Migraines

A migraine is a severe headache that presents as a throbbing pain usually on one side of the head.

A lot of the time there are other associated symptoms as well, including nausea, vomiting and a severe sensitivity to light and sound.

Women tend to suffer from this condition about three times more commonly than men.

There are three clinical types of migraine, including:

1. Migraines with an aura: An aura is a symptom where there are warning signs of a migraine attack such as visual signs, like patches of discoloration in the field of view or flashing lights. Even certain unpleasant smells may be experienced during an aura. The aura usually precedes the headaches by a few minutes to an hour.
2. Migraine without an aura: Where the migraine occurs without the warning aura.
3. Migraine aura with NO headache: (Silent Migraine) Here the patient develops the warning aura, but no headache occurs.

The frequency at which migraines occur is very variable. Some people can get them every few days. Some people will only suffer every few months.

Causes of Migraines

The cause of migraines remains unknown. Most research shows that there are changes in the blood flow to the brain during a migraine. Genetics has been shown to play a role since half of the people who experience migraines have a close family member that suffers from them as well.

Triggers

A lot of those who suffer will find that migraine attacks are associated with certain triggers, which can include starting their period, stress, tiredness and certain foods or drinks.

Prevention

If you figure out that a specific trigger is causing your migraines, like stress or a particular food, cutting that trigger may help reduce your risk of getting migraines. A generally healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, sleep and meals, as well as ensuring that you stay well hydrated and limiting your intake of caffeine and alcohol is also key to preventing migraines.

Of course, these methods may not stop migraines all together and in particularly bad cases, your doctor may want to put you on certain medications that are known to prevent migraines. In particular, propranolol (a blood pressure medication) and topiramate (an anti-seizure medication) are helpful in this situation.

Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for migraines. The management revolves around controlling triggers, preventive medications and treatment of the attacks themselves.

During a migraine attack, there are a few classes of medications that can be taken that should help:

1. Painkillers: OTC medicines like ibuprofen and paracetamol or acetaminophen can help.
2. Triptans: These are a class of medications that are thought to reverse the blood flow changes and chemical changes in the brain that cause the migraine. They behave like a natural chemical made by your brain called serotonin and constrict the blood vessels of the brain a bit to relieve swelling. They include drugs with names like rizatriptan and sumatriptan (brand names can vary depending on which company is making the pill or spray).
3. Anti-emetics: These medications help with the associated symptoms like nausea and vomiting.

If you are suffering from a migraine attack, in general, it’s a good idea to lie down in a darkened room for a while. The decreased stimulation allows the brain to relax and settle the migraine.