www.migrainetreatmenthcpinfo.comMIGRAINE MEDICATION
Migraines are intense, sometimes debilitating headaches. The most common types of migraine are those with aura (classical migraines) and those without aura (common migraines). Migraines can begin in childhood or may not occur until early adulthood. Women are three times more likely than men to have migraines. Family history is one of the most common risk factors for having migraines.
Though migraine causes aren’t understood, genetics and environmental factors appear to play a role. Migraines may be caused by changes in the brainstem and its interactions with the trigeminal nerve, a major pain pathway. Imbalances in brain chemicals – including serotonin, which helps regulate pain in your nervous system – also may be involved. Researchers are still studying the role of serotonin in migraines.
Serotonin levels drop during migraine attacks. This may cause your trigeminal nerve to release substances called neuropeptides, which travel to your brain’s outer covering (meninges). The result is migraine pain. Other neurotransmitters play a role in the pain of migraine, including calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP).
What Are the Symptoms and Phases of a Migraine?
Migraines often begin in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. Migraines may progress through four stages: prodrome, aura, headache and post-drome, though you may not experience all stages.
Prodrome
One or two days before a migraine, you may notice subtle changes that warn of an upcoming migraine, including:
- Constipation
- Mood changes, from depression to euphoria
- Food cravings
- Neck stiffness
- Increased thirst and urination
- Frequent yawning
Aura
Aura may occur before or during migraines. Most people experience migraines without aura.
Auras are symptoms of the nervous system. They are usually visual disturbances, such as flashes of light or wavy, zigzag vision.
Sometimes auras can also be touching sensations (sensory), movement (motor) or speech (verbal) disturbances. Your muscles may get weak, or you may feel as though someone is touching you.
Each of these symptoms usually begins gradually, builds up over several minutes and lasts for 20 to 60 minutes. Examples of migraine aura include:
- Visual phenomena, such as seeing various shapes, bright spots or flashes of light
- Vision loss
- Pins and needles sensations in an arm or leg
- Weakness or numbness in the face or one side of the body
- Difficulty speaking
- Hearing noises or music
- Uncontrollable jerking or other movements
Sometimes, a migraine with aura may be associated with limb weakness (hemiplegic migraine).
Attack
A migraine usually lasts from four to 72 hours if untreated. The frequency with which headaches occur varies from person to person. Migraines may be rare, or strike several times a month. During a migraine, you may experience:
- Pain on one side or both sides of your head
- Pain that feels throbbing or pulsing
- Sensitivity to light, sounds, and sometimes smells and touch
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Lightheadedness, sometimes followed by fainting
Post-drome
The final phase, known as post-drome, occurs after a migraine attack. You may feel drained and washed out, while some people feel elated. For about 24 hours, you may also experience:
- Confusion
- Moodiness
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Sensitivity to light and sound
When Should I See a Specialist About My Migraines?
Sometimes the symptoms of a migraine headache can mimic those of a stroke. It’s important to seek immediate attention if you or a loved one has any of the following symptoms:
- headache that causes slurred speech or drooping on one side of the face
- headache that comes on very suddenly and severely with no lead-in symptoms
- headache that occurs with a fever, neck stiffness, confusion, seizure, double vision, weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking
- headache with an aura where the symptoms last longer than an hour
Make an appointment to see your physician if your headaches start to affect your daily life. Tell your physician if you experience pain around your eyes or ears, or if you have several headaches a month that last for several hours or days.
How Are Migraines Diagnosed?
Health care providers diagnose migraines by listening to your symptoms and performing a physical exam to rule out other potential causes. Imaging scans, such as a CT or MRI scan, can rule out other causes, including tumors or strokes.
How Are Migraines Treated?
Treatments can be used to either prevent the migraine from occurring or treating it once it occurs. Your physician will decide what treatment to prescribe based on the severity of your headaches and any of your other health conditions. Over-the-counter treatments may provide relief as well.
Other steps you can take at home to relieve migraine pain include:
- lying down in a quiet, dark room
- massaging your scalp or temples
- placing a cold cloth over your forehead or behind your neck
In the hopes of helping to prevent future migraines, keeping track of potential triggers and pre-headache symptoms is recommended – as each individual person might experience a different set.
