Migraine Symptoms

Introduction

The most prominent symptom of a migraine, a common neurological condition, is a palpitation headache on one part of the brain. Physical exertion, bright lights, loud noises, or strong smells will probably make your migraine worse. It could endure for days or at least four hours. 12% of Americans are thought to have this hereditary disease. It is the sixth most incapacitating disease in the world, according to research.

What is Migraine ?

The brain and tissues around have been linked to a mysterious neurological disease called migraine. The trigeminovascular system and the cerebral cortex play key roles in migraine, which was formerly thought to be solely a blood vessel problem. Instead, it is now abundantly obvious from the available data that migraines are the outcome of an interaction between important inputs from the peripheral and central nervous systems. The significance of processes like cortical spreading depression, activation of the trigeminovascular system and its constituent neuropeptides, and the role of neuronal and glial ion channels and transporters that contribute to the putative cortical network have all been revealed by advances in in vivo and in vitro technologies.

Symptoms

Four stages of a migraine

Prodrome

In this stage, a person usually undergoes mild symptoms for one or two days before a migraine, such as constipation, mood swings from depression to exhilaration, food cravings, stiff neck, increased thirst and urine, or frequent yawning.

Aura

Aura may develop before or during migraines for certain people. Auras are temporary nervous system symptoms. They typically involve visual abnormalities but occasionally other ones as well. Each symptom often starts out mildly, intensifies and lasts somewhere between 20 and 60 minutes.

Examples of Aura are −

• Absence of vision.

• Weakness or numbness on the body.

• Speaking challenges.

• Inability to control jerks or other motions.

Attack

If left untreated, a migraine typically lasts four to 72 hours, and each person's frequency is unique. Migraines can hit infrequently or repeatedly each month.

Symptoms of a migraine include

• Pain that is frequently appearing on both sides of the head but typically on one side.

• A throbbing or pulsing pain.

• Sensitivity to scent, touch, and occasionally light and sound.

• Nausea and diarrhoea.

Post-drome

Individuals suffering from migraine can experience post-migraine fatigue, disorientation, and sleepiness for up to a day. An abrupt head turn could momentarily trigger irritation. Frequently, migraines go unidentified and untreated. If you frequently experience migraine symptoms, keep a log of your attacks and the medications you used then schedule a consultation with your doctor to talk about your headaches.

Chronic Migraine Symptoms

• A person is stated to have a chronic migraine when they get headaches for at least 15 days a month, including at least 8 days, with fully formed migraines.

• Chronic migraine is a widespread and debilitating neurological disorder.

• The therapy of chronic migraine includes reducing risk factors, avoiding triggers of migraine attacks, using preventive and abortive drugs, and using non-drug treatments.

• Finding and treating conditions that coexist with chronic migraine improves patient outcomes. Conditions include −

• Obesity/Snoring.

• Sleep problems.

• Excessive coffee consumption.

• Psychological illness.

• Excessively frequent baseline headaches.

• Overuse of migraine medication.

• Significant life changes.

• A neck or head injury.

• Skin-related allodynia.

• Overlapping pain disorders.

• Inferior socioeconomic standing.

Vestibular Migraine Symptoms

The following symptoms may coexist in combination with vestibular migraines −

• Severe headache that typically only affects one side of the head.

• Vomiting and nauseous.

• Sensitivity to scent, sound, and light.

Other Signs Include

• Usually it lasts from minutes to hours, but occasionally days, vertigo (dizziness).

• Loss of stability and equilibrium.

• Loss of responsiveness to motion.

Causes

Twenty to thirty percent of a population exposed to weather fluctuations frequently experience migraine attacks brought on by climatic cold or heat stress. Every entering weather front generates electrical charges (positive ionisation) that cause the release of serotonin.

There are a number of migraine triggers, including

• Hormonal changes − An individual can get headaches when the oestrogen levels fluctuate, before or during menstrual cycles, during pregnancy, or during menopause.

• Oral contraceptives − These are one of the hormonal medicines that can make migraines worse. However, some women find that using these medications reduces the frequency of their migraine attacks.

• Drinks − Alcohol, especially wine, and coffee, which is high in caffeine, are examples of drinks that can trigger the condition.

• Stress − Migraines may be triggered by stress at work or home.

• Sensory arousal − Loud noises and bright or flashing lights can also cause migraines. Some people experience migraines when they are exposed to strong scents like perfume, paint thinner, second-hand smoke, etc.

• Sleep alters − For certain people, sleep deprivation or excessive sleep can cause migraines.

• Physical aspects − Migraines may be brought on by vigorous physical activity, including sexual activity.

• Weather alters − A migraine may be brought on by a change in the weather or barometric pressure.

• Medications − Vasodilators like nitroglycerin and oral contraceptives can make migraines worse.

• Foods − Migraines may be brought on by aged cheese, salty meals, and processed foods.

Treatment

There are two types of medications for the treatment of migraine: those that are administered to treat attacks as they occur, as well as those that are taken daily, whether or not a headache is present, to lessen the intensity of attacks. A further distinction between general and migraine-specific therapies for attacks can be made. Non-specific drugs, such as aspirin, acetaminophen, NSAIDs, opiates, and combination analgesics, are used to treat a variety of pain disorders. The treatment of nonneurovascular headaches, such as cluster headaches, as well as other types of pain, such as pure tension-type headaches or atypical facial pain, is not successful with some medicines, such as ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, and triptans.

FAQs

Q1. What distinguishes a migraine from a headache?

Ans. During a migraine attack, the neurological system is affected by the brain condition known as migraine. Not "just a headache," either. In addition to head pain, migraine attacks frequently include a variety of other symptoms that can be incapacitating. Head pain is generally referred to as a headache. Although headache or head discomfort is a typical migraine symptom, not all headaches are migraines.

Q2. Define triptans?

Ans. Triptans are a class of medications intended to relieve migraines quickly. Triptans can be administered intravenously or orally.

Q3. What prevents migraines?

Ans. Prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical regimens, dietary supplements, vitamins, or minerals, lifestyle modifications, or a combination of these things can all be used to avoid migraines.

Q4. What kind of drugs are used to treat migraines?

Ans. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen.