Basilar migraine is a special type of ailment. The disease is characterized by specific headaches. The cause of the occurrence is changes in the pathological nature occurring in the blood supply zone of the basilar artery.
The disease is quite rare. What factors provoke its development? What symptoms can I find out about its occurrence? And, most importantly, how is it treated? We will consider this in detail in the article.
Briefly about the disease
Basilar migraine is a neurological ailment that is chronic in nature, and also characterized by pulsating pain.
The pathology received the name due to the fact that the symptoms of its manifestation are the same as in the defeat of cerebral structures. And they are known to be supplied with blood through the basilar artery of the brain.
Most often, the disease occurs in patients whose age ranges from 18 to 50 years. Less commonly, in children and the elderly. As a rule, the disease is diagnosed in women.
Due to the characteristics of the clinical manifestation and pathogenesis, it is rather difficult to diagnose this ailment and prescribe competent therapy.
Predisposing factors
The causes of basilar migraine are no different from those that cause the same disease of other forms. As a rule, the prerequisites are one of the following:
- The abuse of energy drinks (including coffee).
- Nicotine addiction.
- Psychological or emotional overload.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Violation of sleep, work and rest.
- Chronic lack of sleep.
- Taking hormonal drugs.
At risk are people who have the following physiological problems:
- Injury to the cervical spine.
- Cranio-vertebral anomaly.
- Spinal instability.
- Anomaly Chiari or Kimmerli.
But the main pathogenetic predisposing factor is a vasomotor disorder. There is also an opinion that the occurrence of migraine basilar form is associated with the hydrops of the labyrinth. It is assumed that precisely because of it, people suffering from this ailment subsequently develop cochlear neuritis.
Manifestations of the disease
Now the symptoms of basilar migraine should be listed. These include the following manifestations:
- Dizziness.
- Hearing impairment and tinnitus.
- Amaurosis.
- Ataxia.
- Dysarthria
- Diplopia.
- Disorder of consciousness.
- Sensory impairment.
- Visual bilateral phenomena (spots, flashes of light).
Each sign is transient, lasts at least 5 minutes. Sometimes symptoms occur sequentially. But, as a rule, such a state (called an aura) lasts no more than 1 hour.
However, this does not end there. An aura is replaced by an intense headache - cephalgia. A person suffers from throbbing sensations in the back of the head. There may also be nausea and vomiting, sound and light phobia. Some lose consciousness for a while. Out of syncope, as a rule, is fraught with retrograde amnesia.
Attacks of basilar migraine occur at different intervals, it all depends on the individual case. For some, this happens once a month. For others, every few weeks. Sometimes attacks do not bother for months.
Diagnostics
This is also a very important point to consider. The first step in the diagnosis of basilar migraine is an examination by a neurologist. The doctor finds out complaints from the patient, collects an anamnesis. It is important to exclude pathological changes outside of migraine paroxysm.
The key criterion taken into account in determining the ailment is the absence of organic pathologies of the brain. These include:
- Cerebral cyst.
- Encephalitis.
- Brain abscess.
- Intracerebral tumor.
- Hydrocephalus.
That is why the diagnostic process includes MRI, CT and a procedure such as electroencephalography. It makes it possible to assess the functional state of the cerebral structure. They can also prescribe MRI and USDG of cerebral vessels, rheoencephalography.
Features of the inspection
It is important to make a reservation that basilar migraine is the basis for conducting research on the cervical spine. That is why, after diagnosing it, the patient is prescribed the passage of such events:
- MRI or CT scan of the spine.
- Roentgenography.
- CT angiography or ultrasound of the vertebral arteries.
An assessment of auditory function is also performed. It is carried out by an audiologist, taking into account the results of electrocochleography and audiometry.
It is also important to examine the vestibular analyzer. To do this, do an electron-histogram, video oculography, vestibulometry, as well as a caloric test.
As a result, impaired vestibular reactivity, sensorineural hearing loss, spontaneous nystagmus, as well as signs of hydrops are detected in many patients.
Differentiate basilar migraine with the following ailments:
- Ischemic transient attack.
- Retinal migraine.
- Vertebral Artery Syndrome.
- Meniere's disease.
- Cervical sympathetic syndrome.
Although the diagnosis is of a certain complexity, but, nevertheless, none of the listed diseases is accompanied by symptoms that are typical for such an ailment as basilar migraine.
Approach approach
It does not occur suddenly. You can find out about its approximation - the body begins to give “signals”. The most likely occurrence of a migraine attack if a person is exposed to one of the following provoking factors:
- Physical work.
- Loud noise.
- Harsh, unpleasant odors.
- Bright light.
The fact that an attack is approaching can be found by the following symptoms:
- Numbness in limbs.
- Loss of coordination of movements.
- Severe drowsiness.
- Decreased visual acuity and vision.
- A condition reminiscent of what usually happens before a loss of consciousness.
- Weakness in the body, which provokes a decrease in muscle tone.
- Small trembling throughout the body.
- Unreasonable panic and anxiety.
- Tachycardia attack.
A person should be guided by symptoms in order to help himself in time. The occurrence of nausea will not allow the use of Raglan. And opiates can save you from an attack of extreme pain (if the doctor, of course, prescribed them). As a rule, these are Oxycontin, Demerol, Codeine and Morphine. If none of the above helps the patient, the doctor prescribes an even stronger drug - Butorphanol.
However, these funds can provoke side effects. Therefore, experts prescribe them in extreme cases.
The specifics of therapy
The causes and symptoms of basilar migraine have been examined above. Treatment also requires careful study.
Therapy of this disease is a difficult task. And so, because of which:
- "Diclofenac," Naproxen "," Ibuprofen "," Ketoprofen ", as well as other anti-inflammatory drugs that do not contain steroids, do not stop paroxysm.
- Eletriptan, Naratriptan and Sumatriptan are also powerless before the disease.
- Combined painkillers only at the time of a migraine attack alleviate a person’s condition, and then not for long.
An effective tool is a mixture containing 10% carbon dioxide and 90% oxygen. With it you need to do a 10-minute inhalation, and the attack of vertebro-basilar migraine will pass. But only in ordinary life, this tool is, to put it mildly, inaccessible.
Treatment
Notwithstanding the foregoing, there are some methods by which the patient's condition can be alleviated.
The treatment of basilar migraine with a drug such as Prednisone is effective. But it must be taken in the first minutes after the appearance of the aura.
At a time when attacks do not bother a person, he should take drugs that strengthen the nervous system. These are Amitriptyline, Alimemazine, and Tofizolam. They reduce emotional lability, increase resistance to stressful situations.
However, this is considered by specialists to be only supportive, supportive therapy. The most important thing is to rethink values, change attitudes and psychological reactions. This work should be done by the patient himself.
The result of such therapy will be much more friendly and calm reactions to what is happening around. This will help to avoid the manifestations of basilar migraine.
Folk remedies
Their use may be appropriate as maintenance therapy. Here are some popular and effective recipes:
- In the proportions 1: 3: 1 combine the juice of carrots, spinach and dandelion. To stir thoroughly. Take a glass three times a day before meals.
- Pour mint (10 g) with boiling water (100 ml). Insist for half an hour. Then cool, strain, add 1 tsp. honey. Three times a day, take 50 ml.
- Elderberry (20 g) pour boiling water (200 ml). Let it brew for 20 minutes, then filter. Also add 1 tsp. honey. Drink 50 ml three times a day.
- Take 20 grams of oregano, plantain and rose hips. Pour boiling water over the mixture (1.5 cups). Give half an hour to insist. Then strain. Drink 3 times daily in a volume of 100 ml.
They also say that pain helps eliminate the application of a crumpled leaf of burdock or cabbage to the place where it is felt. You just need to keep it there for half an hour.
Complications and their elimination
A little attention should be paid to this topic, since we are talking about the causes and treatment of basilar migraine. This disease is fraught with many consequences, the most serious of which is ischemic stroke. But there are other complications.
Often the vestibulo-cochlear syndrome develops, as well as the hydrops of the labyrinth. In such cases, the patient is prescribed a course of treatment with Betaserk - it has a positive effect on blood flow in the basilar artery, as well as improves microcirculation and stabilizes blood pressure.
Also, to eliminate the consequences, electric sleep, hydrotherapy, reflexology, massage of the cervical-collar zone are used.
But all this will be ineffective if the patient refuses to comply with medical recommendations. In order for the result to be, the patient must exclude mental and physical overload, sleep normally, establish the daily regimen, and also eat and walk properly in the fresh air.
Diet
The principle of proper nutrition for basilar migraine is the exclusion from the diet of all foods containing tyramine. Most of this substance is contained in the following products:
- Yogurt, yogurt, kefir.
- Chocolate.
- Beer, wine, cognac, rum, champagne.
- Coffee.
- Avocado.
- Bananas
- Beans
- Raisins.
- Figs
- Salmon.
- Any processed meat (barbecue, salami, smoked meats, etc.).
- Herring and smoked fish.
- Cheese.
- Soya.
- Sour cream.
- Nuts.
The use of these products leads to a decrease in serotonin levels. This is what is fraught with increased pressure and the appearance of another attack of migraine.