Most certainly, you would have experienced the distress of a headache, sometime in your life. Remember the throbbing, sharp pain that disrupts your routine and does not seem to get any better? Now double the intensity and time of that pain and what you get is a headache disorder called migraine. Migraine headache affects nearly 1 billion people across the globe. It is a condition characterized by repetitive debilitating headaches, scaling from moderate to severe. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, migraine headache is the third most common illness in the world. Despite such high incidence, there is little understanding of migraine symptoms, causes and treatment.
In this article, Dr Tushar Tayal, a leading internal medicine specialist, explores what is a migraine and what are the migraine symptoms?
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Migraine is a very common disorder. It is a neurological condition that causes extreme pain and a pulsing sensation at one side of the head may last for several hours and may extend up to days.
A migraine is more than just a headache as it generally follows after an aura of sensory disturbances. These aura disturbances include:
The pain is known to worsen if the patient is involved in any type of physical exertion. Migraine tends to affect people aged between 15 to 55 years.
Migraine meaning can be classified into two main types which depend on whether the patient suffers from sensory impairment or disturbances. These disturbances are known as aura. Hence, the types of migraine include:
These symptoms act as warnings for many patients and signal the onsets of migraines. An aura is characterised by various sensory disturbances which include:
As the name suggests, under this category, a patient does not feel any aura impairments or sensations. Nearly 70% to 90% of people experience migraines without any sensory disturbance or aura.
However, even in migraines without aura, a person undergoes the onset or the beginning of the migraine attack and experience symptoms one or two days before. This state is known as the prodrome stage.
Besides a classification based on aura, types of migraines are further divided. There are a few other types of migraine that are related to specific syndrome and triggers.
While it is important to learn about the symptoms, you should not self-diagnose your condition. It is highly recommended to see a doctor if the headaches follow a migraine pattern.
Migraine symptoms vary from their type and stage of the onset of the headache.
The common migraine symptoms in the prodrome stage include:
In migraine with aura, some sensory difficulties are experienced by the patient after the prodrome stage. During Aura sensory organs are affected with impairment in vision, movement, hearing, speech and/ or sensation. Common migraine headache symptoms with aura include:
The notorious migraine pain occurs afterwards. This stage is called the Attack phase. The most severe of all phases for which migraine is known. This phase can last up to hours or even days. Symptoms seen in this phase can vary from person to person. Some of the most common migraine symptoms of the attack phase include:
After the attack, the patient generally experiences what is called the postdrome phase. Changes in mood and feelings are experienced during this phase. This can range from elated and happy to fatigued and apathetic with a mild and dull headache.
The duration and degree of these phases vary from person to person. It is not unusual for a phase to skip and it is completely possible that an attack may occur without any headache.
The migraine causes are not fully understood yet. But apparently, the cause is a mix of genetics and environmental factors that play a major role and can be considered reasons for migraine.
Abnormal brain activities may result in migraine pain. This affects the way nerves communicate and may cause a chemical imbalance. This imbalance includes a decrease in brain chemical known as serotonin. Genetics and allergies also seem to play a big role. In the above two-third of the cases, migraine runs through the family.
A migraine trigger is any environmental change, external stimulus or physical act that results in a migraine headache. Many triggers are responsible and reasons for migraine attack which includes:
There is no single cure for migraines and the treatment may vary from person to person. It is highly recommended to see a doctor if you see any of the symptoms mentioned above or if your headache follows a migraine pattern.
Migraine treatment helps in preventing a full-blown attack. Sometimes migraine may alleviate merely with some changes in lifestyle and daily habits but sometimes it may need surgery to cure. The best way to deal with migraine is to consult a doctor and get it diagnosed.
Medical treatment and lifestyle modifications, combined can help in getting rid of a migraine. Some lifestyle changes may help with a migraine which includes:
Generally, migraine medication is also advised as a course of treatment. Always consult a doctor before starting any kind of migraine medication.
The primary difference is the fact that migraine is a headache disorder. It is one of the many types of headache. Generally, a headache is felt in the head, face or upper neck area. While migraine headache is felt mostly at one side of the head.
A migraine headache can be a draining experience and consume several hours or even days of your life. It is important to educate yourself about the fundamentals of migraine to seek effective migraine treatment.
For more information or personalised guidance, book an appointment with a leading internal medicine specialist or call us at +91 124 4882248.
Ques: Can migraine go away on its own?
Ans: Yes, it is possible that a migraine headache may subside on its own. However, if your headache is severely affecting your daily life, you must seek clinical help.
Ques: How can I get rid of a migraine fast?
Ans: You can apply a cold or hot compress on your head, dim the lights around you and drink plenty of water to help get rid of a migraine.
Ques: Which foods can relieve migraine?
Ans: Some well-known foods that can help relieve migraine include sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, brown rice, and more.
Ques: What should be avoided during a migraine?
Ans: You should identify and avoid your migraine triggers such as aged cheeses, alcohol and caffeine.
