Migraine is a result of specific changes within the brain. It causes severe headache that is often accompanied by , sound, or smells. Common symptoms include: Sensitivity to light or sound, Severe pain, usually on one side of the head that some individuals describe as “pounding”.
TYPES OF MIGRAINE:
1.Common migraine (or absence migraine) has no “aura.” About 80%of migraines are common. Aura are specific warning symptoms prior to the onset of the headache. These warning signs can range from flashing lights or a blind spot in one eye to numbness or weakness involving one side of the body.
2.Classic migraines (migraine with aura) present with an aura before the headache and are more severe than common migraines.
4.A silent or acephalic migraine is a migraine without head pain but with aura and other aspects of migraine.
5.A hemiplegic migraine can have symptoms that mimic a , such as on one side of the body, loss of sensation, or feeling ‘pins and needles’.
6.A retinal migraine causes temporary in one eye, which can last from minutes to months, but it is usually reversible. This is often a sign of a more serious serious medical problem, and patients should seek medical care.
5.A chronic migraine is a migraine that lasts for more than 15 days per month.
Status migrainosus is a constant migraine attack that lasts more than 72 hours.
Although the term “migraine” is often used to describe any severe headache, a migraine headache is the result of specific physiologic changes that occur within the brain, and lead to the characteristic pain and associated symptoms of a migraine.
Migraines usually are associated with sensitivity to sound, light, and smells. This may be accompanied by or . This type of headache often involves only one side of the head, but in some cases, patients may have pain bilaterally or on both sides. The pain is often described as throbbing or pounding and it may be made worse with physical exertion
Not all headaches represent migraines, and migraine is not the only condition that can cause severe and debilitating headaches. For example, cluster headaches are very severe headaches that affect one side of the head in a recurrent manner (occurring in a “cluster” over time). The pain is sometimes described as “drilling,” and can be worse than migraine pain in some cases. Cluster headaches are less common than migraine.
Tension headaches are a more common cause of headache. These occur due to contraction of the muscles of the scalp, face, and neck.
SYMPTOMS:
The most common symptoms are:
-Severe headache often “pounding,” pain, usually on one side of the head
-Nausea and/or vomiting
-Sensitivity to light
-Sensitivity to sound
-Eye pain
CAUSES OF MIGRAINES:
The specific cause of migraines is not known, but there may be fluctuations in certain neurotransmitters, chemicals that send messages between brain cells. These changes may predispose some people to develop migraine headaches.
Migraines can be triggered by many factors, for example:
Hormonal changes
Strong stimuli like loud noises
Exposure to strong stimuli such as bright lights, loud noises, or strong smells
Certain foods such as:
-Red wines
-Aged cheeses
-Preservatives used in smoked meats
– Monosodium glutamate
-Dairy products
-Oversleeping
-Alcohol
Changes in barometric pressure have been described as leading to migraine headaches.
Not every individual who has migraines will experience one when exposed to these triggers. If a person is unsure what specific triggers might cause a migraine, maintaining a headache diary can be beneficial to identify those individual factors that lead to migraine.
RISK FACTORS:
Can a Migraine Cause a Stroke? What Are the Risk Factors?
Migraine and stroke may occur at the same time, but a causal link has not been established. When an ischemic stroke occurs during a migraine attack it is called a “migrainous infarction.” The specific type of migraine associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke is migraine with aura, a type of migraine that affects about one-quarter of all people with migraines. Rarely, people with specific migraine symptoms may be related to a higher risk of stroke.
Migraines may be a risk factor for stroke, in that strokes occur more frequently in people who have had migraines, but the strokes do not necessarily occur during migraine attacks.
REMEDIES
Migraine patients can play a significant role in managing their headache frequency and severity.
What natural home remedies and and lifestyle changes relieve migraines?
Keep track of when migraines occur by using a headache diary or log to track pain levels, triggers, and symptoms. This can help identify patterns that precede a migraine, as well as help identify factors that contribute to the development of the headache. Once these contributing factors are known, lifestyle modifications can lessen their impact. These modifications may include:
-Maintain a regular schedule for eating and sleeping
-Avoid certain foods that might cause a migraine
-Keep well hydrated since has been identified as a migraine trigger for some people regularly
-Relaxation strategies and meditation also have been recognized as effective strategies to prevent migraines and decrease their severity.
TREATMENT:
The treatment for migraines depends upon on how frequently they occur, the type of medicine prescribed to prevent triggers and attacks, pain relief, and how long they last.
