for chronic
migraine (CM) in adults. Chronic migraine (CM) is a specific and relatively newly defined sub–type
of Chronic Daily Headache (CDH) defined as "more than fifteen headache days per month over a
three month period of which more than eight are migrainous, in the absence of medication over use.
Episodic migraine is the other migraine sub–type, which is defined as less than 15 headache days
per month." (14)
Due to the severity and duration, people with chronic migraine may

Meningitis College Essay
My name is Sruthi Venkatachalam and I am a rising senior at Olentangy Orange. I am unsure what I
will major in or pursue after college, so I am looking into colleges are excellent in a variety of
different disciplines. I am currently exploring all of my options– like med school, Foreign Service,
or mathematics– and trying to find out what suits me best.
There are over 4000 people affected by bacterial meningitis and around 500 deaths from this in the
US every year ("Meningitis."). 6000 cases of pneumococcal meningitis are reported in the US each
year and meningococcal meningitis infects close to 2600 people in the US each year ("Meningitis.").
10–15% of these meningococcal cases are fatal, while an additional 10–15% lives with permanent ...
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In fact, a specific region of Africa has been dubbed the meningitis belt. Those living in this sub–
Saharan region stretching from Senegal to Gambia are at risk for the lethal epidemics that ravage the
land during most dry seasons ("PATH."). Bacterial meningitis works in a very specific way, with
quite a few symptoms; however, adequate treatments and vaccines have been developed.
Third Grade Level Disease Description:
Bacterial meningitis is the swelling of the meninges. In the back of the brain, there are three
protective membranes called the meninges (Mandal). During bacterial meningitis, bacteria invade
the brain. This causes the immune system to enter and try to stop the disease (Mandal). In doing so,
the meninges swell to stop the spread the virus, but this unfortunately causes damage to the brain
and spinal area (Mandal). A person would get bacterial meningitis if their body was invaded by
some of the germs that can cause it. Imagine the bacteria as robbers trying to invade a house, the
body in this analogy. The immune system is the police officers in charge of the house, and the
meninges are the alarms around the point of the house that the robbers want to come in through. The
robbers trick the police officers into helping them rob the house. The robbers used the police
officers, originally intended to do good.
A person would get rid of these germs by taking drugs that would be used to specifically target the
germs like police officers

Migraine Research Papers
Migraines Migraines are one of the oldest diseases in human existence. Their presence has been
noted spanning back thousands of years, and across a multitude of cultures. Many explanations and
treatments have been attempted in order to better understand and treat those that suffer from
migraines. According to Key Facts and Figures about Migraine (2014), migraines are the most
common neurological condition in the developed world, even more prevalent than diabetes, epilepsy
and asthma combined. The statistics on migraines are very alarming because of the very little
knowledge of the actual cause of the disease. The migraine trust compiled a list of different studies
and concluded the following. "Severe migraine attacks are classified as among the most disabling
illness, comparable to dementia, quadriplegia, and active psychosis. There are an estimated 190,000
migraine attacks every day. Depression is three times more likely in people with migraines,
Migraines remains undiagnosed and undertreated in at least 50% of patients. Over half ... Show
(2013) sheds light onto the theory of genetics as a cause of migraines. His research found that
migraines could be blamed on brain artery structure. More specifically, an incomplete network of
arteries that supply blood to the brain could be a culprit for migraine headaches. They found that
people with migraines actually do have differences in the structure of their blood vessels, and it is
something that individuals are born with. It is possible that these differences lead to changes in the
blood flow to the brain, which triggers the migraine. This study focused on the circle of Willis,
which is a set of connections between major arteries that protect the supply of blood to the brain. In
this study, of the people who suffered from migraines with aura, 73% had an incomplete circle of
Willis. While of the healthy controls that did not get a migraine, only 51% had an incomplete circle
of

Symptoms And Treatment Of Non Odontogenic Toothache Essay
Non odontogenic toothache, as its name suggests, is a painful condition that occurs in the absence of
any clinically evident cause in the teeth or periodontal tissues.
In approximately 3.4% of the teeth that receive endodontic treatment, the pain is either initially
caused by a nonodontogenic etiology, or the posttreatment pain is due to a nonodontogenic
phenomenon, and 9% have a mixed condition of odontogenic and nonodontogenic toothache
If the reason for the pain cannot be identified at the exact location the patient perceives it,
investigate whether its etiology is in the region.
Nonodontogenic toothache may arise from a primary condition or from multifactorial aetiologies;
nonodontogenic toothache was categorised into eight groups according to primary disorders as
follows: 1) myofascial pain referred to tooth/teeth, 2) neuropathic toothache, 3) idiopathic
toothache, 4) neurovascular toothache, 5) sinus pain referred to tooth/teeth, 6) cardiac pain referred
to tooth/teeth, 7) psychogenic toothache or tooth ache of psychosocial origin and 8) toothache
caused by various other disorders.
Nonodontogenic toothache is a heterotopic pain. It consists of projected nerve pain which is felt
throughout the peripheral distribution of the affected nerve (trigeminal neuralgia, cluster headache,
post herpetic neuralgia etc.) or referred pain as a result of convergence and central sensitisation
(myofascial pain referred to tooth/teeth, toothache, sinus pain referred to
tooth/teeth,

The Efficacy And Cost Effectiveness Of Prescription...
Objective
Chronic migraine is a debilitating condition with over $1 billion in medical cost and $16 billion in
lost productivity per year in the United States. (25) Here we examine the efficacy and cost–
effectiveness of onabotulinumtoxinA [botox] injections versus topiramate as prophylactic therapy
for chronic migraine (CM) in adults.
Methods
A limited literature search was conducted on July 15, 2015 using PubMed, TripDatabase as well as a
focused Internet search. The retrieval was limited to human populations and documents published
within the past 5 years. A total of 99 journal articles were found and reviewed. The abstracts were
scanned for relevance and 20 were identified as containing important information. These 20 articles
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(16, 17)
The symptoms of chronic migraine can be disabling. (18) With 15 or more headache days per month
some people are unable to work. Unfortunately, current therapies are often not enough to prevent or
reduce the impact that chronic migraine has on the quality of life for these patients. Depression and
isolation are frequently reported in patients who are unable to cope. (19)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), migraine is recognized and its impact
categorized as causing the same level of disability as dementia, quadriplegia and acute psychosis.
Additionally, the WHO characterized chronic migraine as equal to or more disabling than blindness,
rheumatoid arthritis or paraplegia angina. (19)
The American Migraine Study II was a follow–up study conducted in 1999 to describe the
prevalence, sociodemographic profile, and impact of migraine in the United States compared to the
previous study in 1989. A questionnaire was mailed to 20,000 households to identify International
Headache Society criteria–based migraine sufferers. Of 43,527 age–eligible individuals, 29,727
responded to the questionnaire, for a 68.3% response rate. Twenty–three percent of respondent
households had at least one member with migraine. Since the 1989 study, migraine sufferers have
increased by 4 million which is consistent with population increase. (20) In total, about 2% of the
adult population has chronic migraine with over 80% going undiagnosed with this disorder. (3)
Here we will

Symptoms And Treatment Of Migraine Insomnia
ABSTRACT
Migraine headaches are chronic neurological ailments that affect approximately 12% of patients in
the United States and cost businesses nearly $13 billion in missed workdays each year. Managing
migraine headaches is important for workplace productivity, as well as maintaining a high quality of
life. Most commonly, patients begin their quest for management with over–the–counter medications
such as ibuprofen or Advil, which are first–line treatments for mild to moderate migraine.
Sumatriptan, a prescription medication, should be used first–line for moderate to severe migraine. In
patients unable to take Sumatriptan, telcagepant may be an effective alternative for acute migraine
treatment. Preventative migraine treatment continues to be an area of difficulty in migraine
management due to adverse side effects and limited proof of efficacy of commonly prescribed
medications. Propanolol may be the most tolerable preventive medication, but may not be cost
effective in patients already managed with triptans. Several alternative treatment options such as
Botox, acupuncture and targeted cooling therapy, may have a place in migraine prevention and
treatment. EPIDEMIOLOGY
The World Health Organization ranks headaches 19th among "causes of years lived with
disability".1 Patients that suffer from migraine headaches are more likely to have psychiatric
comorbidities, a lower socioeconomic status and additional occupational disabilities, which
additively create a diminished

Migraines Research Paper
Migraines are more than severe headaches; their symptoms include much more than pain in the head
and, therefore, are a different health condition than headaches. The migraine is divided into four
different stages, prodrome, aura, attack, and postdrome. Each stage has its own set of symptoms.
The prodrome occurs days before the actual episode. It has some recognizable symptoms, such as
food cravings, depression, irritability, and constipation. However, these are often overlooked
because they are subtle and could be caused by many other illnesses. The aura occurs a few hours to
a few minutes before or sometimes during an attack. Auratic symptoms are more severe than others
and include anything from temporary vision loss or visual disturbances ... Show more content on
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Several herbal supplements considered helpful by some include feverfew, butterbur, peppermint,
willow, and caffeine (Stickler). Feverfew, also called featherfew, was originally used in Greece
around fifth–century B.C. It has been used to treat a wide variety of illnesses, like headaches,
dizziness, and inflammation, but it has mixed reviews in the modern treatment of migraines. Two
different studies have disagreeing results, but feverfew is still widely used by migraine patients
worldwide. Butterbur has been proved useful in the prevention of migraines in multiple studies, but
it isn't widely known among most doctors. Also, the chemical menthol found in peppermint was
proven to ease nausea and migraine pain in a 2010 study. In addition, willow bark extract was used
in the development of aspirin, but is commonly skipped over in migraine treatments today. Several
studies show that this extract is useful even without one anti–inflammatory ingredient in the
treatment of migraines. Caffeine has been deemed useful in the treatment of migraines for years, and
is relatively easy to find. However, if caffeine intake is reduced it can cause headaches and
migraines due to withdrawal. In spite of that fact, caffeine is the most widely used herbal remedy by
migraine patients, even if they don't realize it. Many migraine patients unwittingly get

Symptoms And Symptoms Of Migraines
Migraines are debilitating conditions that impinge on the lives of between 12 and 24 million
Americans, and remain grossly under diagnosed. "World Health Organization has ranked migraine
in 2010 Global Burden Survey as 3rd most prevalent disorder and the 7th highest cause of disability
worldwide" (Singh 255). Individuals suffering from migraines typically cannot participate in normal
daily activities such as school, work, or social occasions due to pain. With an onset of a migraine,
people often retreat to a quiet and dark room until the migraine subsides. Individuals experiencing
numerous and frequent migraines are often confined to these spaces. This correlates to people
developing other illness such as depression and anxiety. They are ... Show more content on
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Migraines are linked to heredity.
Anatomically speaking, what is taking place during a migraine? A common headache is caused by
the cranial blood vessels narrowing, while migraine pain is due to the expansion of those blood
vessels. During a migraine, the tissue surrounding the brain is swollen, causing intense pain.
"Migraines are caused by a progression of several things: pain–sensing cells in your brain stem pick
up on this change in your routine and release a chemical; this chemical attacks other pain–sensing
cells nearby, making them more sensitive to pain. They also release neuropeptides; some of these
chemicals begin to work on the muscles surrounding the blood vessels near the surface of your
brain. Those muscles relax, making the blood vessels dilate and causing more blood to flow. This is
where doctors think the aura in a classic migraine comes from. Some of the neuropeptide chemicals
cause the cranial vessels to begin leaking, making the tissue around the area swell. Research now
shows that the combination of these factors; increased sensitivity, swelling brain tissues and
swelling of blood vessels, is the cause of migraines" (Pocock 2). For the people afflicted with this
disease, it is essential to comprehend what is anatomically and physiologically occurring during a
migraine episode. There are four possible phases to a migraine attack: prodrome, aura, headache,
and postdrome. In the initial phase: prodrome, it is often referred to as the

Migraines: A Complex Disorder Essay
Migraines: A Complex Disorder
If I can only make it to my bed, I'll be fine. My head hurts terribly. I would do anything to stop the
pain. I've taken three extra strength Tylenols and the pain hasn't diminished at all. My head is
spinning. Ever so often, the world around me turns dim and then bright. I close my eyes. I need to
lie down, but I am driving. I feel nauseous. The pain that started on one side of my head is spreading
as it pulsates. I squeeze my head and rub my temples, but the pain remains. I wish for a lobotomy. I
wish somebody could stop the pain. I'm home. I run to my room. I tie a rag tightly around my head.
It doesn't help. I press my head against a wall. I feel like vomiting again. I know relief is coming
soon. I ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In particular, this burden includes "the economic and emotional difficulties that family experiences
as a result of migraine" name="2">2) "http://www.w–h–a.org/wha/info.asp">World Health Alliance,
a source of current articles about migraine headaches. According to one report, migraine headaches
account for 1.4% of total years of life lost due to disability in both sexes of all ages name="2">2)
"http://www.w–h–a.org/wha/info.asp">World Health Alliance, a source of current articles about
migraine headaches. Despite all this data, migraines are not considered by many to be a legitimate
medical problem.
Migraine headaches, as previously noted, are not unique to Americans, nor are they an exclusively
modern disorder. In fact, there exists a rich body of historical literature that demonstrates the
progression of mankind's knowledge of the headache from the "magical to the molecular level" 3)
"http://archneur.ama assn.org/issues/v57n8/ffull/nhn8476.html">Archives of Neurology, provides a
historical perspective on topics related to neurology. Five thousand years ago, Mesopotamian
physicians were not in the practice of precisely diagnosing different types of headaches. This can be
attributed to their acceptance of "supernatural pathophysiologic properties" 3) "http://archneur.ama–
assn.org/issues/v57n8/ffull/nhn8476.html">Archives of Neurology, provides a historical perspective
on topics related to neurology. In particular, they viewed headaches as a disease caused by

Symptoms And Symptoms Of Migraine
Migraines
Migraine is a painful headache that comes with recurrent throbbing affecting usually one side of the
head. It occurs with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and sensitivity to light and sound.
According to Allexa Hammond and Maura Holcomb, MD, migraine has five stages. In the first stage
(also called Prodromal), the patient will experience depression, a stiff neck, and cognitive
dysfunction. The second stage (the aura) affects the visual (scotomata) area, sensation (paresthesia
of the hands, arms and face), and cognitive capability. In the third stage (the peak stage), the patient
will undergo throbbing pain, nausea, anxiety, irritability, impairment in concentration, and
photophobia (extreme sensitivity to light). The fourth stage is the resolution of the headache for
several hours, possibly aroused by vomiting or deep sleep. The last stage is the recovery stage; the
patient will feel fatigue, become depressed and sometimes have a euphoric mood. Not much about
the cause of migraine is known, but genetics and environmental factors may play a role. It may be
caused by changes in the brainstem, or imbalances in brain chemicals like serotonin, which helps
regulate pain in our nervous system. Jimenez Diaz and associates have indicated that, during the
migraine attack, there is a release of a substance more stable than acetylcholine, which they term
S.A.C. acetylcholinelike substance. They also conclude that the normal choline acetylate system is
different in

Secondary Headaches
A headache is a throbbing pain in the head which tends to be unilateral, spreading across the
forehead and eyes. Headache is an agonising ache which could simply be a typical pain or it could
be constant discomfort around the head which could be severe. (Wedro, 2015)
Headaches are very common with around 10 million people frequently complaining of headaches in
outpatient practice (Kaderebek, 2015). The nature of headaches varies from typical headaches to
migraines which need to be given more attention to. If the pain is relentless and is affecting their
performance it would be advised to visit a health professional, to find out the underlying issue.
Primary headaches are not a symptom but rather over activity of pain fibres in the brain. Secondary
headaches are due to an underlying problem from an illness. It is a symptom of a disease that
activates the pain fibres in the brain such as dental problems, ear infection, and dehydration. A clear
example of secondary headaches is spinal headaches which are caused by low ... Show more content
The role of the pharmacist is to greet the patient/customer and ask questions and enquire about the
treatment and patient such as who's it for, what's it for, what are the symptoms, how long have you
had them for, are you on any other medication, have you tried anything for migraines. If they wish
to speak privately they will be taken into the consultation room. Once the pharmacist clearly
understands the problem they will supplement the medication or if they feel it is necessary for them
to visit a health professional, they will advise them to book an appointment with their doctor. At the
end of the conversation the pharmacist will clarify if they understood everything and offer the
opportunity to ask questions if they have any concerns or confusion. The pharmacist will tell them to
ring or visit the pharmacy again if they need further advice or

Nursing Case Study
Pregabalin 25mg PO two capsules at bedtime prescribed in 2016 to assist with chronic pain
symptoms. She reports that this medication caused an abnormal skin sensation similar to that of
insects crawling over or within the skin.
Topiramate 25mg PO one tablet at bedtime prescribed in 2015 for migraine prevention. She reports
that this medication had to be discontinued as it caused vision–related adverse events (blurred vision
and double vision).
Paroxetine 10mg PO daily prescribed in 2015 for depression/anxiety; she did not continue this
medication beyond 4 weeks due to adverse effects.
Medications at discharge:
1. Oxycodone/acetaminophen (5mg/325mg); she takes one tablet orally three times daily. This
medication was initiated in ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The pain at the back of her head is described as a constant throbbing pressure–like pain that ranges
from 5 to 8 in intensity on the pain scale, where 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst imaginable pain.
Application of a heat compress and treatment modalities such as TENS or massage help to alleviate
the occipital pain. In addition, she experiences migraine headaches three times a week; she rates the
intensity of these headaches at 8–9/10. These headaches are associated with photophobia,
phonophobia as well as nausea.
When questioned about other symptoms associated with the pain problems, she mentions
constipation, difficulty sleeping, tiredness, weakness, feeling drowsy, and dizziness. She also reports
experiencing problems with both her memory and concentration.
Her S–LANSS score at admission was 15/24 for her right arm and right hand, which suggests pain
of neuropathic origin, 5/24 for her right shoulder and 0/24 for the other painful areas. Her Opioid
Risk Tool score is 0, placing her in low–risk category for aberrant drug–related behaviours.
With respect to her sleep, she typically falls asleep within 30 minutes of retiring for bed and does
use lorazepam nightly as a sleep aid. She wakes one to two times a night and has difficulty falling
back to sleep due to pain in her lower back and shoulders as well as ruminating thoughts. Currently,
she obtains 5 to 6 hours of

Symptoms And Treatments Of Migraine Headaches Essay
Nearly 45 million Americans suffer from chronic headaches, and 17 million of those Americans
suffer from migraine headaches. Migraines have many triggers and can be extremely debilitating,
therefore knowing what triggers yours and what helps can be life changing. Talking to a specialist
and allowing them to run tests may show to be helpful as well. Understanding treatment
opportunities and starting preventative measures shows to play a vital role in maintaining quality of
life as well. Although there is some research that has already been done there is still quite a bit going
on and a lot more to go through over the upcoming years. Migraine headaches are a type of vascular
headaches, a category that doctors believe are caused by an interaction that takes place between
blood vessels and nerve abnormalities. They believe that the attack begins in the brain and involves
the nerve pathways and chemicals, affecting blood flow in the brain and the surrounding tissues.
Many chemicals, neurotransmitters, and nerve pathway disrupters play an important role in the
appearance of migraines. These neurotransmitters include serotonin, magnesium deficiencies, and
abnormalities in the cells that transporting ions such as calcium. They're also the second most
common type of primary headache, a headache that isn't caused by another disease or condition,
after tension headaches. Migraines have four symptom phases; prodrome phase, auras, the actual
attack, and the postdrome phase. The

Patient Care And Pain Management: A Case Study
I think that you made some extremely points regarding patient care and pain management. Patients
should not be labeled as "drug–seeking," because it leads to discrimination and may cause a decline
in the quality of care. Furthermore, untreated pain may lead to anxiety, depression, increased heart
rate, increased blood pressure, decreased gastric motility, and decrease immune function (Wells,
Pasero, and McCaffery, 2008). Therefore, accurately assessing and treating pain remains imperative
to ensure quality care and patient satisfaction. I also liked that way you noted the concern of opioid
overdose, but also highlighted the fact that the patient does not appear to be drug–seeking. The
provider should discuss lifestyle and prophylactic changes

Antidepressants Literature Review
Literature Review
Source A
7 Antidepressant Side Effects by Chris IIialades
Everyday Health, Chris IIiades, Farrokh Sohrabi, Dr Tarvedi. 2015. 7 Antidepressant Side Effects to
Know About. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/drug–side–
effects.aspx. [Accessed 5 May 2016].
Summary
This source gives us an in depth explanation of the 7 most common side effects of antidepressants. It
states that antidepressants are the most common medication prescribed and it is effective. The side
effects that people experience depend on what type of antidepressant medication you are taking.
Forty percent of people taking antidepressants have side effects and these side effects can cause
people to discontinue the use of the medication. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This source is mixed–method as it has both primary and secondary research. It uses statistics to
show the amount of people that are using antidepressants which is the secondary aspect. The
different types of harmful effects that antidepressants have on the human body are primary because
it has been researched and studied. Paul Andrews is an assistant professor in the Department of
Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior at McMaster University in Canada. He has also done
research in the evolution of depression. Paul Andrews is an expert in the field of depression and
antidepressant medication. This source was also analyzed by Anderson Thompson who also
specializes in psychiatry. This was published in September 2012, but this research was compiled
over the years. The information is up to date but recently others have challenged the harmful effects
of antidepressants.
Purpose
This source was created because many individuals who are taking antidepressants are not aware of
the harmful effects that it has. It gives people an understanding of what can occur when taking
antidepressants. Antidepressants can reduce the depression that is occurring but with that can come
many other effects which could be worse than what you are already feeling. This source is simply to
make people aware that antidepressants have side effects that can be life threatening.

Migraine Case Study
Introduction: Migraine is a chronic disorder of the brain with significant morbidity, as well as
personal, familial and socioeconomically impact. It affects about 12 percent of the general
population and affects three times more women than men. Migraine disability is related to the
severity of attacks together with the number of attacks and number and type of coexisting
morbidities. Migraine is a serious and widespread health problem and is considered the sixth highest
cause of disability worldwide, while medication overuse headaches follow at eighteenth. By adding
these two conditions together, headache becomes the third most common cause of disability
worldwide. All migraineurs require acute care treatment, and up to 40 % of episodic migraineurs
could benefit from preventive treatment; but few undertake it. All patients with chronic migraine
should ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
CGRP is a potent vasodilator neuropeptide with long–lasting effects. The rise in CGRP levels during
acute migraine, the fall in levels during effective treatment of an attack and the ability of CGRP
infusion to trigger a migraine in migraineurs alone alludes to the role of CGRP in migraine
neurobiology. CGRP seems integral to the clinical expression of migraine process at several sites
and has led to the investigation and development of anti–CGRP drugs for the treatment of migraine.
CGRP as a treatment target in migraine: –The gepants: Six small molecule CGRP receptor
antagonists (Olcegepant, Telcegepant, MK3207,BI44370, BMS–927711) have been developed and
five of them have demonstrated clinical efficacy in acute migraine. –Monoclonal Antibodies:(
ALD403, LY2951742, AMG334, LBR–101) These agents are therapeutically useful as they are
specific against the receptor they are formulated against and have a long half–life which means that
they can be used in chronic conditions and disease relapse

Side Effects Of Opioids
Side effects of ergotamine includes nausea, tingling sensations, cramps, chest or abdominal pain,
and dizziness. Three potential, and possibly fatal, problems include toxicity, extreme blood vessel
constriction, and fibrosis. Doctors may advise taking painkillers that contain opioids if the attack is
very severe. Examples of opioids include morphine, codeine, meperidine, and oxycodone.
Butorphanol is an opioid that is available as a nasal spray. Classic side effects of opioids include
drowsiness, nausea, judgement impairment, and constipation. Drug abuse and addiction are a big
complication of using opioids as a treatment option. Metoclopramide is used in combination with
other drugs to treat the nausea and vomiting that may occur from medications ... Show more content
Migraine headaches are the third most prevalent illness in the world, and ranked as the sixth most
disabling illness. Statistics show that only about fifty percent of people who suffer from chronic
headaches know that they're suffering from a migraine. 76% of people who suffer from migraines
worry that they will suffer for the rest of their lives, and 37% of sufferers worried about their
migraines between attacks. Studies found that approximately 12% of Americans suffer from
migraines, and 40% of Americans could benefit from preventative therapies. Even though studies
show that at least 40% of sufferers could benefit from preventative therapies, only one in five
sufferers are currently using preventative therapies. Studies also show that over 25% of people who
suffer from migraine attacks miss at least one working day over the past three months, and nine out
of ten sufferers say that they cannot "function normally" during those days. At least 98 percent of
migraine attack sufferers take medications for temporary headache relief, whether it be over the
counter or prescription. Only 12% of sufferers take preventative medications as opposed to the 98%
of sufferers taking medications for relief. Severe migraines are ranked in the highest of seven
disability classes, along with psychosis, dementia, and quadriplegia, published by the World Health
Organization. People who participated in a survey who admitted to a

Pharm 7550 Case Study 5
Case Study 3 PHARM 7550_SUM 15 CASE ONE: Treatment Plan: Education: 1) On the types of
contraceptive that are safe in her case 2) The risk of too much estrogen on women over 35 3) Need
for both estrogen and progesterone since she has a uterus (if chosen) 4) The symptoms of low
progesterone and estrogen 5) Postpartum anemia: symptoms and treatment Contraception: Find a
form of contraception that patient is agreeable, that's effective, convenient, and rapidly reversed in
case she decided to get pregnant again. (Arcangelo & Peterson, 2013). Three Recommended
Contraceptive Options: 1) Since she is over the age of 35 and breastfeeding, I would suggest a
method that is drug free. Diaphragm. Cost effective choice, simple, and safe
(www.plannedparenthood.com). 2) If she wants something that is more convenient, and she ... Show
4) Educate on importance of proper weight management. Patient Education: 1) Report any adverse
event from Frovatriptan, such as: dizzy, headache, flushing, skeletal pain, fatigue, cold or hot
sensation, paresthesia, or xerostomia. Inform her that 3–10% patients experience these adverse
effects (Arcangelo & Peterson, 2013). 2) Remind Wednesday to make sure she starts medication at
onset of headache and not when it has become moderate to severe. She can take this medication in
conjunction with the prior OTC meds and therapies. 3) As a means of better identifying triggers,
keep a journal of the dates, times, activities preceding onset headache. Include dietary intake for a
month. Listing the aura symptoms and any other symptoms associated with headache episode is also
helpful (Arcangelo & Peterson, 2013). 4) Discuss weight loss since her BMI is 27.8. Per Hopkins
School Medicine study, Wednesday is five times more likely to have chronic migraines due to her
obesity

TBI Case Study
Level of consciousness (LOC), Altered mental status (AMS), Post traumatic amnesia (PTA), and
Glasgow coma scale (GCS) were implemented in the evaluation of the severity of the TBI, as shown
below: Mild (concussion) Moderate Severe Structural imaging: Normal Normal or abnormal
Normal or abnormal LOC: 0–30 min > 30 min and (–– removed HTML ––) 24 hrs AMS : a moment
up to 24 hrs (> 24 hours. Severity based on other criteria) PTA: 0–1 day > ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been used to detect axonal injury for mild to moderate TBI.
Functional MRI (fMRI) is often used to differentiate TBI from control groups and has been used to
study activation patterns in patients with TBI Brain perfusion Single photo emission computed
tomography (SPECT) is used to measure cerebral blood flow and activity patterns and is indicated
for the evaluation of TBI in the absence of anatomical findings. Some authors suggest that SPECT
should be part of a clinical evaluation in the diagnosis and management of TBI. A recent meta–
analysis showed that PTSD patients have significant activation of the mid–line retrosplenial cortex
and precuneus when presented with trauma–related stimuli. The preliminary data suggest it has a
potential role in distinguishing PTSD from TBI. When compared to subjects with TBI, relative
increases in perfusion were observed in PTSD in the limbic regions, cingulum, basal ganglia, insula,
thalamus, prefrontal cortex and temporal lobes. These results suggest that TBI is associated with
hypoperfusion while PTSD is associated with regional hyperperfusion, providing important insights
regarding pathophysiological differences between these disorders. Recent studies were also highly
promising in differentiating PTSD from TBI using both Region of interest (ROI) and visual readings

Migraine Comparison Study
Excellent POST! Your detailed patient symptoms clearly outline a moderate migraine clinical
presentation. Each patient presents differently is also a key to recognizing how to positively treat to
meet individual factors (allergies, drug interactions, pregnancy concerns, age ect). For example,
Woo and Robinson (2016) identify serotonin syndrome developments with interactions with triptans
(p. 1043). Reviewing each patient's medication list comprehensively is imperative and utilizing
resources such as a pharmacist, can positively prevent potential detrimental events.
From reading a journal article Sweet Relief for Migraines written by Michael Murray (2015), a
migraine relief comparison study of ginger to traditional medicine practice of sumatriptan

Migraine Research Paper
The mainstay in the management of migraine is identification of the trigger and avoiding it. Dietary
triggers should be avoided. Migraine diary can be kept and symptom and probable triggers can be
recorded. Lifestyle changes such as reducing stress, improving sleep habits, and regular exercise can
be made. Patients with migraine should be encouraged not to miss meals[5].
Vasoconstroictive medications such as pseudoephhedrine should be avoided and patients advised to
use triptans as minimum as possible in order to prevent the rebound symptoms.
Though there has been advances in the treatment options for both acute and chronic migrane,
patients are still suffering unnecessarily because of underuse of these medications[15,16]. After the
preventive ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Gabapentin at low dose of 300mg/day reduces the frequency and intensity of headache[11], dose is
gradually increased to total of 900mg/day in three divided doses. Then it can be increased gradually
to another target dose of total 1800mg/day in 3 divided doses. Frequent dosing is its disadvantage
but few adverse effect is its advantage. Dose adjustment is required in case of renal insufficiency
and the medication is contraindicated in child below 12 years of age. Topiramate at 25 mg PD is
very effective migraine prophylactic agent[12] increasing weekly to a goal of 100–200 mg BID.
Patient must be monitored for metabolic acidosis and

Pimavanserin
The classifications of serotonin receptors, as well as drug classes that act upon serotonergic
transmission are discussed below. This includes serotonin (5–HT) agonists, antagonists and
medications that modulate 5–HT at the presynaptic level, all of which are of significant clinical
relevance.
Nuplazid (pimavanserin), is a selective serotonin inverse agonist (SSIA). Pimavanserin is a non–
dopaminergic atypical antipsychotic drug with primarily selective inverse agonistic and minor
selective inverse agonistic properties on the 5–HT2A and 5–HT2C receptors, however it has no
substantial affinity on the 5–HT2B or dopamine receptors. Pimavanserin was discovered and
developed for the treatment of Parkinson's disease Psychosis (PDP) by Acadia Pharmaceuticals. ...
Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Another 5–HT2A and 5–HT2C antagonist with high affinity for dopamine receptors is the
therapeutically used atypical antipsychotic clozapine. Its significant clinical advantage is its reduced
incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms relative to first generation typical antipsychotics (Sansone,
2014).
5–HT3 antagonists include odansetron and palonosetron, which are particularly useful in the
treatment of chemotherapy–induced nausea and vomiting (Sansone, 2014).
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a 5–HT1A, 5–HT2A, 5–HT2C, 5–HT5A and 5–HT6 agonist
demonstrating psychedelic properties. It is generally used recreationally however there is ongoing
research into it's application in LSD–assisted psychotherapy (Müller, 2015)
Pimavanserin (marketed as Nuplazid) is a drug developed and approved for the treatment of PDP by
the FDA in April 2016. Its mechanism of action and therapeutic relevance is quite significant. As
previously mentioned it is a non–dopaminergic second generation antipsychotic. It primarily
exhibits selective inverse agonistic behaviours due to its high affinity on the 5–HT2A receptors (Ki
0.087nM) albeit low affinity on the 5–HT2C receptors (Ki 0.44nM) (Meltzer et al., 2012). Although
it displays anti–hallucinogenic properties that assist in the overall alleviation of PDP, its mechanism
of action is not completely understood to

Migraine Headache Essay
Migraine headache
What is migraine headache?
Migraine is a headache typically characterized by its unilateral onset, pounding character, and
association with nausea and sometimes vomiting. The headache typically lasts for hours. Many
patients have an aura prior the onset of migraine – this is usually described as a flashing appearance
in the peripherally of the visual field. Migraine pain can be severe and debilitating. It often worsens
with light and sound – patients frequently go into a quiet, dark room during their headache.
Due to the importance of this condition, it is critical that patients understand its causes, symptoms,
and treatment. By the end of this article, you will have the answers to these essential questions:
What causes ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Migraine headache is a common condition that is frequently evaluated in the primary care clinic and
the emergency department. This disease frequently requires referral to a neurology specialist.
The prevalence of migraine in the United States is approximately 4–9% in men and 11– 25% in
women. Among women, about 20 % of whites, 16% of African Americans, and 9 % of Asian
Americans have a diagnosis of migraine headache. About 7.7% of children and adolescents also
experience migraines.
What are the symptoms and signs of migraine headache?
The most common symptoms of migraine include:
Unilateral headache
Nausea & vomiting
Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
Photophobia (sensitivity to sound)
Aura – may precede or occur during migraine – unilateral flashing lights in the peripheral field
Temporary sensory loss or weakness – this can also occur with stroke or seizure
Your doctor will often perform a detailed neurologic and eye examination evaluating

Essay On Sinus Headache
What Is An Inwood Sinus Headache?
Your sinuses are small, air–filled cavities that are located behind the bridge of the nose, cheekbones
and forehead. A sinus headache is a type of headache that is caused by pressure within the sinus
cavities. Sinus headaches are typically caused by migraines or other types of headaches. However,
they can be caused by a sinus infection.
What Are Some Of The Symptoms Of An Inwood Sinus Headache?
Fatigue, stuffy nose, worsening pain and an achy feeling in the upper teeth are some of the possible
symptoms of a sinus headache. It can be easy to confuse the symptoms of a sinus headache with a
migraine. In fact, it is estimated that 90 percent of people who see a Garden City ear nose and throat
doctor for a headache ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Antibiotics are often recommended to treat a sinus infection. Increasing your fluid intake and using
a humidifier can also help ease a sinus headache that is caused by an

Desvenlafaxine Succinate (DVS) Controlled-Release Tablets
Desvenlafaxine succinate (DVS) Controlled–Release Tablets
Educating elderly patients new to DVS: safety guide for Australian Nurses
Class: Serotonin–noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant
Brand name: Pristiq®
Indications
Symptomatic treatment of major depressive disorder.1
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics (PD): DVS prolongs the action of serotonin (5–HT) and noradrenaline (NA) in
the central–nervous–system (CNS) by selectively binding to synaptic reuptake transporters.2–4 (See
fig 1).5 5–HT and NA are powerful neurotransmitters that regulate mood and mental wellbeing.3
Pharmacokinetics (PK): Well absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, metabolised in the liver and
excreted in the urine. 1–2,4 The average PK parameters of DVS with once–daily dosing are1,4:
Note: Clearance rates are reduced in elderly patients with renal and/or hepatic dysfunction, resulting
in an increased t1/2 and overexposure to DVS1–4,6 (see Dosage Considerations and Adverse
Effects).
Dosage
50 mg once daily, swallowed whole with water. Not to be crushed, cut, dissolved or chewed, as this
will modify the timed–release mechanism, reducing efficiency and causing adverse effects.
To be taken at the same every day to sustain a therapeutic steady state (devise a routine that works
best with the patient as to maintain compliance e.g. after brushing teeth at night).
Dosage Considerations
Abruptly increasing or decreasing dose causes adverse effects, due to slow CNS

Cause And Effects Of Migraine
Migraine
Migraine is extreme head pain whereby one also experiences other phenomena such as intolerance
to light, one may be disturbed by sound and also distressed by smell. Migraine is debilitating to
many, with sufferers experiencing some or all of the following: nausea, vomiting, eye pain, blurred
vision, intensely intolerable throbbing pain (usually on one side of the head which may come and go
in waves), sensitivity to light and sounds, smell and touch, and migraine may last up to three days1.
Statistically, women suffer migraines more commonly and often then men, by an approximate 3:1
ratio.
Many sufferers mention they know when a migraine will come on (they experience an aura). Aura or
warning symptoms may occur before onset or during migraine, which may include blind spots,
flashes of light or bright spots, tingling or numbness (facial, arm or leg).
Causes of Migraine
Migraine may be caused by a number of triggering2 factors, some being:
Hormone changes (women especially experiencing estrogen fluctuations, which happen with the
monthly cycle, and which may also happen even during pregnancy or menopause).
Brain chemical imbalances. Serotonin, which helps regulate pain in the nervous system, is one such
chemical under study by researchers for it's role in migraine.
Foods, some of which may be red wine, very old cheeses, chocolate, caffeine, soy, dairy, food
additives, monosodium glutamate, salty, pickled/fermented and processed foods.
Stress and anxiety.

Reflection Paper
It's familiar. I was just here four months ago. The smell, sound, and the people. The clock reads
10:06am. I hear crying babies, sit in a dark room, and wait till I'm chosen for my room. The bracelet
is stuck onto my wrist before vitals are taken. "Your blood pressure is up, are you okay?" Well I'm
not okay since I'm in the ER because of a 77 day migraine and a numb lip. As I change into the XXL
gown in room 9, I lay in bed nervous, but ready for the doctors to come in and review my past, ask
everything, and do the normal routine. Yes, I have long–lasting chronic migraines. The pain is in the
back of my head. The Toradol, Compazine, Rizatriptan, Sumatriptan, Aleve, Excedrin, Ibuprofen,
and Tylenol aren't decreasing my pain. I've been here 5 other times; I get an IV with Toradol,
Compazine, and fluids. I feel as if I could just write a resume with all of my information to hand out
to every person who walks in the room. I go through about 3 other interviews on my background
and the issue I'm here for. Yet again, they decide on the normal procedure. Although, this time it was
brought to my attention the day before that my lip is drooping and I realize it is numb. That's a new
issue. Now they run a load of neurological tests to decide if I have had a stroke. An MRI is another
thing added to the list this visit.
To get the ball rolling, the nurse walking in with a cart of IV supplies. I warn the nurse who has to
stick needle–phobic Sophie whose skin is tough and has veins that

Migraine Informative Speech
IT IS NOT JUST A HEADACHE. 3
It Is Not Just a Headache.
An Informative Essay
As stated by Dr. Dawn Marcus (2013)," If you have migraines, you know migraines can touch many
areas of your life. A Migraine is more than "just a headache" or a pain disorder―migraine can
change how your go about your day, how you feel about yourself, and how you interact with
important people in your life" (p. 1).
According to Ellen Welch (20103), a migraine is a disorder thought to affect 2–15 percent of the
world's population (p. 45). Among those migraines is a condition called Hemiplegic Migraine. At
the first occurrence of this type of a migraine, even medical professionals mistake it for a full–blown
stroke. There are many steps to successfully overcome the effects of a migraine. Test to eliminate
major medical issues are a series of test preformed to rule out any serious illness such as stroke,
meningitis, tumors, brain bleeds or inflammatory or infectious diseases.
Once the patient is diagnosed ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Although it takes quite a lot of time to teach patients about their condition, it is well worth it for the
money that is saved by education but even more important the number or severity of the migraine
attacks can be reduced. Kennedy, Bonnie M. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding;
Edmond 10.5 (Sep/Oct 2006): 344–350.
By learning the about the patient's condition and medication a family member is a great help to them
during severe migraines. The patient suffering from a Hemiplegic Migraine can become confused
during a severe attack and might require help in choosing which rescue medication he/she should
take. Learning about the condition helps the family member know what to expect during an attack,
what helps the patient get through the symptoms and what helps to relieve the pain the

Migraine Headaches
Treatment and Cause of Migraines
Jochon D. Dobbins
The Academy of Health Care Professions
Abstract The word migraine is a Greek word which means "half of head". It is thought that people
who suffer from Migraines usually experience pain on one side of their head. There are several signs
or symptoms that are usually associated with migraines. Here are some examples. * Tiredness *
Sensitivity to light * Nausea or vomiting * Sensitivity to certain smells * Reaction to eating certain
types of foods
There is no cure for a migraine. However, there are several different types of methods used to treat
and diagnosis a migraine. The following pages will discuss these methods as well as go in to more
detail about ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Unfortunately, migraine is also very common in children. It has been reported in children as young
as 18 months old. About 10% of school–age children suffer from migraine. Half of all migraine
sufferers have their first attack before the age of 12. Before puberty, boys suffer from migraine more
often than girls. As adolescence approaches, the incidence increases more rapidly in girls than in
boys.
Migraine often goes undiagnosed in children and adolescents. In childhood migraine, head pain is
often less dramatic or severe than other symptoms, such as unexplained nausea or vomiting,
abdominal pain, or dizziness. Moreover, it is not uncommon for attacks to occur with only minor or
even no head pain, making it hard to diagnose. Motion sickness is an early warning of the
predisposition to childhood migraine. In childhood, the non–headache symptoms are often referred
to as migraine equivalents.
While symptoms of childhood and adolescent migraine may be different from those typically found
in adults, children are just as disabled. Children who suffer from migraine are absent an average of
7.8 days from school each year, compared to 3.7 days of absence for children without migraine.
Treatment for childhood and adolescent migraine depends on the age of the child and the frequency
and severity of the attacks. Although there are well over 100 drugs used to prevent or treat migraine
symptoms, none have been approved for use in

Migraine Research Paper
A migraine is the most common, recurrent, severe primary headache that affects at least 12% of the
adult population in the United States or more than 28 million people. Migraine is now recognized as
a neurologic process. It is characterized by an intense, throbbing, unilateral headache associated
with anorexia, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia, and/or diarrhea and may last 4–72
hours. There are three types of migraines: common migraine, classic migraine, and basilar migraine.
A common migraine is a benign headache lasting several hours and is the most frequent type of
migraine. It has no focal symptoms that precede the headache. The classic migraine denotes the
syndrome of headache associated with characteristic premonitory sensory, ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Propranolol, nadolol, timolol, atenolol and metoprolol are all indicated for reducing attacks.
Antidepressants such as amitriptylline, can also be used to reduce severity and frequency of attacks.
Anticonvulsants, such as valproic acid and divalproex sodium, reduce the frequency of headaches
by at least 50% in up to 65% of migrainuers. Methysergide, although it is reserved for patients with
refractory headaches, is one of the oldest and most effective agents for migraine prophylaxis.
Calcium channel blockers and nonsteroidal anti–inflammatory drugs can also be used for migraine

Chief Headache Case Study

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