Several symptoms, besides headaches, are associated with the medical condition known as migraine. It can have a big impact on daily life, making it difficult to work and get things done. Not just a bad headache, either. Here I am discussing everything about migraine headaches along with causes, symptoms, types etc. .
Bad headaches alone do not describe a migraine. If you have this neurological condition, which produces excruciating throbbing pain, you can spend days in bed.
Symptoms caused by movement, light, sound, and other triggers can include temporary blindness, annoyance, difficulty speaking, pain, nausea, and distorted vision.
Migraine Headaches-Causes, Symptoms, Types & Treatment
Migraine Causes
Several symptoms, besides headaches, are associated with the medical condition known as migraine. It can have a big impact on daily life, making it difficult to work and get things done. Not just a bad headache, either. Bad headaches alone do not describe a migraine. If you have this neurological condition, which produces excruciating throbbing pain, you can spend days in bed.
A migraine, a neurologic disorder, typically causes a strong headache. The headache comes in spurts, and occasionally it may also be accompanied by light sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting.
Migraine Symptoms
Every person has a different migraine. It often takes place in phases in numerous persons. These phases could involve:
Prodrome
About 60% of migraine sufferers have symptoms hours or days before a headache.
- Being delicate to scent, sound, or light
- Fatigue
- A lack of appetite or longing for food.
- Mood shifts
- Extreme thirst
- Bloating
- Bloating or diarrhoea
Aura
The cause of these symptoms commonly impairing your vision is your neurological system. They frequently last less than an hour, start gradually and last between five and twenty minutes. You might Look for wavy lines, light flashes, dark areas, or absent items (hallucinations) and have a small field of vision to be totally blind Your body is tingling or numb on one side. being unable to speak clearly Have arm and leg heaviness? hear ringing in your ears Keep an eye out for changes in your ability to taste, smell, or feel. Attack Often, a migraine headache begins as a pounding sensation before dulling. That typically becomes worse as you work out. One side of your head pain could change to the other. either upfront or of your head, or all over your head.
Over 80% of people have nausea, headaches, and nearly half of them vomit. Also, you can feel lightheaded or chilly and pallid.
Although more severe cases might last up to 3 days, the typical migraine episode lasts 4 hours. The normal monthly headache frequency is two to four. Some individuals only have migraines once or twice a year, whilst others may get them regularly.
Postdrome
This phase can be lingered for up to a day after a headache. These signs include:
- Feeling worn out, drained, or irritable
- Being unusually energised or content
- Aching or weakened muscles
- Longing for a lack of appetite or food
- Headache causes
Despite the fact that heredity and changes in your brain appear to be involved in the development of migraine headaches, doctors are uncertain of the precise cause. Even migraine-causing factors like exhaustion, harsh lights, or climatic changes can run in families.
Scientists believed that migraines occurred because of alterations in cerebral blood flow. Most people today believe that while it might make individuals feel uncomfortable, it does not actually cause that discomfort.
Current theories suggest that a migraine headache attack is most likely brought on by your trigeminal nerve, which delivers sensation to your head and face. Your body will release hormones like serotonin and the calcitonin gene-related peptide in response to this (CGRP). The blood arteries that line the brain enlarge when CGRP is present.
Neurotransmitters then contribute to pain and inflammation.
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Migraine Risk Factors
More than 38 million people experience headaches, according to the American Migraine Foundation. There are several things that could make you more likely to get them:
#Sex
#Age
In most cases, migraines start between the ages of 10 and 40. But many women find that their migraines improve or go away once they turn 50.
#Family history
Nearly four out of five migraineurs have a family member suffering from the ailment. If one parent has a history of these headaches, there is a 50% chance that the child will also have them. If both parents do, the chance rises to 75%.
#Other health issues
If you have epilepsy, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder, your chances may be increased.
Headache Types
Migraines come in wide different varieties. The two types of migraines that occur most frequently are "classic migraines," or migraines without aura (or common migraine).
Types of Migraines
Menstrual migraine
This is when the headache and your menstruation start to coincide. They often start 2 days prior to the start of your menstruation and last for 3 days thereafter. Although you might experience different types of migraine headaches throughout the month, the migraine that occurs around menstruation typically lacks an aura.
Silent Migraine
This type of migraine is sometimes called an acephalgic migraine. You have aura symptoms instead of a headache. In actuality, this form of migraine's primary warning symptom is typically an aura. However, nausea and other migraine symptoms could also be present. It often only lasts 20 to 30 minutes.
Vestibule Migraine
In the vestibule, a migraine. You experience balance troubles, vertigo, nausea, and vomiting whether or not you have a headache. Those who have previously experienced motion sickness are generally affected by this sort.
Abdominal Ache
Experts don't know a lot about this kind. It causes stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. It frequently affects kids and over time could develop into the classic migraine headaches that we are all familiar with.
Hemiplegic Migraine
Your body's one side temporarily becomes hemiplegic or feeble. Moreover, you can experience vertigo, numbness, or poor vision. These symptoms should be reported to your doctor right away because they could be signs of a stroke.
Ocular Headache
Another name for this illness is an ophthalmic or retinal migraine. It produces partial, full, or total eyesight. eye loss in one. a nagging pain behind the eye that can spread to the rest of your head. See a doctor right away if you detect any changes in your vision.
Migraine with Brainstem Aura
Prior to the headache, there may be balance issues, confusion, or vertigo. Your skull's back may feel the ache as well. These signs frequently appear out of the blue and may be accompanied by a feeling of nausea, ringing in the ears, or difficulty speaking.
Hormonal changes play a key role in this type of migraine, typically affecting young adult women. Once more, go straight to the doctor to get these symptoms investigated.
Status migrainous
The interval between bouts of this severe type of migraine may be around 72 hours. You might need to visit a hospital because of how severe the pain and nauseous are. Rarely, drugs or drug withdrawal may be the culprit.
Ophthalmoplegic Migraine
The area around your eye Your muscles become paralysed, resulting in ocular pain. It's a medical problem. It is essential since the symptoms could possibly be caused by an aneurysm or pressure on the nerves behind the eye. Double vision, a droopy eyelid or other vision changes may be other symptoms.
Migraine Diagnosis
You should discuss your current symptoms and medical history with your doctor. It could be beneficial to keep a diary of your symptoms and any triggers you've noticed. Put down:
- What signs do you experience, including any pain
- When do you have them?
- Length of time
- Other migraine-prone family members
- Your complete pharmaceutical and supplement routine, including any OTC drugs
- Other drugs you remember using in the past
Your doctor could recommend tests like these to rule out alternative potential explanations of your symptoms:
Blood Test
MRIs and CT scans are imaging procedures.
Electroencephalogram (EEG).
What are a migraine's four phases or stages? What is the schedule?
The prodrome (pre-monitory), aura, headache, and postdrome are the four stages in chronological order. 30% of patients have symptoms prior to the onset of their headache.
Phases include:
Prodrome:
The initial phase can last a few hours or even days. You might or may not experience it because it does not happen every time. The "preheadache" or "premonitory" phase are other names for it.
Aura:
The aura phase may last for up to 60 minutes or only for five. Auras are uncommon, and some people even experience them together with their headaches.
Headache:
The duration of the headache ranges from four to 72 hours. The pain is occasionally modest, so the word "ache" doesn't do it credit. Instead, it's more commonly characterized as drilling, throbbing, or feeling like an icepick in your brain. Usually, it begins on one side of your head and moves to the opposite side.
Postdrome:
The postdrome phase lasts for one to two days. 80% of people with migraines get what is commonly referred to as a migraine "hangover."
The four stages can be completed in eight to 72 hours.
How are headaches Diagnosed?
Your healthcare professional will obtain a complete medical history, including not just your headache history but also that of your family, in order to identify a migraine. In order to get a history of your migraine-related symptoms, they'll also probably ask you to:
- Why do you get a headache? Just how bad are they?
- Recall when you receive them. For instance, during your period?
- Describe your pain's nature and where it is located. Does the discomfort pulse? Pulsing? Throbbing?
- Keep this in mind if anything helps or worsens your headache.
- How frequently do you experience migraine headaches?
- Discuss the possible triggers for the migraine, such as the activities, meals, stressors, or circumstances.
- Talk about the painkillers you use and how frequently you take them.
- Describe your feelings prior to, during, and following the headache.
- Keep this in mind if any family members suffer from migraines.
To check sure there are no other underlying medical conditions causing your headache, your doctor may also conduct blood tests and imaging studies (such as a CT scan or an MRI).
Headache Versus Migraine
A headache that is typical of a headache is not a migraine attack. They can have several reasons, and the experience is unique.
A person and their doctor can benefit from noting the symptoms and when they happen. locate migraine attacks. Keep a journal for at least eight weeks and record the following:
The onset of symptoms and any potential causes, such as stress or menstruation, as well as the type of headache and any accompanying symptoms.
The duration of the symptoms; any obvious migraine signs, including an aura; any treatments; and their results.
Whenever to visit a doctor
If someone has any of the following symptoms, they should see a doctor:
Severe or atypical migraine symptoms during what appears to be a first migraine attack
Extreme signs
In the event of any of the following, get emergency medical attention:
#A really bad headache
#Visual alterations
#A loss of sensation and speaking challenges
These might point to a different condition that requires immediate attention, like a stroke.
Prevention of Migraines
Several options are available to migraine sufferers that may help them avoid an attack. For you, some might be more effective than others:
Learn what causes your migraine attacks and try to avoid the foods, fragrances, and situations that cause them.
Remain Hydrated
The symptoms of dehydration are both headaches and vertigo. When possible, try to avoid skipping meals.
Aim for Sound Sleep
A restful night's sleep is crucial for general wellness.
Give up Smoking
Make reducing your stress a top priority.
Take the time and make the effort to learn how to relax.
Regularly Moving Around
Stress levels have been shown to decrease with exercise.
Migraine Treatment at Home
One billion people worldwide, or one in seven, experience migraines. You might assume that by now there would be a cure as a result. Or if there is no cure, a treatment that is always effective. While we wish that were true, it's regrettably not. Due to the individualized nature of migraine, no single treatment option is effective for everyone.
Here are some of the top home remedies for preventing migraines (since life would be better if you weren't suffering from a nasty headache many times a month) that will help you lessen your frequency.
1. Consuming Vitamins
Magnesium is a nutrient that can be found in popular foods like leafy greens and almonds. Eggs, dairy products, and other foods contain vitamin B2, sometimes referred to as riboflavin.
nut products and fortified cereals. According to one study, 61.3% of those taking B2 saw 50% fewer episodes over a three-month period, according to The Migraine Trust.
Cove provides combo supplements like Oasis (which contains magnesium), Super B (which contains riboflavin), and Beam to help you get the most out of your vitamins. (which contains both).
2. Exercise
Although severe activity might be a trigger for some people, there is also data to demonstrate that exercise can assist prevent attacks.
An analysis of numerous research that linked exercise to lowered migraine frequency was published in the medical journal Current Pain and Headache Reports.
Contrary to popular belief, exercise does not directly relieve migraines; nevertheless, it can help you manage stress. (a migraine trigger). And any doctor will tell you that you feel healthier overall when you exercise more.
3. Engaging in Yoga.
In a similar vein, yoga may be able to prevent migraine migraines by lowering your stress levels and enhancing your circulation, you can help prevent migraine headaches. Learn more about the advantages here.
4. Acupuncture Treatment
According to research published in the medical journal CMAJ, acupuncture, a method in traditional Chinese medicine that involves inserting tiny needles at specific spots on your body, may also help avoid migraine attacks. Acupressure is an additional comparable choice. Even though there isn't much evidence to support its effectiveness, it's relatively risk-free to try during a migraine attack to see if it helps.
5. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule
Sleep and migraines have a delicate relationship because both insufficient and excessive sleep can occasionally cause episodes. But using what The Migraine Trust refers to as "sleep hygiene" will help you avoid attacks. Adopting routines like going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, soaking up as much natural light as you can during the day, and avoiding electronics before bed are all examples of good sleep hygiene. (which, we know, is easier said than done).
6. Steer clear of food triggers
Even though it's obvious, we had to mention this one because it's one of the easiest precautions to take. You can avoid your triggers by being aware of them (read more here).
Even though some triggers may be evident (loud music), others may be more subtle, like learning which foods make you sensitive. If you're having problems focusing on one thing in particular, it's possible that you're sensitive to histamines or nitrates, which, regrettably, are present in a number of common foods.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, nitrates can be found in processed meals including hot dogs, bacon, lunch meat, and pepperoni. Additionally, a study published in the American Society for Microbiology revealed that nitrate metabolism may not be as efficient in migraineurs.
On the other hand, consuming specific meals may be beneficial. The journal Environmental Nutrition reminds out that diets strong in omega-3 and omega-6 (found in healthy fats, such as salmon and vegetable oil), and in leafy greens can aid with migraine.
Given a large number of potential food triggers, your doctor may advise you to try an elimination diet to identify the items that are causing your attacks.
Home Cures for Migraine Pain Relief
What home remedies may you use during a migraine episode to reduce your headache discomfort (other than taking over-the-counter medications)? Preventive treatments usually work better as long-term practices.
7. Keeping Hydrated
Always stay hydrated. In fact, according to research cited in The New York Times, consuming more water improves both how long and how bad migraine attacks are. By using a hydration supplement like Cove's Oasis, you can also replace your electrolytes more efficiently.
8. Caffeine consumption
As soon as a migraine episode begins, caffeine can help stop it. This is a result of how it affects cerebral blood flow. Blood flow issues might cause attacks. According to the National Headache Foundation, it can also increase the effectiveness of some painkillers.
But, you should know that one report in The Journal of Headache and Pain advises that it's easy to get excessively dependent on caffeine, and when that happens, drinking less of it might trigger withdrawal headaches.
9. Using aromatherapy oils
On a Migraine.com community, sufferers claim that applying peppermint oil to their temples can halt an attack as it begins. Some individuals adore lavender essential oil. Although there is no clear science to support this, it Considering all the anecdotal evidence, it would be worthwhile to give it a shot (provided, of course, that strong fragrances won't give you headaches).
10. Applying a warm or cool compress
People with migraines frequently share this piece of advice with one another: Alternate between applying different intensities of heat and cold to your body. One frequent remedy is to place an ice pack at the temples and base of the neck, as well as submerge your feet in hot water or under a heating pad.
Some people claim that the complete opposite can be beneficial and vouch for the use of hot showers, heating pads on their necks, and warm towels on their faces.
The National Headache Foundation advises using temperature therapies with caution. Don't fall asleep with heating pads; instead, leave cold packs on for 15 minutes at a time and wait 15 minutes before reapplying on and watch out for scalding showers that could burn you.
Additionally, according to the National Headache Institute, heat is more likely to be effective for treating other non-migraine headache types while cold packs on the head are most effective for treating those with a specific type of migraine that includes symptoms of a visual aura.
11. Steer clear of harsh odours
Avoiding strong odours once you start to sense a migraine episode coming on may be beneficial. Osmophobia is the scientific term for this sensitivity. According to the American Migraine Association, after a migraine episode has begun, strong fragrances like perfumes, pungent foods, gasoline, and other chemical smells might make it worse.
12. Locating a calm, dark space
You probably already do something that is one of the easiest ways to treat your own migraines. Because going into a dark, quiet room to relax can be beneficial because sensitivity to bright lights and noises is a typical migraine symptom. Conveniently, you could also employ other natural treatments at that time, such as applying cold packs or taking a nap.
13. Music for migraine sufferers
Even if there isn't much evidence in credible publications to support the claim that music might relieve migraine symptoms, it still might be worth a go. In a Reddit discussion, migraineurs discuss how high-frequency and low-frequency sounds can alter your brain and treat episodes. In a Quora topic, migraineurs discuss the advantages of listening to specific genres of music to reduce attacks. If you wish to try it, you can access free anti-migraine playlists online.
14. Consuming Ginger
Ginger is a classic home remedy often used to alleviate upset tummies, writes Oncology Nurse Education. If you feel nausea during your attacks, or if nausea is a side effect of your migraine treatment, You could try ginger to settle your stomach. Fresh ginger, ginger tea, and ginger powder are all readily available in supermarkets and health food stores.
Finding a migraine remedy that works for you is the key to success. Many times, migraine sufferers might find some relief by combining prescription medication with natural therapies.
Takeaway
The signs of a migraine can occasionally be mistaken for a stroke. If you or a loved one experiences a headache that includes any of the following, you should seek medical help right away: Produces new leg or arm weakness that comes on abruptly and severely without any prior signs or warning and is accompanied by a fever, neck stiffness, confusion, seizure, double vision, weakness, numbness, or difficulties. We have explained everything that you should know about migraine headaches.
Speaking is accompanied by a loss of awareness and what is referred to as the "worst headache ever," symptoms that last longer than an hour.
It's crucial to consult your doctor if headaches are interfering with your everyday life and you are unsure whether they are a migraine symptom. There are numerous treatments available, even though migraine might occasionally feel incapacitating. Headaches can indicate some other problems.
Your doctor can put you on a treatment plan that may involve medication and lifestyle modifications the sooner you begin to discuss your symptoms.
Disclaimer:
The information in this article shouldn't be used in place of consulting a doctor for a diagnosis or treatment. You shouldn't rely on the information on this website for personalized medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns, speak with your doctor.
FAQ:
Q1. Is migraine headache serious?
Ans: when to consult a doctor. If you experience frequent or severe migraine symptoms, you should visit a doctor. Simple medicines like ibuprofen or paracetamol can work well for migraine. Try to avoid consistently or frequently taking the full recommended dose of medicines as this may make treating headaches more difficult over time.
Q2. What is the main cause of migraine?
Ans: Although the precise cause of migraines is unknown, it is believed that they are a temporary side effect of irregular brain activity that affects the brain's blood vessels, chemicals, and nerve signals.
Q3. How long a migraine last?
Ans: If left untreated, a migraine often lasts 4 to 72 hours. Each person experiences migraines differently. Migraines can hit infrequently or repeatedly each month.
Q4. What are the 4 stages of migraine?
Ans: What are the four migraine stages?
Prodrome, aura, attack, and post-drome are the four stages that migraines can go through as they grow. Migraines frequently start in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. Not every migraine sufferer experiences each stage.
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