I will be given you full detail information on migraine headache symptoms, phases, problems, triggers, causes, and treatment choices.
And to answer some of these questions, such as, how can I identify migraines? what relieves migraines?
There are around 200 different types of headaches. There is a significant distinction between primary and secondary headaches.
A primary headache is a specific condition that comprises migraine, cluster headache, and tension headache.
Secondary headaches appear as signs of various disorders, such as B. head injuries, viral diseases, vascular diseases, medication, and substance usage.
Here you will discover information on migraine symptoms, frequency, forms, triggers, causes, diagnostics, therapy options, and the answer to whether you can cure migraines.
By the way, the term migraine is derived from the ancient Greek (hemicrania) and is composed of hemi (half) and cranial (head) (head)
Migraines Occur Frequently.
Migraines affect around 10% of the world’s population or 758 million people. More than 15 days per month, 1.7 to 4% suffer from migraines.
Recurrent headaches affect between 10% to 30% of the population in Germany. A particular type of migraine with aura affects about 15% of them. Women are around three times as likely than men to suffer from migraines.
How Can I Know If I Have a Migraine? – Signs and Symptoms
Migraine is defined by paroxysmal, pulsing, and unilateral headaches that, unlike tension headaches, Other symptoms such as sickness (vomiting), nausea, and sensitivity to light or noise are frequently present.
So, unlike popular belief, migraine is a complex neurological condition similar to epilepsy.
The aura is a symptom that precedes a migraine attack if you experience one, which can manifest as visual problems, numbness, or other neurological disorders of perception.
How Can I Know if I have a Migraine? – Prognosis
Many people have multiple forms of headaches at the same time. A general practitioner or neurologist can use a headache diary to determine whether the patient in question’s diagnostic criteria for migraine are met.
When suffering from a headache, the first step is to consult a doctor who will rule out the possibility that the headache is secondary rather than primary.
Headaches, Primary And Secondary
Secondary headaches are signs of other illnesses, such as the flu; a hangover can also create a secondary headache.
Primary headaches are independent headache syndromes such as migraine, cluster, or tension headaches.
Once a migraine has been diagnosed, you can use our M-sense app to track how things are progressing and discuss them with your doctor regularly.
What Causes My Migraines? – Neurological illness causes
According to current migraine research, the cause of migraine remains unknown.
However, studying the causes is especially important when establishing individualized and tailored therapies for those affected. The following theories exist about migraine causes:
Disruption of Stimulus
Researchers are considering a congenital sensory processing abnormality as a possible cause of migraine. The brain is continuously under stress and responds quite intensely to certain stimuli.
- Predisposition Inherited
- A hereditary predisposition is another possibility.
like other types of migraine. Such as hemiplegic migraine (a migraine variant with hemiplegia as an aura) or CADASIL disease.
They were revealed to have a gene deficiency on the 19th pair of chromosomes (a blood vessel abnormality in the brain).
Circulation Problem
A spontaneous circulation problem in the brain is also thought to be a plausible explanation for migraine with aura.
This idea proposes that external causes cause a temporary restriction of blood arteries in the brain and meninges.
A migraine headache is caused by the ensuing vasodilation and increased blood flow. This will result to:
- Increased nerve activity and neurogenic inflammation
- Neurogenic inflammation in the brain is another probable explanation.
- Overactive nerve cells in the cerebral cortex generate noxae (pollutants) that can enter the pain-sensitive meninges. This results in painful inflammation.
What Types of Migraines Exist?
Chronic Migraines vs. Episodic Migraines
Chronic migraine occurs when a headache occurs for at least three months in a row on 15 or more days. Migraine-like headaches must last for at least seven days.
When assessing the clinical picture of chronic migraine, it is critical to rule out medication misuse and other headache-causing disorders.
Episodic migraines, on the other hand, happen at regular intervals.
Unique Migraine Types
There are, however, several types of migraine.
- Aura without headache.
- Migraine with prolonged aura.
- Retinal migraine.
- Ophthalmoplegic Migraine.
- Basilar-type migraine and familial and sporadic hemiplegic migraine are among them.
When a migraine aura is without a headache, sufferers experience typical aura symptoms but are not followed by a migraine headache.
A prolonged aura migraine occurs when aura symptoms last more than a week. Migraine of the retina
Defines a type of migraine in which unilateral visual abnormalities can occur, such as unilateral visible spots, flashing, or even momentary blindness in the affected eye.
In the early stages, ophthalmoplegic migraine is distinguished by sudden double vision or drooping of an eyelid.
Aside from the migraine pain on both sides, basilar migraine is characterized by severe dizziness, ringing in the ears, and speech and consciousness difficulties.
Another type is familial and sporadic hemiplegic migraine, which manifests as a migraine with aura and motor weakness and must also occur in a first or second-degree relative.
A Migraine Attack’s Phases And Length
A typical migraine episode lasts 4 to 72 hours and can be broken into phases. For example, the classic migraine with aura has four stages, whereas the uncomplicated migraine without aura has three.
Harbinger Period
During the harbinger phase, also known as the prodromal phase, so-called “harbingers” announce the impending onslaught a few days in advance.
This is the case for approximately 30% of individuals afflicted. Symptoms can include mood fluctuations, neck aches, and light sensitivity.
Food cravings, a strong feeling of cold, inner restlessness, sensitivity to noise, and difficulty concentrating on the eyes are all possible indicators of an impending migraine attack.
However, the most prevalent harbinger phase symptom is intense yawning, considered a reasonably reliable predictor.
The tipping point hypothesis describes the transition from the pain-free period to the headache phase, which highlights the distinction between precursors and triggers.
Heralds are perceived as internal disturbances (such as the light mentioned above sensitivity) and trigger exterior disruptions (such as glaring sunlight).
The body goes through a process defined by physiological, hormonal, and emotional changes shortly before the brain “tips” into the pain phase of a migraine.
Aura
Those who suffer from migraines without aura, on the other hand, are unfamiliar with this stage—affected people with migraine with aura experience an aura during this period.
These are extra sensory abnormalities and neurological deficiencies that occur before the onset of the headache.
Examples are visual disturbances and light phenomena such as zigzag lines, flashes of light, or flashing.
Still, additional examples are dizziness, speech difficulties, difficulty concentrating, numbness or paranesthesia, and misperceptions such as Alice in Wonderland syndrome.
After 20 to 30 minutes, these gradually spreading and usually worsening symptoms normally disappear.
The headache frequently follows the arrival of the aura. However, this may overlap or be postponed.
The pain after the aura might also be completely absent in the event of a unique type of migraine, the migraine aura without a headache.
Phase of Pain
Moderate to severe one-sided headaches characterize the pain phase. These have a pulsing, throbbing, or stabbing sensation and are usually focused in the temporal region, but they can occur anywhere on the head.
Other symptoms include lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, a partial halt in metabolic processes, and sensitivity to light, noise, or odors.
In addition, physical exertion usually worsens the headache, so many migraine patients seek refuge in a dark, quiet area.
The pain does not always appear on the same side of the head; it can shift from attack to assault. One in every four migraine sufferers experiences discomfort in the early morning hours.
What Causes a Migraine Attack?
Some internal and external circumstances may promote an attack, but they are not the cause of it. The following factors (sometimes referred to as “triggers”) can “start” a migraine attack:
- Either stress or relaxation
- Weather and climate change are examples of environmental stimuli.
- Alterations in hormone levels ( menstrual or menstrual-associated migraine )
- Diet plan (e.g., irregular meals, low-carbohydrate diet, and resulting fluctuations in blood sugar)
- Alcohol
- Nicotine fluctuating Caffeine ingestion
- Dehydration, certain odors, spices, and intense lighting
- An altered cycle of sleep-wake
- The potential triggers are highly specific or unique to each person. It would help if you kept a headache diary to determine your personal causes.
What Can You Do to Prevent Migraines? – Therapy and treatment methods
In migraine therapy, a distinction is made between migraine attack prevention via trigger management.
Prophylactic medication (such as beta-blockers or antidepressants), and alternative measures such as regular endurance sports and relaxation exercises.
And migraine attack treatment via acute medication and alternative home remedies such as cold, withdrawal, darkness, and so on.
Prevention/prophylaxis
A regular daily schedule is crucial in migraine prevention since abrupt changes in the daily rhythm regarding meals, sleep, tension, and relaxation can trigger an attack.
“As a result, relaxation methods and strategies for stress reduction, such as progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic training, meditation, or breathing exercises, are very beneficial.”
However, such alternative therapy approaches can only be practical if the exercises are done regularly.
During seizure-free periods, you should work on your stamina and pick a sport you enjoy. Many of these indicators are also available in the Active therapy module of the M-Sense Migraine health app.
Various preventative drugs are available that help lessens the frequency, duration, and severity of episodes.
Drug-based preventive treatment is indicated if the patient needs to use pain relievers or migraine medicine more than 10 days per month or if they have little or no impact.
Prevention may also make sense if the person affected’s quality of life is so severely limited by the migraine that they are frequently on sick leave owing to the attacks or can no longer pursue their other activities.
Treatment Of a Severe Attack
Non-drug treatments such as lying down, relaxing, and darkening the room, as well as cooling measures or relaxation or imagining exercises, such as those presented in the Active therapy module of the M-sense migraine app, can aid in an acute attack.
If the migraine episode is severe enough, numerous acute medicines can help.
This includes particular migraine medication such as triptans and nausea and pain medication.«
These inhibit neurotransmitter release, resulting in local neurogenic inflammation in brain blood vessels. Triptans also normalize elevated nerve activity in different brain locations and dilate arteries.
Triptans offer an advantage over other pain relievers. They have a targeted and selective effect on the brain switching points implicated in a migraine attack, combating accompanying symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, and sensitivity to noise and light.
However, because medication misuse might result in medication overuse headaches, it is critical to follow the 10/20 rule.
Therefore, this guideline stipulates that It may take headache medicine no more than 10 days per month and you must avoid that acute pain medication or specific migraine medication for at least 20 days per month.
Keeping a headache diary might also assist in keeping track of things. You can, for example, enter when you took which medication in the M-Sense migraine app.
Then, if you experience another migraine attack, you can run a Medi-Check, and the app will tell you whether you should keep taking pain medication this month. Extremely useful!
Migraine Status Migraenosus Complications
Status migraineurs occurs when a migraine attack progresses to a permanent condition. This happens when a migraine episode lasts more than 72 hours, or a new one begins before the preceding one has entirely gone.
This ailment could have been caused by the abuse of migraine medications and pain relievers.
Aura that persists despite the absence of a cerebral infarction
A persistent aura occurs when aura symptoms last more than a week, and there is no radiological evidence of cerebral infarction. This migraine can linger for months or years, but it is uncommon.
Are Migraines Treatable?
Migraine is thought to be incurable, yet as a migraine patient, you can be hopeful.
There are several methods for reducing seizure frequency and intensity. But, of course, medication is included in the first place.
In addition to triptans, which are particular medications for migraines, there are some preventative drugs for migraines, such as beta-blockers or Botox.
Unfortunately, there were few new advancements in drug-based migraine management after a long time. Still, thankfully, there are currently new developments and new medications on the market, such as CGRP antibodies, and many more are on their way.
Taking medication is not always necessary. Numerous home remedies and alternative and non-drug treatments can also aid migraine prevention.
It involves keeping a headache diary, engaging in frequent endurance sports, relaxing activities, and managing triggers.
These techniques are added to the M-sense migraine health app, providing reminders and motivation to keep on track with therapy.
Those impacted repeatedly indicate that a solid combination of several approaches has helped them regulate their migraines.
First, however, you must locate the correct therapy methods for you, as not everything works the same way for everyone, and you receive professional medical care.
If in doubt, ask your doctors until you discover the correct one.
Conclusion
Migraine is a complex neurological headache illness that affects about 10% of the global population. In addition to intense, unilateral, pulsating headaches, it might cause nausea, vomiting, impaired vision, or dizziness.
Migraine can be chronic or episodic, but they can also be migraine with aura or migraine without headache.
A migraine episode has several stages and might result in consequences. There are many potential migraine triggers, such as hormone fluctuations, stress, weather changes, alcohol, or blood sugar fluctuations.
Therefore persons suffering from migraines frequently have a minimum daily existence.
It makes sense to keep a headache journal because the most straightforward approach to detecting a migraine is to describe the symptoms correctly.
The reasons for migraines are still unknown: there are various theories and thus various therapeutic methods.
A general distinction is between acute migraine treatment and preventive migraine treatment, such as prophylactic medication or frequent relaxation or endurance sports exercises.
Although migraines are still under probation to know whether they are incurable, you can take several steps to minimize the frequency and severity of attacks.
