Migraine

What is Migraine?

Migraine refers to one sided intense periodic headaches. The character of the pain is pulsating or throbbing. The disorder usually brings with itself extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Occurrence of nausea and vomiting is common with migraines. Over the course of time, women have been reported to be more susceptible to this disorder than men. Migraine can be classified into two categories: Classic Migraine and Common Migraine. Some common pre-signs include fatigue, weakness, and lethargy. Some more kinds of headaches which are not popular are, basilar Migraine, Ophthalmic Migraine, Ophthalmoplegic Migraine, Retinal Migraine, and Status Migraine.

The intensity of headache increases with time, and the pain that was there in one area spreads to a larger portion. In some cases, the pain will subside gradually in a few hours, while in some it may continue for days.

Symptoms

The headaches usually begin in the early part of the life cycle. Childhood, adolescence or early adulthood are the periods when the disease may start spreading its roots. The disorder shows 4 different stages of symptoms namely prodrome, aura, headache, and postdrome. The common symptoms include:

  • Depressed feeling.
  • Constipation.
  • Craving for food.
  • Hyperactivity.
  • Irritation.
  • Stiffness in the neck.
  • Uncontrolled yawning.
  • Vision loss.
  • Irregular speech.
  • Vomiting and nausea.
  • Mildly euphoric.

 

Causes

Some of the most probable causes of this disease include:

  • Changes in sleep-wake pattern.
  • Stress.
  • Food additives.
  • Drinks.
  • Sensory stimuli.
  • Physical factors.
  • Salty and processed foods.

Risks

The main risk factors are:

  • Sex.
  • Hormonal changes.
  • Age.
  • Family history.

Prevention

To prevent the occurrence of this disease, one should take care of:

  • Having a healthy diet.
  • Avoiding stress and anxiety.
  • Exercising on a regular basis.

How is it diagnosed?

Generally, no test is required by the doctor to confirm that the patient has migraine. The symptoms are very specific, and precise confirmation can be made without any clinical examination. Some pa...

How is it treated?

t Medanta, doctors follow two different paths to treat migraine headaches with drugs:

..

  • Acute treatment

    This approach is adopted to minimize and tackle acute attacks of migraine. Drugs such as ‘triptans’ and ‘painkillers’ are used in this style of treatment. These drugs will not show any effect if the attack has already occurred. They are ideally to be taken when the patient gets the feeling that he is about to have an attack. The above mentioned drugs should only be used if prescribed by a neurologist. Over or improper use of these medications can result in ‘Medication overuse headache’ which is really difficult to treat.

  • Treatment for prevention

     This style of treatment uses medication that was originally invented for epilepsy and depression. It is directed at preventing frequent attacks of migraine. The disorder demands treatment only if the frequency of attacks is high and the pain is very severe. The drugs do no guarantee anything, and breakthrough attacks by them is also common.

  • Hormone therapy

    Some women also abort their migraine pain with hormone therapy. This type of pain is linked with menstrual cycle. Exercise, relaxation, biofeedback, and other therapies have also proved to be helpful with patients suffering from migraine headaches.

When do I contact the doctor?

You should immediately consult a doctor, if you experience a severe headache, fever, mental confusion, seizures, that worsen after coughing, exertion, or sudden movement. 

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