What is Migraine? What Are Its Symptoms & Treatments?

 

Migraines are headaches characterized by severe throbbing pain or pulsing sensations on one side of the head. You will likely face nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound during your migraine attack. These headaches can last for hours or days, and the pain attached to the headache is very severe. Some people face visual disturbances, including flashes of light or tingling on faces, arms or legs. Consult neurologist urgently in case of severe pain. 

Some people experience an aura before or along with their headache as a warning symptom. You can treat headaches with medications. Moreover, you could also avoid an unhealthy life routine and stick to a healthy lifestyle.

 

What are the Signs, Symptoms & Treatments of Migraine?

Some migraine medications can prevent migraines and make them less painful. Combining the right medicines with lifestyle changes and self-help remedies might be helpful. The primary symptom of migraine is intense pain on one side of the head. 

 Usually, the pain is a mild or severe throbbing sensation that worsens when you move and makes it difficult to carry out everyday activities. There are cases when the pain is confined not only to one side of the brain but to both sides. Consequently, it affects your face and neck as well. 

 

Symptoms

A migraine usually lasts between four hours and three days, although you may feel exhausted for up to a week afterward. Consult online neurologist if you are too lazy to see a doctor. Some of the symptoms include: 

 

• Feeling sick


• Being sick


• Increased sensitivity to light and sound


• Urge to rest in a quiet, dark room


• Sweating


• Poor concentration


• Feeling very hot or very cold


• Abdominal pain


• Diarrhea

 

Occasionally, an aura is followed by a mild headache or no headache at all for some people. Symptoms of an aura usually develop within 5 minutes and last for an hour or more. Book appointment with neurologist immediately if your situation isn’t stabilizing. 

 

These symptoms include:  

• Visual Problems include


• Seeing flashing lights


• Zig-zag patterns


• Blind spots


• Pins and needles-like numbness or tingling that usually begins in one hand and moves up your arm before affecting your face, lips, and tongue


• Feeling dizzy 


• Difficulty speaking


• Loss of consciousness (unusual) 

 

Note: Everyone with a migraine headache does not experience the additional symptoms, and some people may experience them without a migraine headache.

 

Treatment

• You should avoid contact with other people until you feel well enough to do your regular activities if you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough.

• A GP should be consulted if you suffer frequent or severe migraine symptoms that cannot be managed with over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol.

• Regular or frequent use of painkillers will make it harder to treat headaches over time if you take the maximum dosage.

• Seeing a doctor if you have frequent migraines (more than five days a month), even if you can control them with medicine, may also be beneficial.

• Several over-the-counter painkillers, including paracetamol, aspirin, and ibuprofen, can relieve migraine symptoms.

• They tend to be most effective at the first sign of a migraine attack since they have more time to absorb into your bloodstream and ease your symptoms.

• If you wait until a headache worsens before taking painkillers, the medicine may not work as effectively.

• Because soluble painkillers are absorbed quickly by the body, they are a good alternative.

• Medication to relieve pain - These drugs are taken to stop symptoms and are also called acute or abortive treatments during migraine attacks.

• Medication for prevention - These drugs are taken regularly, often daily, to reduce migraine severity or frequency.

 

Stages of a Migraine

Most migraines progress through distinct stages, but only some experience them. Consult online doctor for any queries that you have. 

 

• Prodromal stage – before an attack, there is a change in mood, energy level, behavior, and appetite.

• Aura – Usually lasts 5 minutes to an hour, characterized by flashes or blind spots.

• Headache stage – characterized by pulsating or throbbing pain on one side of the head and sometimes nausea or vomiting, as well as extreme sensitivity to bright light and loud noise, which can last for 4 to 72 hours.

• Resolution stage – after the headache and other symptoms fade, you may feel tired for a few days