Migraines
Migraine headaches affect around 4 per cent of children, 6 per cent of men, and 18 per cent of women, and are most common in people aged between 25 and 55.

Attacks can last for up to 72 hours. There may also be nausea, sickness or diarrhoea, and a feeling of exhaustion. There can be visual disturbances - flashing lights or black spots or patterns starting before the headache, which may last for up to an hour. During a migraine, there s little tolerance to light, sound or physical exertion and sufferers often seek relief by lying down in a quiet dark room.

The cause of migraine is not fully understood but it is widely believed it involves the balance between the processes, which stimulates the nervous system, and those that relax it. The increased blood flow in certain parts of the brain contributes to the painful headache. There is a significant drop in the brain chemical, serotonin.

Women who suffer from migraine will experience hormonal changes. About 70% of women who have migraine can relate their migraine headaches to their menstrual period. 80% of sufferers can show a family history of migraine, which suggests that they are, at least in part, inherited.

Triggers for a migraine might include:
................· certain foods - such as chocolate, cheese, red wine, citrus fruits, ..................coffee, tea, tomatoes, potatoes
................· too much or too little sleep
................· changes in hormone balance in women - such as periods, the pill, ..................menopause
................· stress, or relaxation after a period of stress
................· irregular meals
................· caffeine withdrawal
................· physical activity
................· smoking
................· flashing lights
................· noise
................· weather - high pressure conditions, changes in pressure, ..................hot dry winds, change of season, exposure to sun and glare
................· exercise - too much or too little
................· sexual arousal
................· smells - paint, fumes from car heaters or perfume
Unfortunately, avoiding triggers may not prevent migraine, as most migraine is not caused by a single, identifiable trigger but a combination of factors.

A contributory cause may be a deep-rooted and unresolved emotional issue from the suffers past. When combined with another trigger, such as continuous exposure to unhealthy stress levels a migraine may occur.

Hypnotherapy explores and resolves the cause of the problem while enjoying a highly relaxed and comfortable state called hypnosis. Once the emotional issues have been resolved, the migraines invariably disappear or reduces dramatically. .