Introduction: Basilar Artery Migraine involves a disturbance in one of the major artery at the base of the brain. Basilar Artery Migraine (BM) is also named as Basilar Migraine Headache, Basilar Migraine, Vertebrobasilar Migraine, Bickerstaff Syndrome and Syncopal Migraine. But it is popular as Basilar-type Migraine. No much information has been found to detail the Migraine of the Basilar Artery. Still there is a lot of mystery to be revealed in regards to the various signs and symptoms.

History: Dr. Edwin Robert Bickerstaff, a neurologist, Wales was the first person to identify this condition. He had two patients, a teen and an older man. Both of them suffered from almost identical symptoms. Both of their symptoms were related to the basilar artery o the brain. This artery supplied blood to the brain. This is how it got the name of Bickerstaff’s Migraine (as per the neurologist’s name), or Basilar Artery Migraine (due to the involvement of the basilar artery to cause the migraine). He found the disease more common in women than in men. Today’s research confers that the ratio is 3 women to 1 man roughly. But the attack was seen to decrease as the younger mass entered their 20s and 30s. The most earliest theory suggested that some spasms were caused in the basilar artery. Today’s modern science has proved that migraine is more a vascular headache. It has its roots in the brain. This migraine has its roots at the brain stem.

Common Symptoms As With Other Migraines:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Cold hands or feet

Typical Symptoms In Basilar-type Migraine:

• Dizziness
• Slurred speech
• Temporary blindness
• Balance loss
• Confusion
• Hearing impairments
• Tingling is felt in body
• Fainting or loss of consciousness
• Intense throbbing or Pulsating pain in one or both sides of head and rarely at the backside

Symptoms Preceding Headache:

• Vertigo
• Double vision (Diplopia)
• Poor muscular coordination
• Dysarthria
• Impaired ability to control voluntary movements (Ataxia)
• Tinnitus
• Finger paresthesia
• Toe paresthesia
• Fainting or continuous loss of consciousness (Syncope)
• Severe headache, throbbing headache, Occipital headache
• Vomiting
• Unsteadiness
• Tingling sensation in body
• Temporary blindness
• Disorientation
• Slurred speech

Cause: The pain do not start from the artery. Hence its name is replaced as Basilar-type Migraine. But they are caused due to problems in sending the activities of some chemicals which send messages throughout our brain. But no much is known except for the fact that the basilar artery is involved. The attack seems to occur either in the stem of the brain or in both the cerebral hemispheres. This is what determines the way of the attack and the treatment mode. But the following may trigger the occurrence of the pain:

• Alcohol consumption
• Extreme stress
• Lack of proper sleep
• Certain medications
• Hunger
• Hormonal changes in females
• Bright lights
• Caffeine
• Food Nitrates
• Extreme physical exertion
• Environmental factors including temperature, humidity, weather or altitude
• Some particular food items like – Chocolates, Dairy, Eggs, Oranges, Rye, Tomatoes, Wheat etc.

Risks Associated And Diagnosis: Many symptoms are much common with many other serious disorders like – Brain Lesions, Brainstem Arteriovenous Malformation, Hemiphlegic Migraine, Meningitis, Seizure Disorders, Stroke, Tumor, Vertebrobasilar Disease etc. Basilar migraine can also be confused with hemiplegic migraine. So a medical confirmation is a must. A CT, MRI or an EEG may be done to check presence of any other deadly problem. Most people with basilar migraine are prone to stroke. So the risks must be tried to keep extremely low. The auras can even make a person debilitated.

Treatment: Treatment is quite similar as in case of other migraines. As much research has not been carried out specifically so no specific treatments are yet found.

• Avoidance of any identified triggers. (If not identified, try to avoid all the common triggers of migraine).
• Analgesics (pain killers) may be used to reduce pain.
• Anti-emetics may be taken to prevent nausea and vomiting.
• Usage of few abortive medications like Triptans (they attach themselves to the serotonin receptors to reduce the inflammation and constricts the blood vessels. they include- Amerge, Axert, Frova, Imitrex, Maxalt, Relpax and Zomig) and Ergotamines is restricted. But a rethought is being suggested by the researchers.
• Advil Migraine and Motrin Migraine have been approved by the FDA for their use in treating migraines. These medications reduce the inflammation which causes the pain.
• Excedrin Migraine (a combination of Acetaminophen, Aspirin and Caffeine) is also effective. The rate of success with drugs varies. It depends on the response one shows towards the drug action and of course the side effects.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs may also be helpful but only if taken under medical prescription.
• Counseling, Relaxation techniques, Meditation, Acupuncture and Biofeedback have been found to be equally effective in many people suffering from Basilar Artery Migraine.

Prevention: A regular and proper record with all details of your attack is of most help.

• Try to identify the triggers that stimulate the onset of migraine in you. And avoid them.
• Maintain a healthy and a systematic lifestyle by the following ways:
  • Adequate sleep
  • Limiting the level of stress
  • Regular exercise
  • Proper and advisable diet
  • Avoiding smokes, tobacco, drugs and alcohol
  • Never skip meals
  • Limiting intake of caffeine
• Prevention medicines may also be taken. Many migraine prevention drugs have now been approved by the FDA. Most common among them are include Inderal, a beta-blocker(slows the heart rate); Anticonvulsants (Topamax and Depakote); Norvasc (a calcium channel blocker to inhibit the widening of the arteries by blocking serotonin release); certain Antidepressants etc.