Cervical migraine: causes, symptoms and treatment, prevention

The result of a lack of oxygen to the brain is severe headache cervical migraine. This anomaly is due to one of the vertebral arteries, or both at once, in the cervical spine. Most cases of headaches associated with defects of the carotid arteries, but in a quarter of cases the problem lies in the syndrome of vertebral arteries, causing prolonged headaches or in extreme cases leads to stroke.

Classification and causes

In medical practice the occurrence of cervical migraine, divided into two groups: non-pathological changes in the vertebral discs (nevirapine) and related (vertebral). Nevirapine migraine is often associated with congenital abnormalities of the cervical spine, due to a reduction in the diameter of blood vessels. A rare phenomenon, and is commonly associated with concomitant diseases, such as atherosclerosis or pathology of their location, muscle spasms neck and shoulders, whiplash.

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Vertebrogenic migraine causes characteristic changes in the intervertebral discs, their destruction or the presence of anomalies preventing normal blood flow to the brain head. In the majority of cases, the perpetrators of the appearance of cervical migraine is not diagnosed or not treated for osteochondrosis of the first or second vertebra.

The reasons for the appearance of migraine include instability of the cervical spine characterized by abnormal mobility of the vertebrae and shift them relative to each other. Of injuries neck injury, can lead to a change in the location of blood vessels and trigger headaches.

Stage of development of the disease

As with many diseases related to the spine, cervical migraine have 2 stages of:

1. Reversible. Is the manifestation of spasms and narrowing of the blood vesselsoccurring not permanent. The headaches appear only in the period of exacerbation.
2. Irreversible. The vessels do not return to a normal physiological state and are in a compressed state. Syndrome headache occurs almost constantly.

Regardless of the stage of cervical migraine episodes occur when changing the position of the head (tilts, rotations) or body.

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The symptoms of migraine

The main symptom of the problems in the cervical spine, dull pain in the back of the head. Perhaps the flow of pain at forehead and temples, causing the changes of visual acuity, the appearance of sparks before the eyes and blurred vision. Accompanying symptoms:

• The presence of constantly passing periodic or wave-like pain;
• Pain occipital syndrome a burning or throbbing;
• Pain that radiates to other areas of the head: eye, nasal, frontal and temporal;
• Occurs an uncomfortable sensation when touching the head or comb;
• Dizziness, nausea, vision changes;
• Fainting in severe cases.

Diagnosis

Specialist provides diagnosis of diseases of the cervical, beginning with patient interviews on the subject of ailments. External inspection is conducted on to determine the response of the cervical spine, the pressure on the occipital region, in the presence of anomalies, the skin of the neck will become strong sensitivity.

If you suspect cervical migraine prescribe additional diagnostic procedures:

• X-rays of the neck helps to define the pathology in the bones or cartilage;
• Doppler ultrasound. Shows a complete picture of blood vessels in the cervical spine;
• Computer and magnetic resonance therapy. Allows a detailed examination of all tissue and blood vessels from the inside, on the subject of ailments;
• Laboratory blood tests. Determining the concentration of cholesterol;
• Rheoencephalography. In determining the location of pathology study in detail the affected vessel to the cross.

Treatment

Correct and timelydiagnosis and effective treatment will help to improve the prognosis of recovery. Treatment cervical migraine should be determined only specialist, self-treatment may cause irreparable harm to your health.

Therapy can be pharmacological (drug) therapeutic exercise and surgical intervention, the choice of treatment depends on the symptoms of the symptoms of cervical migraine.

Drug therapy includes the following drugs:

• Anti-inflammatory and decongestant;
• Diuretics;
• Painkillers;
• Muscle relaxants;
• Chondroprotectors;
• A neuroprotectant;
• Vitamin complexes;
• Preparations for the elimination of hemodynamic abnormalities.

Congenital anomalies of the vertebral arteries treated by surgery that helps to remove defects. But this kind of surgery is extremely rare. If cervical migraine was caused due to injury, will likely require surgery. After which, conduct entire courses of physical therapy with additional medical equipment. Treatment and preventive exercises and massage should be carried out strictly professional, as the wrong treatment cervical can cost you your life.

Exercises for relaxing and getting rid of intersecting vessels represent a preventive complex, its continuing implementation, in the individual testimony will help to cure cervical migraine.

• Sit comfortable. Hands on his shoulders. By elbow movement around forward and backward;
• Now in the same position, take and hold the elbows, Contracting the shoulder blade;
• In a standing position, turn the body slowly to the right and to the left;
• Without changing position, drawn slowly head to the shoulders and backward-forward;
• Marching on the spot, as the maximum raise the knees up;
• In standing, slowly raise your hands and breathe down slowly exhaled;
• Spend a soft tapping on each arm with a rolling pin;
• The edge of his hand gently tapped the cervical spine;
• Sitting on a chair, vygeboom lower back and throws back her head back.

Each exercise of the complex is performed by 10-15 times depending on fitness. After physical exercises should be self-massage of the cervical, gently rubbing with his fingers the neck, starting at the top and moving down.

Specialist after carrying out of full diagnostics, advise the sessions professional massage or acupuncture. Acupuncture is based on action, special the finest of needles, which are inserted under the skin in certain places, affecting the nerve endings. This therapy should be done by an experienced specialist and with the permission of your doctor.

Prevention of migraine

Constant headaches arise from the oxygen starvation of the brain, so you should spend more time in the fresh air, Hiking, the better where the air is saturated with oxygen, possibly in the woods or in a Park where a lot of trees or near the pond, where the air is extremely clean. The best option would be a ticket to the sea, for medicinal purposes.

A special role in the treatment of cervical migraine is the mobility. In the modern world, in the era of total computerization, the person spends a lot of time in a sitting position, and when he got home from work, tired, takes a prone position. All these parameters lead to congestive processes in the body and cause various diseases. Particularly affected in such cases, the spinal division. Due to lack of movement, shrivel paravertebral soft tissue, leading to starvation of the intervertebral discs, which in turn collapse and lead to different pathologies.

• See also: Birth trauma of the cervical spine in newborns.

Experts recommend to hold an active lifestyle, choose a moveable hobby, if your main occupation is associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Swimming lessons in the pool or fitness, water aerobics or just a exercise will help to relieve the spine relax the ligaments and muscles, strengthen the muscle skeleton to restore the power supply of the intervertebral discs.

A proper healthy diet with its permanent control, will be the key to health and longevity. Supplement the diet with fruits and vegetables will help to saturate the body with necessary vitamins and minerals, but should not be limited to vegetarianism, many varieties of fish and the Cape, the whole set of useful elements necessary for vessels and bones. Especially important to obtain omega 3, which increases the elasticity of blood vessels and arteries.