What is Migraine? What are types of Migraine? What is the main cause, symptoms of migraine?
I’m sure that some or the other time in your life, you might have experienced a killer headache without any particular reason or might still do but don’t know why it happens. Well, have you ever thought that it might because you are suffering from Migraine? So, yes this might be a cause, and just like you many others don’t know that they are getting headache because they suffer from Migraine. Hence, it is extremely important for us to know about what is Migraine, its types, symptoms and cause, so that you can differentiate and tell what causes you a headache.
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. 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 usually lasts 4 to 72 hours if left untreated. 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.
What are the different types of Migraines?
There are several types of migraines. The most common headache is with aura (also known as migraine) and migraine without aura (or common migraine).
Menstrual migraine - This is where a headache is linked to a woman's period.
Silent migraine - This type is also known as acephalgic migraine. You have symptoms of an aura without a headache.
Vestibular migraine - You have problems with balance, vertigo, nausea, and vomiting, or you have a headache or nausea. This condition is more common in people with a history of motion sickness.
Stomach migraine - Experts do not know much about this type. It causes stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. It usually occurs in children and may turn into a painful headache over time.
Hemiplegic migraine - You have a short period of paralysis (hemiplegia) or weakness on one side of your body. You may also experience numbness, dizziness, or blurred vision. These symptoms can also be symptoms of a stroke, so get medical help right away.
Ophthalmic migraine - This is also known as ocular or retinal migraine. It causes short-term, partial, or complete loss of vision in one eye, as well as excruciating pain behind the eye, which may spread throughout your head.
Migraine with a brainstem aura - Dizziness, confusion, or loss of balance can occur before a headache. Pain may affect the back of your head. These symptoms usually start suddenly and may be accompanied by speech problems, ringing in your ears, and vomiting.
Migrainosus condition - This severe form of migraine can last up to 72 hours. The pain and nausea are so severe that you may need to go to the hospital. In some cases, medication or withdrawal of medication may result.
Ophthalmoplegic migraine - This causes pain around your eye, including paralysis of the surrounding muscles. This is a medical emergency because the symptoms can be caused by pressure behind the eyes or an aneurysm. Other symptoms include dangling eyelids, double vision, or other changes in vision.
Thus, the moment you get a headache, and the pain doesn’t go away or stays longer than usual then, please make sure to visit a doctor, as neglecting it for long may cause serious damage to your body and you might experience some serious consequences. Hence, my dear ladies it is a request to you all to visit a doctor and get a proper treatment before it goes out of your hands.