Is it a migraine or something else?

Migraine headaches are one of the most severe kinds of headaches that people experience. Migraine is a type of primary headache – a headache that is not caused by another health condition.

Migraine headaches can be very debilitating. The pain can be so severe that it can negatively affect the sufferer’s work and daily activities.

What is a migraine?

Is it a migraine or something else?

When people talk about migraines, they usually refer to the headache. But migraine is actually a constellation of symptoms. It is a syndrome with many phases :

  1. The prodrome: This phase occurs a few days before the headache kicks in. People may experience depressive symptoms like low mood and low energy; or manic symptoms like increased energy, elated mood or hyperactivity. Gastro-intestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and constipation may also occur
  1. The aura phase: Not everyone with a migraine goes through this phase. When the aura phase occurs, the migraine is called ‘migraine with aura’. Studies have shown that only 25% of migraines occur with aura.

In this phase, people experience abnormal symptoms in their sense organs. Visual auras are the most common. Examples include seeing flashes of light or temporary blindness. Other symptoms like ringing in the ears, abnormal sense of smell or taste, and tingling sensation on the skin can also occur.

The aura phase may precede the headache by some hours, or the two may happen at the same time.

  1. Attack phase: This is the phase where the actual headache occurs.
  1. Post-drome phase: This is the post-attack phase where confusion or prodrome-like symptoms occur.

These phases occur differently from person to person. Some phases may be shorter, longer or completely absent in certain individuals. After the post-drome phase, some people may continue experiencing constant headaches that are not as severe as migraine headaches, while others may be headache-free until the next migraine episode is triggered.

Migraine triggers and risk factors

Migraines are generally more common in women; estrogen is believed to play a role in the disease. The syndrome may also run in families.

The syndrome can be triggered by the following factors:

  • Dehydration
  • Weather changes
  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Alcohol use
  • Exposure to bright lights
  • Poor sleep or a change in sleeping pattern.

What does a migraine feel like?

Symptoms of a migraine headache include:

  • Throbbing/banging/pulsating headache;
  • Usually on one side of the head, but may shift from side to side or affect both sides of the head;
  • Moderate to severe type of headache which is worsened by movement;
  • Lasting anywhere from 4 to 72 hours.
  • Prodromal symptoms may be present, and the sufferer may become sensitive to light and sound.

Suggested: This is the right way to respond to a Cardiac Arrest

Treatment of migraine

Currently, there is no cure for migraines, but they can be adequately managed using different types of pain-relief medications. A class of drugs known as triptans (sumatriptan) are often used to control migraine symptoms.

Trigger control is also important in the treatment of migraines. It is important to pay attention to one’s triggers and avoid them as much as possible.

New drugs are underway to improve the treatment of migraines, and possibly provide a cure in the nearest future.

64 COMMENTS

  1. Hello just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text
    in your article seem to be running off the screen in Opera.
    I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know.

    The layout look great though! Hope you get the issue solved soon. Thanks

  2. Terrific work! That is the type of information that are supposed to be shared
    around the net. Shame on the search engines for now not positioning this put up higher!
    Come on over and discuss with my site . Thanks =)

  3. Hi! I realize this is kind of off-topic but I needed to ask.
    Does building a well-established website such as yours take a massive amount work?
    I am completely new to writing a blog however I do write in my diary daily.
    I’d like to start a blog so I will be able to share my experience and views online.
    Please let me know if you have any kind of ideas or tips for new
    aspiring blog owners. Thankyou!

  4. What’s up to all, for the reason that I am really keen of reading this web site’s post
    to be updated on a regular basis. It contains fastidious material.

  5. Hello! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with SEO?
    I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords
    but I’m not seeing very good results. If you know of any please share.
    Many thanks!

  6. Hey there, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues.

    When I look at your blog site in Firefox, it looks fine but when opening
    in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!
    Other then that, excellent blog!

  7. Hello very nice web site!! Guy .. Beautiful ..
    Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your blog and take the feeds additionally?
    I’m satisfied to find so many helpful information right here
    in the publish, we want develop extra strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing.
    . . . . .

  8. I think this is among the most significant information for me.

    And i’m glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The website style
    is perfect, the articles is really excellent : D. Good job, cheers

  9. It’s truly very difficult in this full of activity life to
    listen news on Television, so I just use world wide web for that reason, and obtain the hottest news.

  10. I seriously love your blog.. Very nice colors & theme. Did you build this web site yourself? Please reply back as I’m planning to create my own personal website and want to learn where you got this from or just what the theme is called. Cheers!

  11. When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment
    is added I get several e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that
    service? Thanks a lot!

  12. Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed!
    Extremely helpful information particularly the
    last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot.
    I was seeking this particular info for a very long time.
    Thank you and good luck.

  13. Its like you read my thoughts! You seem to understand so
    much about this, like you wrote the e book in it or something.
    I think that you can do with a few % to force the message home a little bit,
    but instead of that, that is wonderful blog. A great read.
    I will definitely be back.

  14. Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your site,
    how could i subscribe for a blog web site? The account helped me a acceptable deal.
    I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear
    concept

  15. Hmm it seems like your site ate my first comment (it was super long) so
    I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog.
    I too am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to the whole thing.
    Do you have any tips for newbie blog writers? I’d definitely appreciate it.

  16. I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the
    page layout of your blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
    But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so
    people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only
    having 1 or 2 pictures. Maybe you could
    space it out better?

  17. Fantastic goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too magnificent.
    I actually like what you have acquired here, really like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it.
    You make it enjoyable and you still take care of to keep it wise.
    I can’t wait to read much more from you. This is really a terrific website.

  18. Terrific work! That is the kind of info that are supposed to be shared
    across the internet. Disgrace on the seek engines for no longer positioning this post higher!
    Come on over and consult with my site . Thanks =)

  19. When someone writes an paragraph he/she retains the image of a user in his/her brain that how a user can know
    it. Thus that’s why this post is outstdanding. Thanks!

  20. I’m impressed, I have to admit. Seldom do I come across a blog
    that’s both educative and interesting, and let me tell you,
    you have hit the nail on the head. The issue is an issue that too few men and women are speaking intelligently about.
    Now i’m very happy that I came across this in my search for something
    relating to this.

  21. Hello very nice blog!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Superb .. I’ll bookmark
    your blog and take the feeds additionally? I’m happy to seek out numerous useful info right here within the
    submit, we need develop extra strategies in this regard, thank you
    for sharing. . . . . .

  22. Wow that was strange. I just wrote an incredibly long
    comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up.
    Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyways, just wanted to say excellent
    blog!

  23. What i do not understood is in truth how you are not actually a lot more neatly-appreciated than you may be now.
    You’re so intelligent. You already know therefore considerably in the case of this matter, made me in my opinion consider it from
    so many various angles. Its like men and women are not involved except
    it is one thing to do with Girl gaga! Your personal stuffs excellent.
    Always deal with it up!

  24. Wonderful beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your web site, how can i subscribe for a weblog site? The account helped me a appropriate deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided shiny clear concept

  25. One more issue is that video gaming became one of the all-time most significant forms of entertainment for people spanning various ages. Kids participate in video games, and adults do, too. Your XBox 360 has become the favorite gaming systems for individuals that love to have a lot of video games available to them, along with who like to relax and play live with other people all over the world. Many thanks for sharing your ideas.

LEAVE A REPLY