How many times have you called an off day because you were down with migraine? Migraines are painful and can rob you of quality of life. An interesting fact states that an average migraine sufferer loses 21 days out of their lives every year due to the pain of their migraines. It is in fact the second most universal kind of headache and three times more ordinary in women than as compared in men.
What is Migraine Headache?
A migraine headache is a form of vascular headache. Migraine headaches are described as a severe, throbbing headache often with symptoms of sickness and sensitivity to light and sound. The pain is usually felt on one side of the head.
It is caused by enlargement of blood vessels which in turn releases chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the large arteries of the brain. This stretches the nerves causing inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery leading to more pain.
What are the Different Kinds of Migraines?
The most common types of migraines are:
- Classic Migraine: They start with a warning sign, called an aura. This aura can be flashing lights and colors, loss of vision, burning sensation etc. Aura symptoms occur gradually, usually within 4 to 20 minutes, and do not last for more than 60 minutes. Approximately one-third of people who suffer from migraine headaches perceive an aura. The headache phase of the migraine attack usually begins within 60 minutes of the end of the aura phase, but it is sometimes delayed up to several hours, and it can be missing entirely. The pain may also begin before the aura has completely subsided.
- Common Migraine: Most people with migraines have common migraines. They don't start with an aura. They start more slowly than classic migraines, last longer (anywhere from 4 to 72 hours) and interfere more with daily activities. Most of the time the pain is one sided. Other features include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
- Basilar Artery Migraine: This type of migraine involves a disturbance of the basilar artery in the brainstem or base of the brain. The person may experience warning signs such as double vision, dizziness, lack of coordination and auras before the migraine headache begins. The attacks are so intense that they can often render the person debilitated.
- Ophthalmoplegic Migraine: Also known as ocular migraine, it begins with a headache felt in the eye and is accompanied by vomiting. It causes distinct visual disturbances (usually in one eye only) that may include blind spot in the central field of vision (scotoma), or flickering lights (scintillations).
- Menstrual Migraine: These occur a few days before, during, and immediately after menstruation. Women who have menstrually related migraines, often also experience dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps). The symptoms are the same as those of either classic or common migraines.
What are the Causes of Migraines?
The cause of migraine headaches is still being researched, but there is some thought that an imbalance in the nervous system, especially in the trigeminal nerve, may cause migraines. Some of the things that can trigger a migraine include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress
- Lack of food or sleep
- Beverages and alcohol
- Food containing preservatives
- Exposure to bright light
- Certain odors or perfumes
- Loud noises
- Hormonal changes (in women)
Migraine headaches affect children as well as adults. Before puberty, boys and girls are affected equally by migraine headaches, but after puberty, more women than men are affected.
Migraine headaches can run in the family; if one parent suffers from them there is a 50 percent chance that the child too is likely to suffer from them; the odds go up to 75 percent in case both the parents suffer from migraines.
What are the Symptoms of Migraine?
The pain in the migraines may be felt behind the eye or in the back of the head and neck. The headache usually starts on the same side each time as a dull ache which gets worse within minutes or hours. The other possible symptoms of migraine include:
- Intense throbbing which is usually more worse on one side of the head
- Nausea or vomiting
- Changes in how you see, including blurred vision or blind spots
- Pain aggravated by light, noise or odors
- Weakness
- Blocked nose
- Feeling cold or sweaty
- Stiff/tender neck
- Light-headedness
- Tender scalp
- Problems concentrating, trouble finding words
How can I Prevent Migraine?
There are a number of tips that you can use to prevent migraine headaches such as:
- Alcohol and caffeine are very common food-related triggers. By reducing their intake you can prevent migraine headache. The same is true for smoking or exposure to smoke. To know about the other food triggers, maintain a migraine diary. In the diary, track when your headache starts and what you have eaten that day. After a few weeks, you will start to see a pattern that will help you identify the foods that you should avoid.
- Sleep deprivation and poor bedtime habits are also a major cause of migraine. Make sure you stick to your sleeping schedule. and get a good 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Oversleeping also plays a role in triggering chronic migraines.
- Regular exercise can reduce stress and thus reduce the chances of stress induced migraines. However, do not try too hard as excessive amounts of exercises and physical activities are considered to be among the most common triggers of migraines. You can also try some relaxation exercises such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing etc.
- Diet can also affect migraines. Eat a well balanced diet and avoid skipping meals. Obesity is also thought to be a factor in migraines, and a well balanced diet along with regular exercise can help you keep your weight down.
- Dehydration can also trigger a migraine headache. Have ample of water during the day.
- Stress is a risk factor for most headaches. So, learn to relax and reduce stress. Self-hypnosis and relaxation methods such as breathing techniques can help reduce the number of migraine attacks
