Is migraine a serious problem?
Hello Ladies! Back again with yet another topic related to Migraine, where we are trying to understand if migraine is a serious problem or not? But before we get an answer for that, we should get to know what is migraine, it’s symptoms and causes, so that we can get a proper treatment if required.
What is Migraine?
A migraine is a headache that can cause severe pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head. Migraine is quite often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and severe sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine headaches can take hours to days, and the pain can be so severe that it interferes with your daily activities.
For some people, a warning sign known as an aura occurs before or with a headache. An aura can include visual disturbances, such as flashbacks or blind spots, or other disturbances, such as sloping on one side of the face or arm or leg and difficulty speaking.
Although, medications can help prevent some migraines and make them less painful but appropriate medications, combined with self-medication and lifestyle changes, can help.
What are the symptoms of Migraine?
Migraines, affecting children and adolescents as well as adults, can progress to four stages: prodrome, aura, attack and post-drome. Not everyone with migraines goes through all the stages.
Prodrome
A day or two before migraines, you may notice subtle changes that warn of an impending migraine, including:
Constipation
Emotions change, from depression to happiness
Food cravings
Neck stiffness
Increased urination
Liquid retention
Yawning constantly
Aura
For some people, the aura may occur before or during migraines. Auras is a reversible sign of a nervous system. They are usually visible but may include other distractions. Each symptom usually begins gradually, builds up in a few minutes and can last for 60 minutes.
Examples of migraine auras include:
Visual events, such as seeing different scenarios, bright spots or light rays
Loss of vision
Pins and needles on arms or leg
Feeling of weakness or numbness in the face or on one side of the body
Difficulty speaking
Attack
Migraine attack usually lasts 4 to 72 hours if left untreated. But how often migraines occur varies from person to person. Migraine may occur spontaneously or strike several times a month.
During a migraine, you may be:
The pain is usually on one side of your head, but usually on both sides
A sharp pain or tingling
Sensitivity to light, sound, and sometimes smell and touch
Nausea and vomiting
Post-drome
After a migraine attack, you may feel tired, confused, and irritable for a day.
Some people report feeling happy.
Sudden headaches may cause pain again for a while.
What are the causes of Migraine?
Although the causes of migraine are not fully understood, genetics and environmental factors appear to play a role.
Changes in the brainstem and its interaction with the trigeminal nerve, a major pathway to pain, may be involved. So there may be an imbalance in brain chemicals - including serotonin, which helps control pain in your nervous system.
Researchers are studying the role of serotonin in migraines. Other neurotransmitters play a role in migraine pain, including genetically related calcitonin peptide (CGRP).
Some of the most common Migraine triggers:
There are many types of migraine triggers including:
Hormonal changes in women - Estrogen fluctuations, such as before or during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, appear to cause headaches for many women.
Hormonal medications - such as birth control pills, can also increase migraines. Some women, however, find that their migraines occur less frequently when taking these medications.
Drinks - These include alcohol, especially wine, and a lot of caffeine, such as coffee.
Depression - Stress at work or at home can cause migraines.
Nerve motives - Bright or bright lights can cause migraines, as there may be loud noises.
Strong odours - such as perfumes, paint detergents, cigarette smoke, and so on - cause the frustration of some.
Sleep changes - Sleep deprivation or excessive sleepiness can cause migraine in some people.
Physical factors - Excessive physical activity, which includes sex, can cause migraines.
The climate is changing - Climate change or barometric pressure can cause migraines.
Medications - Oral contraceptives and vasodilators, such as nitroglycerin, can exacerbate migraines.
Food - Older cheeses and salty foods and processed foods can cause migraines. So food may be skipped.
Dietary supplements - These include sweet aspartame and preservative monosodium glutamate (MSG), which are found in many foods.
Is migraine a serious problem?
Migraines can be debilitating, but for some people with aura due to their head, it can be a sign of a more serious risk - an increased risk of stroke.
UCI Health pain management specialist Dr. Rakhi Dayal says women who experience an aura through their migraines have been shown to be at risk. Migraines are three to four times more common in men than in women.
People who get auras with their migraines are twice as likely to have a stroke, according to a 2016 study published in the British Medical Journal.
Being a smoker under 45 years of age and contraceptive increases the risk of stroke even further. Studies have established a higher risk of stroke in women with migraines with aura.
In addition, Dayal states, some studies have shown a possible link between migraines and aura and heart disease.
It is not yet clear whether treatment and prevention of migraine could lead to a reduced risk of stroke, Dayal said, but affected women should stop smoking and be careful about using estrogen as a method of birth control or hormone therapy because of the effect of estrogen on blood pressure and obesity. . Because pregnancy increases estrogen production, women with migraines with aura need to be educated about their high risk.
In addition, some auras associated with migraines may mimic stroke symptoms. A stroke is caused by a blockage in the blood vessels of the brain or by bleeding in the brain. In fact, without proper history and clinical examinations and tests, it can be difficult to distinguish between stroke and migraine in some patients, Dayal said.
Some headaches are considered “red flags” because they can be caused by an underlying condition, which puts lives at risk. If you experience any of these symptoms, Dayal says, consult your doctor:
Suddenly, a severe headache that reaches unbearable seconds in minutes to minutes, often described as “the most painful headache of my life.” This is sometimes called thunderclap headache. This can be caused by life-threatening bleeding in the brain space, and you should go to the emergency room immediately. Call 911.
New headaches different from any previous headache, or increased frequency or severity, or adverse reactions to previously effective medications.
A headache that wakes you up at night.
Increased headache when lying on the floor coughing, sneezing or carrying weight.
New headache after 40 years if you have never had a headache before.
Headache associated with any symptoms such as: weakness in the face, arm or leg; numbness or joint problems; visual impairment; language or speech problems; vertigo; confusion; altered consciousness; or fainting. If those signs occur, call 911.
Thus, one can see that migraine is a serious problem if not treated or taken care of properly. So my dear ladies make sure to visit a doctor whenever you experience an excruciating headache.
Ref: : Migraine: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention (webmd.com)
Migraine - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
When you should worry about your headache | UCI Health | Orange County, CA