Migraines
A migraine is an intense and painful headache that is often preceded or accompanied by sensory warning signs. These signs can include flashes of light, blind spots, tingling in the arms and legs, nausea, vomiting, and heightened sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines can last for hours or even days, causing severe discomfort.
Symptoms of Migraines
If you are experiencing your first migraine or suspect you may have one, look out for these symptoms:
- Moderate to severe throbbing pain on one side of the head, worsened by movement
- Inability to carry out normal daily activities due to the pain
- Pain that can occur on both sides of the head and spread to the face and neck
- Additional symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, and sensitivity to sound and light
- Other occasional symptoms may include abdominal pain, diarrhea, difficulty concentrating, sweating, or feeling extremely hot or cold
Approximately one in three people experience an “aura” before a migraine. Aura refers to warning symptoms that can include:
- Feeling off balance or dizzy
- Tingling or numbness in one hand, which can spread to the arm, face, lips, and tongue
- Visual disturbances like flashing lights, blind spots, or zigzag patterns
Migraines can also occur in stages:
- Prodromal stage: This stage involves changes in energy levels, appetite, behavior, and mood. It can occur hours or even days before the migraine.
- Aura stage: Visual disturbances and other aura symptoms occur, lasting from a few minutes to an hour.
- Headache stage: The intense headache, often pulsating or throbbing, typically focused on one side of the head. Nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound accompany the headache. This stage can last from 4 to 72 hours.
- Resolution stage: The headache and migraine symptoms gradually fade away, though some fatigue may persist for a few days.
Causes of Migraines
The exact cause of migraines remains unknown, but they are believed to result from abnormal brain activity that temporarily affects nerve signals in the brain. Migraines can be triggered by various factors, including physical, emotional, dietary, hormonal, or environmental triggers.
Some common triggers include:
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Depression
- Tension
- Poor posture
- Jet lag
- Low blood sugar
- Poor sleep quality
- Smoking
- Changes in climate
- Exposure to bright lights, loud noises, or stuffy rooms
- Certain medications, such as the combined birth control pill, hormone replacement therapy, or sleeping tablets
Diagnosis and Treatment of Migraines
To diagnose migraines, your doctor will likely perform a physical examination to rule out other underlying causes of your symptoms. They may check your coordination, reflexes, sensations, and vision.
Your doctor will also ask specific questions about your pain, such as its location, impact on daily activities, associated symptoms, sensitivity to light and noise, aggravation with movement, and pulsating nature.
If your symptoms align with a migraine diagnosis, your doctor may prescribe appropriate treatment or refer you to a specialist if the diagnosis is uncertain, current treatment is ineffective, or you experience chronic migraines (15 days or more each month).
While there is no cure for migraines, various treatments can be used to manage and alleviate symptoms. These include:
- Resting in a dark and quiet room
- Consuming mild food if nausea occurs
- Over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen (most effective when taken during the warning signs of a migraine)
- Triptans, prescription painkillers specifically designed for migraines, which can be taken with regular over-the-counter painkillers
- Acupuncture
It’s important to work closely with your doctor to develop an individualized treatment plan for managing your migraines effectively.