English in a pill – Angielski w pigułce, Lesson 20

Migraine

Migraine is a condition that causes episodes („attacks") of headaches. Other symptoms include feeling sick (nausea) or vomiting. Between migraine attacks, the symptoms go completely.

Migraine is common. About 1 in 4 women, and about 1 in 12 men, develop migraine at some point in their life. It most commonly first starts in childhood or as a young adult. Some people have frequent attacks - sometimes several a week. Others have attacks only now and then. Some people may go for years between attacks. In some people, the migraine attacks stop in later adult life. However, in some cases the attacks persist throughout life.

There are two main types of migraine attack: migraine attack without aura (sometimes called common migraine) and migraine attack with aura (sometimes called classic migraine).

Migraine without aura is the most common type of migraine. Symptoms include the following: The headache is usually on one side of the head, typically at the front or side. Sometimes it is on both sides of the head. Sometimes it starts on one side, and then spreads all over the head. The pain is moderate or severe and is often described as „throbbing" or „pulsating". Movements of the head may make it worse. It often begins in the morning,

but may begin at any time of day or night. Typically, it gradually gets worse and peaks after 2-12 hours, then gradually eases off. However, it can last from 4 to 72 hours. Other symptoms that sometimes occur include: blurred vision, poor concentration, stuffy nose, hunger, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, passing lots of urine, going pale, sweating, scalp tenderness, and sensations of heat or cold.

Most migraine attacks occur for no apparent reason. However, something may trigger migraine attacks in some people. Triggers can be all sorts of things.

For example:

• Diet. Dieting too fast, irregular meals, cheese, chocolate, red wines, citrus fruits, and foods containing tyramine (a food additive).
• Environmental. Smoking and smoky rooms, glaring light, VDU screens or flickering TV sets, loud noises, strong smells.
• Psychological. Depression, anxiety, anger, tiredness, stress, etc. Many people with migraine cope well with stress but have attacks when they relax, leading to so-called „weekend migraine".
• Medicines. For example, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), some sleeping tablets, and the contraceptive pill.
• Other. Periods (menstruation), shift work, different sleep patterns, the menopause.

It may help to keep a migraine diary. Note down when and where each migraine attack started, what you were doing, and what you had eaten that day. A pattern may emerge, and it may be possible to avoid one or more things that may trigger your migraine attacks.

What to do when you feel a migraine coming on? There are painkillers (both prescription and over-the-counter) that can help you cope with a migraine if you take the medication as you sense an emergent migraine.

WORDS

• now and then - co jakiś czas
• to persist - utrzymywać się
• aura - zespół objawów poprzedzających napad np. migreny
• severe - poważny, ciężki
• to throb - pulsować, tętnić
• to peak - osiągnąć szczyt
• to ease off - osłabnąć
• to blur - zamazywać
• a scalp - skóra głowy
• to trigger - wyzwalać
• tyramine - tyra mina
• to glare - razić
• to flicker - migotać
• contraceptive - antykoncepcyjny
• to emerge - pojawić się
• over-the-counter - bez recepty

JOKE

Blonde with a headache

This blonde goes to the doctor complaining of headaches. Noticing she hasn't taken off her headphones at all during the exam, he suggests they may be the cause of her headaches.

He tells her to take them off.

• Oh, no. I just couldn't - she says. - Without them, I'd surely die.
• Oh, come now - the doctor says. - Let me help you.

And he pulls them off her head.

Sure enough, moments later, she is dead on the floor. Curious, he picks up the headphones and hears: „Breathe in... breathe out... breathe in... breathe out...".

„Farmacja i ja”, czerwiec 2009