Migraine attacks may last anywhere from a few hours to several days, and the pain can be so intense that it disrupts your normal day-to-day activities. Some persons experience a warning sensation known as an aura.
Symptoms
Migraines, which may strike anyone of any age but are more common in adults, have been described as having four phases: the prodrome, aura, attack, and post-drome. Migraine sufferers do not always go through all phases of the condition. It's possible that one or two days before you have a migraine, you'll notice some minor changes that serve as a warning sign, like the following:
- Constipation
- Alterations in mood, ranging from melancholy to ecstasy
- a desire for food
- Neck stiffness
- More frequent urination
- Fluid retention
- A constant need to yawn
- Aura
A migraine sufferer may have an aura before or during a migraine attack. Auras are symptoms of the neurological system that may be eliminated with time. They are almost always visible, although other disruptions may also be present. In most cases, the onset of each symptom is slow and steady, increasing in severity over several minutes and continuing for as long as an hour.
You May Have The Following Symptoms During A Migraine:
- Headaches that are often localized to one side of your head but may sometimes affect both sides
- A throbbing or pulsating kind of pain
- sensitivity to light and sound, as well as, sometimes, smell and touch
- sickness and throwing up
- Post-drome
Up to a day after a migraine attack, you may feel tired, bewildered, and washed out for as long as the headache lasts. Some individuals have reported a sense of joy. A jolt to the head might bring on the agony all over again for a limited period.
When Should One Go To The Doctor?
It is common for migraines to go undetected and hence be mistreated. Keep track of your migraine episodes and how you managed to cure them if you suffer from migraines regularly and have signs and symptoms of the condition. The next step is to consult your physician about your headaches by scheduling an appointment with them. Even if you have a history of headaches, you should make an appointment with your primary care physician if the pattern of your headaches changes or if they suddenly feel different.
Causes
Even though the origins of migraines are not completely known, it seems that heredity and environmental factors both have a role. Alterations in the brainstem and how it communicates with the trigeminal nerve, a significant pain channel, might be implicated. Also possible are abnormalities in the molecules that make up the brain, such as serotonin, which regulates pain in the neurological system.
Migraine triggers
Several things might cause migraines, including the following:
Hormonal Changes In Women
Headaches are thought to be triggered in many women by shifts in estrogen levels, such as those that occur before or during menstrual periods, during pregnancy, and after menopause. Migraines may also be made worse by hormonal drugs such as oral contraceptives and the like. On the other hand, for some women, using these drugs reduces the frequency of migraine attacks.
Drinks
These include consuming excessive amounts of caffeine, such as coffee, alcohol, and wine.
Stress. Migraines are sometimes brought on by the stress of either job or home life.
Sensory Stimulation
Migraines may be triggered by glaring or flashing lights, as well as by loud noises. Some individuals are susceptible to headaches if exposed to strong odours, such as perfume, paint thinner, secondhand smoke, and others.
Determinants Of Risk
You are more likely to suffer from migraines as a result of several causes, including the following:
The Past Of The Family
If a member of your family suffers from migraines, then there is a big risk that you will also be susceptible to getting them.
Age
Migraines may start at any age, but most people have their first one during their teenage years. Migraines often reach their worst intensity throughout one's thirties and then steadily lessen both in frequency and severity in the following decades.
Sex
Migraine headaches affect women three times more often than they do males.
Complications
Taking pain relievers more often than necessary might lead to severe headaches caused by pharmaceutical misuse. Combinations of aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine seem to have the greatest potential for adverse effects. When drugs are used for a prolonged period, they eventually cease alleviating pain and start causing headaches instead. After that, you take more pain medicine, which only perpetuates the pattern.
