A migraine is a very painful headache that throbs intensely.
The appropriate medication, together with changes in lifestyle and self-help styles, can help manage migraines.
A migraine is a severe headache with intense throbbing pain or pulsating sensations, typically on one side of the head. It often comes with symptoms such as vomiting, nausea and a heightened sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can last for hours or even days, with pain severe enough to disrupt daily activities.
Some migraines can be prevented or alleviated with medication. The right medications, combined with self-help techniques and lifestyle changes, can be effective in managing migraines.
Migraines affect both children and adults and typically progress through four stages: prodrome, aura, attack and post-drome. However, not everyone with migraines will experience all of these stages.
Stages of migraine:
- Prodrome: This initial phase can begin up to 24 hours before the headache. Symptoms may include mood changes, constipation, food cravings, increased urination, neck stiffness, fluid retention and frequent yawning.
- Aura: This phase includes sensory, motor, and/or verbal symptoms that can last from five to 60 minutes. An aura can occur before or during the headache.
- Attack: The migraine headache can last from 4 to 72 hours if untreated, with frequency varying from person to person.
- Postdrome: This phase, also known as the migraine hangover, can last from a few hours to 48 hours, with symptoms similar to those of an alcohol-induced hangover.
You could notice minor changes that warn of an approaching migraine, such as – mood changes (from depression to euphoria), constipation, food cravings, increased urination, neck stiffness, fluid retention and frequent yawning.
Here are some of the root causes of migraines:
- Gender Imbalance: Women are more prone to migraines than men, primarily due to hormonal variations.
- Triggers: Various factors such as stress, sleep deprivation, weather changes and strong odours can trigger migraine episodes. Identifying and avoiding these trigger can help manage migraines.
- Genetic Link: Migraines often run in families, suggesting a genetic component that can be passed down from parents to children.
- Auras: Some individuals experience visual disturbances known as auras before or during a migraine attack, although not all migraine attacks include auras.
- Dietary Deficiencies: Deficiencies in nutrients such as magnesium, vitamin B12, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids can also contribute to migraine attacks.
