What is Migraine?
A migraine is an intense type of debilitating headache that occurs repeatedly over days. It is a primary headache disorder, an abnormal activity in the brain that lasts 4-72 hours. It is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, severe pain on one or both sides of the head, dizziness, sensitivity to light and sound, and other symptoms. In India, adults between the ages of 30-44 are the victims of migraine headaches. Migraines are a genetic neurological disorder that affects each person differently. One of the common symptoms of migraine headaches is intense throbbing head pain that affects the victim severely to the point where their quality of life deteriorates. In this blog we will explore and understand what migraine headaches are, the signs of a migraine and how it occurs in different phases, and the various types of migraine treatments.
Signs of a Migraine
The different signs of a migraine occur in different phases. One might not go through all the phases. Other people experience different signs. Let us understand the various stages of migraine headaches. Migraine headaches have been identified to occur in four stages.
Prodrome: This is the initial stage of a migraine attack, where signs occur before the actual headache.
In this stage, signs of a migraine, such as frequent yawning, fatigue, restlessness, mood changes, light sensitivity, increased thirst, and sensitivity to cold, are common. This stage is known to occur more in women than in men.
Aura: This stage happens either before the migraine headaches or can occur simultaneously. Visual auras, sensory disturbances, and speech defects are common in this stage. Visual auras like zigzag glimmers, flashing lights, or blind spots occur. Sometimes, motor auras like partial paralysis of one side of the body are also among the signs of a migraine that can also occur, though they are rare.
Headache: This is the main phase where an individual suffers from intense migraine headaches. In this attack phase, migraine headaches occur as severe pulsating pain on one side of the head. This can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound.
Postdrome:
Difficulty concentrating, dizziness, and continued exhaustion are signs of a migraine that can continue long after the migraine headaches have ended. There could also be persistent pain in the same location where the migraine headaches occurred.
Migraine Headache Treatment
Treatment
Pain-relieving medications
Pain-relieving medications are migraine treatments taken during migraine headaches and attacks to relieve the pain and tension in the head and minimize or stop the signs of a migraine that have already begun.
Preventive medications
Preventive medications are taken to reduce the intensity and frequency of migraine headaches and sudden attacks. Those who suffer from severe, persistent, or regular migraines that don’t react well to acute therapies are usually advised to get preventive medications.
Medications for Relief
During migraine episodes, painkillers are administered to interrupt the beginning of symptoms. This is called acute treatment. Among them are:
- Pain Relievers: For moderate migraines, over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen are used as migraine treatments. To improve pain relief, several over-the-counter medications, like Excedrin Migraine, contain acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine.
- Triptans: These prescription drugs, which include rizatriptan (Maxalt) and sumatriptan (Imitrex), are specifically used for migraine treatments by blocking brain pain pathways and narrowing blood vessels. Triptans are administered as nasal sprays, injections, or tablets.
- Dihydroergotamine (Migranal, Trudhesa): This medicine, which comes as an injectable or nasal spray, works best when administered shortly after the onset of signs of a migraine. It functions by limiting blood flow by constricting blood vessels around the brain.
- Lasmiditan (Reyvow): This one among the migraine treatments is used for acute treatments, whether or not they have an aura. It is administered as a tablet and reduces pain by acting on serotonin receptors.
- Intranasal Zavegepant (Zavzpret): This medication as part of migraine treatments acts on the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor, which is involved in the transmission of migraine pain, to provide immediate relief.
FAQs
- What are the common symptoms of a migraine?
Severe pain on one side of the head, throbbing pain is one the common signs of a migraine experienced. Other symptoms that may be present include light or sound sensitivity (photophobia), nausea, vomiting, and occasional aura, or visual problems such as blind spots or light flashes.
- What triggers migraines?
Stress, hormonal fluctuations (particularly in women), certain meals and drinks (such as aged cheeses, wine, and caffeine), sensory stimulation (such as bright lights or loud noises), altered sleep patterns, and environmental changes are all common causes of migraine headaches.
- Can migraines be dangerous?
Although migraine headaches by themselves are generally not harmful, they can cause serious problems such as chronic migraine or medication-overuse headaches, which can severely lower quality of life. Severe migraine headaches can, in rare cases, raise the risk of stroke, especially in women with aura who use oral contraceptives or smoke.
- How do migraines differ from tension headaches?
Migraine headaches are frequently more severe and incapacitating, whereas tension headaches generate a dull, throbbing pain on both sides of the head. The throbbing intensity, nausea, and visual abnormalities signs of a migraine that frequently accompany migraine headaches are absent with tension headaches.