Neurological disorders involve disease or injury of the nervous system, which is made up of the brain, the spinal cord and the nerves. Here are the most common neurological disorders.
Migraine headaches are the most common neurological disorder. According to the American Headache Society, there are 28 million migraine sufferers in the United States. Migraines are painful headaches that often involve neck pain, dizziness, photophobia (pain and discomfort when looking at bright lights,) nausea and the sense of dissociation. Many migraine sufferers also experience numbness or tingling of the face or arms before or during a migraine.
Migraine headaches are generally genetic and begin during the late teens or early twenties. There are some common migraine triggers that can contribute to a migraine attack. Common triggers include:
Some women notice that oral contraceptives trigger a migraine while many women experience migraine relief while using oral contraceptives. Some food and drinks are known to trigger a migraine in people who are prone to migraines. They include:
There are several effective migraine headache treatments. Many migraine sufferers experience relief with over the counter anti-inflammatory pain killers. Prescription migraine headache treatments include triptans and Fioricet or Fiorinal. Prescription treatments used for migraine prevention include anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants and injections such as botulinum toxin or anesthetics.
Migraine headaches may be a recurrent problem requiring medical management for 10-30 years. As most migraine sufferers enter their 50's, the migraine headaches begin to improve without treatment.
Also Read: Headaches: Causes, Types And Treatments