WHAT IS A MIGRAINE?

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 WHAT IS A MIGRAINE?


Migraine is a neurological disorder, characterized by intense or severe pain and headache lasting at least four hours to several days. Migraine is often accompanied with other symptoms in addition to head pain; it tends to worsen by and interfere with physical activity.

Migraine headaches will typically affect only one side of the head. However, it is possible to affect both sides of the head (1). Symptoms associated with a migraine headache include but not limited to:

1. Nausea

2. Pain behind one eye or ear

3. Pain in the temples

4. Seeing spots or flashing lights

5. Sensitivity to light and sound

6. Temporary vision loss

7. vomiting

Migraine pain can be moderate to severe. Some people experience migraines so severe they seek medical care at an emergency room. Other differences include the pain’s quality: A migraine headache will cause intense pain that may be throbbing and will make performing daily tasks very difficult.

According to Statistic Canada, an estimated 8.3% of Canadians (2.7 million) experience migraine headaches. However, due to high number of people who do not seek professional help, this number is likely underestimated.

MIGRAINE TYPES

A migraine is categorized into two majorly known types, but it is not limited to only the two major types which are:
1. A migraine with Aura.
2. A migraine without Aura.

An “aura” refers to sensations a person experiences before a migraine attack, which can occur anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes before an attack this is known as the “prodrome” phase, these subtler signs can include:

1. constipation

2. depression

3. frequent yawning

4. irritability

5. neck stiffness

6. unusual food cravings

Migraine with Aura: This type of a migraine is accompanied with either mild or server pounding head pain accompanied by headache. This migraine type occurs without a sign and is normally felt on one side of the head. Symptoms include:

  • feeling less mentally alert or having trouble thinking
  • seeing flashing lights or unusual lines
  • feeling tingling or numbness in the face or hands
  • having an unusual sense of smell, taste, or touch

When this migraine type occurs in patients, it usually persists for 4 hours up to 72 hours.

Migraine without Aura: Is a headache attack lasting 4-72 hours.  This migraine type is normally felt on one side of the head with moderate or severe pulsating intensity.  Symptons includes:

  • At least five mild to severe migraine headache attacks
  • Headache attacks lasting 4-72 hr
  • Headache has at least two of the following four characteristics:
    1. Felt on one side of the head
    2. Pulsating/pounding head pain
    3. Moderate or severe head pain
    4. Symptoms intensify with physical activity (eg, walking or climbing stairs)

Migraine with Brainstem Aura: Commonaly disturbs youngsters and teenagers. It comprises a migraine with aura indications that emanates from the brainstem, but it is not accompanied by fatigue.  Aura consisting of visual, sensory and/or language symptoms for a period of time. At least two of the following four charateristics:

  1. at least one aura symptom spreads gradually over ?5 min, and/or two or more symptoms occur in succession
  2. each individual aura symptom lasts 5-60 min2
  3. at least one aura symptom is unilateral3
  4. the aura is accompanied, or followed within 60 min, by headache

Chronic migraine: A condition characterized by the recurrent throbbing headache on at least 15 days per month that commonly affects one side of the head and is often accompanied by nausea vision issues. e

MIGRAINE TRIGGERS

People who experience migraines report various factors that are associated with them. These are called migraine triggers. Adjustments in atmospheric density have been termed as causing migraine headaches.
It is not all patients living with a migraine that feel a headache when being put in the dangers of these triggers. The migraine factors that can cause migraine trigger may include:
i. Emotional anxiety
ii. Contraceptives
iii. Alcohol
iv. Hormonal changes
v. Menopause

MIGRAINE RISK FACTORS

Discoveries have shown that about 25 percent of persons go through the attack of a migraine headache at one or two points in their lifetime. Nearly all the patients living with a migraine are female. It is has been anticipated that after teens, the proportion of female to male patients who are living with a migraine is about 3 percent to 1 percent. There appears to be a hereditary tendency to suffer from a migraine because there is frequently a convincing family history of patients living with a migraine.

TREATING HEADACHES

Over-the-counter treatments
Fortunately, most tension headaches will go away with over-the-counter treatments. These include:
• Acetaminophen
• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen
Relaxation techniques
Because most headaches are stress-induced, taking steps to reduce stress can help relieve headache pain and reduce the risk for future headaches. These include:
• Heat therapy, such as applying warm compresses or taking a warm shower
• Massage
• Meditation
• Neck stretching
• Relaxation exercise

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