What is Migraine? Migraine is a neurological disorder which is often confused with common headache by some people. Headache can be cured by taking a tablet of paracetamol but migraine patients needs more than that. They need special care and treatment.
Migraine is a painful headache that may occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and smell, pain in the neck region, etc. In many cases, a throbbing pain is felt only on one side of the head.
Some people who get migraines have warning symptoms called an aura before the actual headache begins which is accompanied by blurred vision like symptoms. But, let me tell you, not every person with migraines has an aura. Those who do usually develop one about 10 - 15 minutes before the headache. However, it may occur just a few minutes to 24 hours beforehand. A headache may not always follow an aura.
Migraine headaches can be mild or severe. The pain may be felt behind the eye or in the back of the head and neck. For many patients, the headaches start on the same side each time. The symptoms may linger even after the migraine has gone away. The patients with migraine sometimes call this a "Migraine Hangover". The symptoms can include :
- Feeling mentally dull
- Increased need for sleep
- Pain in the neck
What Triggers Migraine ?
Many things can trigger a migraine. These includes :
1. Anxiety and Depression
2. Physical or Emotional Stress
3. Lack of Proper Sleep
4. No Proper Food Habits
5. Exposure to Bright Lights
6. Hormonal Changes or Fluctuations. (in Women)
7. Loud Noises
8. Exposure to smoke or smoking
9. Certain odors and smells
10. Allergic Reactions and so on.
How to Prevent Migraine :
There is no specific cure for migraine headaches. The goal is to prevent symptoms by avoiding or changing your triggers. A good way to identify triggers is to keep a headache diary. Understanding your headache triggers can help you avoid foods and situations that cause your migraines. Maintain a diary to help identify the cause that triggers your migraine headache.
Keep a note of :
1. Occurrence of your headaches (intervals in minutes and hours)
2. Its severity (Mild or severe)
3. Food Habits (What you've eaten and did you missed your meals, etc.)
4. Sleep Hours (Duration in hours and irregular sleep pattern)
5. Menstrual cycle in women.( Headache occurs before or after)
This diary will help you to understand the nature and pattern of your migraine attack and accordingly, you can treat them. When migraine symptoms begin, you should :
-
Drink more water to avoid dehydration, especially if you have vomited
-
Rest in a quiet, darkened room
-
You can tie a piece of cloth around your head slightly tight or massage your head with some oil which has balm effect.
-
You can also place a cool cloth on your head or put some ice cubes on the towel and wrap it nicely, then press it on the affected area very gently. It helps to soothe the migraine pain.
Many different medications are available for people with migraine. These medicines can reduce the number of migraine attacks and prevent it once the symptoms occur.
Previously, doctors used to believe that migraine is linked to the opening and narrowing of blood vessels in the head. Now, they believe that the cause is related to genes that controls the activity of some brain cells. Medicines can help prevent migraine attacks or help relieve the symptoms of attacks when it occurs. However, the best treatment for migraine is to prevent it. Pain killer drugs may give temporary relief to your migraine headache but they do not remove the cause. The worst part is soon you get addicted to strong medications which loses their effectiveness in course of time. For many people, stress and anxiety is the main cause of migraine. Reduce stress and anxiety, it will cure migraine.
Pain Duration :
Migraine can last from few hours to one week time.
More Info Coming soon..Keep Reading!
