Migraine: Is It a Serious Condition?
A severe headache with vomiting, nausea, and sensitivity to light that usually lasts for hours to days is called a migraine. In addition, it occurs in moderate to severe headache episodes, which are usually unilateral. In general, it is associated with feelings of nausea and increased sensitivity to light and sound.
What is the difference between a migraine and a headache?
Migraine | Headache |
Migraines are complex brain events that precede other symptoms | causes pain in the head, face, or neck, usually unrelated to the aura |
Happens hourly to daily | Can last for hours |
Events in a recurring issue | Could be a single event |
Migraines have a strong genetic component. | Depends on the underlying cause |
How long does a migraine last?
Migraine symptoms vary from person to person, symptoms are classified into stages, they include;
History or previous symptoms
About 60% of people notice symptoms hours to days before a headache. Symptoms such as light, smell, sensitivity to sound, fatigue, appetite, mood swings, bloating, constipation
Halo
Usually involving the visual nervous system, pain is usually stable for at least less than an hour, symptoms include hallucinations (flashes, black dots), visual tunneling, inability to speak properly Tinnitus feeling
Attack
It usually begins as a dull ache that radiates into a sharp pain that gets worse with physical activity. This type of pain can radiate from side to side or involve the entire head.
Postdrome
These migraines often last all day, leaving you feeling tired, irritable, weak, and sore muscles.
What is the main reason for a migraine?
The exact cause of migraines is unknown, some studies say that changes in the brain or genes cause migraines. Some studies indicate that certain neurons send response signals that trigger migraines. CGRP (gene-related peptide) causes the lining of the brain’s blood vessels to swell, with inflammation and pain caused by the neurotransmitter.
Who is at risk?
Gender: women are affected in a ratio of 3:1 more than men
Age: the disease usually affects between the ages of 10 and 40, for women the disease usually goes into remission or goes away after the age of over 50.
Family history: most people with migraines have a family history of the disease. Family history causes 50% chance of migraine.
Medical condition: depression, anxiety, epilepsy, sleep disorder
Migraine headache triggers
Hormonal changes; most women notice during ovulation, pregnancy or during their menstrual cycle, while taking birth control pills
Stress ; When a person is under more stress, the brain begins to secrete chemicals that cause changes in blood vessels, which in turn trigger migraines.
Food; skip a meal during the day or have too much caffeine in a day
Change Weather
Sense
Medicine
Physical activity
Tobacco use
Types of Migraines
The most common types are classic migraines (with aura) and another is without aura
- Period
- Silent
- Vestibule
- Belly
- Hemiplegia
- Ophthalmology
- Migraine with brain stem aura
Regularity
Frequency is classified into three levels,
Epic; you may have a headache now and then
Intermittent high frequency: experiencing at least 14 headaches in a month
Chronic: noted headaches lasting more than 15 days in a 5 hour month, associated with severe or episodic pain.
Can a migraine be cured?
So far there is no cure for migraines but medication will help them prevent symptoms from getting worse. Changes in stress, lifestyle, and sleeping patterns can increase quality of life.
Is this headache serious?
Very rarely, very severe pain (headache) sometimes it is a sign of a stroke or an aneurysm. Persistent aura without infarction leads to disability and loss of employment.
However, sometimes serious complications can occur, such as:
- Migraine status, a debilitating episode lasting more than 72 hours
- Venous Infarction
- convulsions caused by aura
Diagnose
- Specify symptoms
- How many times has the headache occurred recently?
- How long does the headache last?
- Family history
- Any medical condition.
Test
- Blood tests
- MRI
- CT scan
- Electroencephalogram
The treatment
- Pain relief; Over-the-counter medications, anti-nausea medications
- Triptans, ergotamine; Helps balance chemicals in the brain
- Lasmiditan; used to relieve pain and nausea
- CGRP . receptor antagonists
How do I stop getting migraines?
- Stress management
- Regular proper diet
- Drink more fluids
- Regular moderate exercise
Is coffee good?
No, coffee causes it in many people.
What foods should be avoided?
The ketogenic (high-fat, low-carbohydrate) diet is promising in migraine patients. You should avoid:
- High-carbohydrate diet
- Avoid allergenic foods like fish, egg whites, egg yolks, nuts, oranges, and strawberries.
- Caffeine has been found to be a migraine trigger, so cut back on caffeinated beverages.
- Fasting
- Milk, cheese and chocolate
- Overeating nuts, fresh or dried fruit, dairy products, processed foods, baked yeast foods, and processed meats
Alternative Treatment
Lifestyle change
- Exercise regularly
- Yoga
- Relaxing training
Reduce Activation
Detoxify
Melatonin
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