Many people either struggle with migraine or know someone suffering from it. It is a common neurological disorder amongst people of all races, ages, gender, and spheres of life. Well, according to the Migraine Research Foundation, migraine affects 39 million people in the U.S alone and 1 billion people across the globe.
If you suffer from migraines, know that you are not alone! That said, equipping yourself with information on migraines will help you prepare and fight common triggers. This article tells you everything you need to know about migraine attacks.
Causes and Types of Migraine
Migraine is a neurological disorder with severe recurring pain. It is often a one-sided pain in the head accompanied by neurological symptoms. It is likely to worsen with exposure to light, sounds, smells, and physical activities. Migraine is one of the common types of headaches associated with genetics. If you get a migraine, it will probably last for a few hours or even days in a severe case.
Types of Migraines
Migraine manifests itself in different ways. A common type of migraine with aura. Studies have shown that up to 20% of people experience it. Other types of migraine include migraine without aura, migraine without head pain, hemiplegic, retinal, chronic, migraine with brainstem aura, and status migrainosus.
Symptoms of Migraine
Headache is the primary symptom of migraine. It comes as either throbbing or pounding pain whose intensity varies from moderate to severe. The pain can shift across various sides, especially on the front or back of your head. However, headache is not the only symptom. It can be accompanied by other symptoms like loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, or cold.
Causes of Migraine
Several factors trigger migraine. One major factor could be emotional stress. When in a stressful state, the body reacts by releasing chemicals to fight the stress. Moreover, anxiety, excitement, worry, and other emotions cause more muscle tension. This dilates the blood vessels and worsens the migraine. Other causes include missing a meal, sensitivity to chemicals and certain foods, caffeine, hormonal change, especially in women, light, over-exhaustion, dehydration, exposure to smoke and chemicals, and certain medications.
Treating Migraines
The best way to treat migraines is to manage them. Two treatment approaches often used are abortive and preventive medications. As the name suggests, abortive medication aims to relieve or stop a headache. This approach is good for the first signs of a migraine and mild pain.
On the other hand, preventing medications are used to minimize the frequency and severity of the migraine. Therefore, it is best administered if you have a severe headache or frequent. If it is mild or moderate pain, approved over-the-counter medications can be effective. However, you need to be cautious because the improper dose can worsen the situation. If the condition worsens or things don’t go well, you can consult your doctor.
Wrapping up
We hope this article has given you plenty of information regarding migraine attacks. You ought to know that you are not alone and you can manage it. The key is to know what causes it and the steps to avoid attacks. Don’t hesitate to speak to a physician if symptoms persist.