Migraines and Head Injury
This injury guide identifies migraine and head injuries. The common causes of a migraine or head injury, symptoms, treatments and rehabilitation. Jump to section:
Migraines
Constant Migraines
Head Injury
Migraines
What is a migraine?
Migraines are severe and painful headaches, which often come with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. Migraines and other kinds of headache can seriously affect the quality of people’s lives.
Migraine’s are caused by a combination of vasodilatation (enlargement of blood vessels) and the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the blood vessels. During a migraine attack, the temporal artery (an artery which lies on the outside of the skull just under the skin of the temple) enlarges typically causing a unilateral (affecting one half of the head) and pulsating headache. Migraines tend to last from 2 to 72 hours. The enlargement of the temporal artery stretches the nerves that coil around the artery, causing the nerves to release chemicals. The chemicals cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. The increasing enlargement of the artery magnifies the pain.
Up to one-third of people suffering from migraine’s perceive an aura which signals that the migraine will soon occur.
Symptoms of a migraine
Symptoms of a migraine can come about in various combinations, including:
- Pounding headache
- Sensitivity to light and noise
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Foggy vision
What causes a migraine?
The exact causes of migraines are still unknown. However, experts believe them to be due to a mixture of environmental and genetic factors (two-thirds of cases run in families). People with migraines often cite certain triggers as causers; fatigue, bright lights…
Migraine affects slightly more boys than girls before puberty, but about two to three times more women than men. It has been cited that fluctuating hormone levels may play a role. The primary theory is related to increased excitability of the cerebral cortex and abnormal control of pain neurons in the trigeminal nucleus of the brainstem.
How to treat a migraine
Unfortunately there is no cure for migraines. Despite this, there are many products available to ease and prevent the condition.
- Painkillers
- Antinausea medication
- Cooling treatment, such as Physicool
- Preventative medication
Wrapping a Physicool bandage around the neck to cool the head has provided relief to many migraine suffers. Physicool cools by a principal called Rapid Evaporation which not only cools the skin but also reduces the deep tissue temperature, greatly reducing the inflammation and pain. Each bandage will last 2 to 3 hours before needing a recharge.
There is no need to refrigerate Physicool.
Constant Migraine
What is a constant migraine?
Constant migraines are severe and painful headaches which can last for several days.
Symptoms of a constant migraine
Symptoms of a constant migraine come in various combinations, including:
- Pounding headache
- Sensitivity to light and noise
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Foggy vision
Causes of a constant migraine
The cause of migraines is still unknown. However, experts have related them to all sorts of phenomena, including changes in the brain and genetic causes. People with migraines often cite certain triggers as causers, fatigue, bright lights, and changes in the weather.
How to treat a constant migraine
Unfortunately there is no cure for migraines. Despite this, there are many drugs available to ease and prevent the condition.
- Painkillers
- Antinausea medication
- Cooling treatment, such as Physicool
- Preventative medication
Physicool provides protection, cooling and compression for the head. A Physicool bandage can be applied to the head and the cooling effect recharged by spraying Physicool Coolant directly onto the bandage whilst it is in position.
Physicool is a unique cotton bandage impregnated with a patented liquid which draws heat away from the affected tissues by rapid evaporation. While the deep tissues are being cooled, the simultaneous compression effects of Physicool modify the inflammatory response to soft tissue damage which helps promote healing.
Head Injury
What is a head injury?
At the extreme, head injuries can result in permanent mental impairment, even fatality. For the most, head injuries are an accepted risk of sports and recreational activities – and it’s important to take the necessary steps to minimise any risk. Concussions are the most prevalent type of head injury in sport.
Symptoms of a head injury
There are many indicators for head injuries. Here are some of the sign to look out for.
- Confusion
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Double or unclear vision
- Headache
- Memory loss
- Nausea
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Trouble remembering
For problems that are more severe, look out for:
- Change to size of pupils
- Convulsions
- Distorted facial features
- Fracture to the skull or face
- Trouble moving one or more limbs
- Loss of consciousness
- Severe headache
- Slurred speech or foggy vision
- Stiff neck or vomiting
What causes head injury?
You don’t have to experience an impact on the head to sustain a head injury or a concussion. A blow elsewhere on the body can produce enough force to affect the brain. Similarly, people don’t always lose consciousness with a head injury. For instance, concussions range from mild to severe. The effects of a head injury could either be evident immediately or not arise for hours, even days after the incident.
How to treat a head injury
Because a head injury could potentially be lethal, it is important to seek medical advice. Immediate treatment for a head injury includes:
- Rest
- Cooling therapy to relieve pain and swelling
- Painkillers