Overview:
Migraine is a neurological condition that can cause multiple symptoms. It’s frequently characterized by intense, debilitating headaches.
Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, difficulty speaking, numbness or tingling, and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines often run in families and affect all ages.
Migraine is believed to be due to a mixture of environmental and genetic factors. About two-thirds of cases run in families.
Changing hormone levels may also play a role, as migraine affects slightly more boys than girls before puberty and two to three times more women than men.
A migraine can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head. It’s often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.
Migraine attacks can last for hours to days, and the pain can be so severe that it interferes with your daily activities.
Migraines can begin in childhood or may not occur until early adulthood. Women are more likely than men to have migraines. Family history is one of the most common risk factors for having migraines.
For some people, a warning symptom known as an aura occurs before or with a headache.
An aura can include visual disturbances, such as flashes of light or blind spots, or other disturbances, such as tingling on one side of the face or in an arm or leg and difficulty speaking.
Medications can help prevent some migraines and make them less painful. The right medicines, combined with self-help remedies and lifestyle changes, might help.
In this article, we discuss the causes of Migraine Symptoms, Relief, Remedies, and simple steps to get rid of them. We also explore how these are identified, treated, and prevented.
Prodrome:
It is also known as “Preheadache” or the premonitory phase; prodrome can mark the beginning of a migraine attack. This phase can last several hours or may even occur over several days.
These symptoms may include a wide variety of phenomena, including altered mood, irritability, depression or euphoria, fatigue, craving for certain foods, stiff muscles (especially in the neck), constipation or diarrhea, and sensitivity to smells or noise.
People with migraines will experience prodrome, but not necessarily before every migraine attack.
If a person with migraine is experiencing prodrome, his or her care team can study their symptoms and patterns to guide a treatment plan that may lessen the severity of the oncoming headache.
One or two days before a migraine, you might notice subtle changes that warn of an upcoming migraine, including:
- Constipation
- Mood changes, from depression to euphoria
- Food cravings
- Neck stiffness
- Increased thirst and urination
- Frequent yawning
Aura:
The aura of migraine includes a wide range of neurological symptoms. This stage can last from 5 to 60 minutes and usually happens before the Headache. Migraine without aura does not include this stage.
For some people, aura might occur before or during migraines. Auras are reversible symptoms of the nervous system. They’re usually visual but can also include other disturbances.
Each symptom usually begins gradually, builds up over several minutes, and lasts for 20 to 60 minutes.
Like other phases, the aura doesn’t necessarily occur during every migraine attack in those who experience them.
People experiencing aura might endure periods of blurry vision or vision loss, or the appearance of geometric patterns, flashing or shimmering lights, or blind spots in one or both eyes.
Numbness or tingling, weakness, and dizziness or vertigo (the feeling of everything spinning) can also happen.
Speech and hearing can also be disturbed, and people with migraines have reported memory changes, feelings of fear and confusion, and more rarely, partial paralysis or fainting.
These Neurological symptoms are called the ‘aura’ of migraine.
Examples of migraine aura include:
- Visual phenomena, such as seeing various shapes, bright spots, or flashes of light.
- Vision loss
- Pins and needles sensations in an arm or leg
- Weakness or numbness in the face or one side of the body
- Difficulty speaking
- Hearing noises or music
- Uncontrollable jerking or other movements
Prodrome-Aura-Migraine-Headache-Postdrome
Post-drome:
The migraine postdrome could be defined as that constellation of symptoms occurring once the acute headache has settled.
Many report a sore feeling in the area where the migraine was, and some report impaired thinking for a few days after the headache has passed.
The person may feel tired or “hungover” and have head pain, cognitive difficulties, gastrointestinal symptoms, mood changes, and weakness.
After a migraine attack, you might feel drained, confused, and washed out for up to a day. Some people report feeling elated. The sudden head movement might bring on the pain again briefly.
Understanding your individual phases of migraine can be an essential cornerstone in finding the right treatment option.
Maintaining a headache diary can help people with migraines recognize their symptoms and the phases they experience before and after each headache.
Identifying these symptoms, and using them to catch and treat a migraine attack early, is key to lessening the severity of headache—or in some cases, even stopping them.
This is the final stage of an attack, and it can take hours or days for a ‘hangover’ type feeling to disappear. Symptoms can be similar to those of the first stage, and often they are mirrored symptoms.
For example, if you lost your appetite at the beginning of the attack, you might be very hungry now. If you were tired, now you might feel full of energy.
More than 36 million Americans suffer from migraine, but only one of every three patients talk with their doctor about their headaches.
Migraine Symptoms and Treatments:
Not everyone will have a ‘typical’ migraine. There are different types of migraines that involve different symptoms.
The most common symptoms of a migraine attack include throbbing headache, sensitivity to light and noise, nausea (feeling sick), vomiting (being sick), and lethargy (lack of energy).
Migraines cause pain the same as the pain of injuries or even worse sometimes Medication is a proven way to both treat and prevent migraines.
But medication is only part of the story. It’s also important to take good care of yourself and understand how to cope with migraine pain when it strikes.
Home remedies for Migraines:
There are some natural and home remedies for Migraines. At the first sign of a migraine, take a break and step away from whatever you’re doing if possible
Try to turn off the lights and sound. Relax in a dark, quiet room. Sleep if you can. Bright light even from your computer screen can cause Migraine headaches.
Apply hot or cold compresses to your head or neck. Ice packs have a numbing effect, which may dull the sensation of pain the same as hot packs and heating pads can relax tense muscles.
If you have a tension headache, place a heating pad on your neck or the back of your head.
Ease Pressure on Your Scalp or Head. Headaches can also be brought on by wearing a hat, headband, or even swimming goggles that are too tight
Try not to chew too much, chewing gum can hurt and cause even worse pain. Avoid crunchy and sticky foods, and make sure you take small bites.
Get Some Caffeine drink like tea, coffee, or something with a little caffeine in it, It can also help over-the-counter pain relievers
Practice Relaxation is very important like Yoga, Meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation can help a lot, and learning how to chill out when you’re in the middle of a headache can help with the pain relievers.
Taking Meds by consulting a doctor for pain relievers for all kinds of headaches is also good they may work, but to get the most benefit with the least risk, follow the directions on the label and these guidelines:
Choose liquid over pills. Your body absorbs it faster. Take painkillers as soon as you feel pain. You’ll likely beat it with a smaller dose.
If you get sick to your stomach when you get a headache, ask your doctor what might help.
Migraine vs. Headache:
A migraine episode is different from a typical headache. The experience is different, and they can have different causes.
Keeping a diary of symptoms can help a person and their doctor identify a migraine episode. Keep the journal for at least 8 weeks, and record the following.
1-The time that symptoms start
2-Possible triggers, such as stress or menstruation
3-The nature of the headache
4-Any other symptoms
5-How long symptoms last
6-Any noticeable indicators of migraine, such as aura
7-Any medications used and the effect that they had
Migraine Attack:
A migraine usually lasts from four to 72 hours if untreated. How often migraines occur varies from person to person. Migraines might occur rarely or strike several times a month.
During a migraine, you might have:
1-Pain usually on one side of your head, but often on both sides
2-Pain that throbs or pulses
3-Sensitivity to light, sound, and sometimes smell and touch
4-Nausea and vomiting
Migraine remedies:
Natural remedies are the best way to reduce migraine symptoms. These home treatments may help prevent migraines or at least help reduce their severity and duration.
Your Daily Diet plays a very important role in preventing migraines. Many foods and beverages are known migraine triggers.
1-Avoid such foods as:
Foods with nitrates like deli meats, bacon, and sausage, chocolate, alcohol, especially red wine, foods that are very cold such as ice cream or iced drinks, pickled foods, dried fruits, etc.
2-Lavender oil:
Lavender oil is also a very good source to ease pain applying lavender oil is also very beneficial. Inhaling lavender essential oil may ease migraine pain.
According to 2012 research, people who inhaled lavender oil during a migraine attack for 15 minutes experienced faster relief than those who inhaled a placebo.
Lavender oil may be inhaled directly or applied diluted to the temples.
3-Acupressure:
It is also a very good way to ease the pain. A separate study found acupressure may help relieve migraine-associated nausea.
Acupressure is the practice of applying pressure with the fingers and hands to specific points on the body to relieve pain and other symptoms.
4-Peppermint Oil:
Applying Peppermint Oil may stop a migraine from coming on, applying a menthol solution to the forehead and temples was more effective than placebo for migraine-associated pain, nausea, and light sensitivity.
5-Ginger:
It is known to ease nausea caused by many conditions, including migraines. It may also have other migraine benefits. Ginger is also known as the best natural remedy for migraines.
6-Yoga:
Yoga is an ancient technique that promotes holistic living through a combination of postures and breathing techniques. Yoga is a side-effect-free method to fight migraines.
7-Magnesium Diet:
It is very important to add magnesium to your daily diet magnesium deficiency is also known to be linked with headaches and migraines.
Studies show magnesium oxide supplementation helps prevent migraines with aura.
The food from which u can get magnesium are –
Almonds, Sesame Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Brazil Nuts, Cashews, Peanut Butter, Oatmeal, etc.
If you get migraines, you know the symptoms can be challenging to cope with. You might miss work or not be able to participate in the activities you love. Try the above remedies and find some relief.
Living with migraines is a daily challenge. But making healthy lifestyle choices can help. Ask your friends and loved ones for support.
If you’re feeling anxious or depressed, consider joining a support group or seeking counseling. Believe in your ability to take control of the pain…
Hope you find this article helpful enough to give motivation. Kindly read our more articles and subscribe to us for staying updated on our all-new articles.
You can also read more health-related articles by subscribing and liking us on Facebook. Feel Free to leave comments below for any suggestions or your views on it.
Thanks!!!
Leave a Reply
Pingback: Top 6 (Six)Natural Methods for Migraine Relief » Prime Health Blog