Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by moderate to severe headaches, and nausea. It is about three times more common in women than in men. The word derives from the Greek ἡμικρανία (hemikrania), "pain on one side of the head", from ἡμι- (hemi-), "half", and κρανίον (kranion), "skull".
The typical migraine headache is unilateral (affecting one half of the head) and pulsating in nature and lasting from two to 72 hours; symptoms include nausea, vomiting, photophobia (increased sensitivity to light) and phonophobia (increased sensitivity to sound); the symptoms are generally aggravated by routine activity. Approximately one-third of people who suffer from migraine headaches perceive an aura—transient visual, sensory, language, or motor disturbances signaling the migraine will soon occur.
Initial treatment is with analgesics for the headache, an antiemetic for the nausea, and the avoidance of triggers. The cause of migraine headache is unknown; the most supported theory is that it is related to hyperexcitability of the cerebral cortex and/or abnormal control of pain neurons in the trigeminal nucleus of the brainstem.
Headaches, migraines, pain behind our eyes, sinus, and even neck and shoulder pain are all ailments that would warrant a trip to the doctors - that is until now. As Rahul Doshi and Ashish B. Parmar, award-winning cosmetic dentist's from Extreme Makeover and Partners at The Perfect Smile Studios & Academy in the South East, explain, it could well be your dentist who holds the key to your pain relief.
As the cosmetic dentistry specialists outline, pains such as headaches are often classic symptoms of poor dental occlusion - the way your teeth meet when your jaw bites together. So, instead of popping paracetamol or visiting the GP, harmonising your teeth and jaw joints could affect more than just your smile.
A new trend for teeth whitening and tooth implants has resulted in an increased awareness in dental health, but this is still only half of the battle. For a perfect smile and overall oral health, it is vital not to neglect the non-cosmetic elements.
To deal with these negative effects, the cosmetic dentistry specialists, at The Perfect Smile Studios have developed 'Bite Right' - a pioneering approach to detecting the numerous symptoms associated with inferior dental occlusion and probably the most comprehensive dental assessment available in the UK.
