A migraine headache is accompanied by severe throbbing pain or a pulsating sensation on one side of the head. It’s often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and excessive light and sound sensitivity. Migraine attacks can last from hours to days, and the pain might be severe enough to stop you from continuing your usual activities.
For some people, a sensation termed as an aura occurs before or along with the headache. Visual disturbances, such as flashes of light or blind spots, or other disturbances, such as tingling on one side of the face, arm, or leg, and difficulty speaking, can all be symptoms of an aura.
Different Types of Migraine Pain:
Migraine headaches come in a variety of types. The two most common types of headaches are classic and common migraines.
Common Migraine:
Auras are not present in most migraines. However, these migraines are often known as “Migraines without aura.” Common migraines may start slowly, stay longer, and interfere with daily activities more than classic migraines. However, common migraines may cause pain on one side of your head. The majority of people with the condition suffer from typical headaches those without an aura.
Classic Migraine:
Classic migraines are also known as Complicated migraines. It starts with an aura, which is a warning symptom. These migraines are widely termed “Migraines with aura.” Changes in the way you see are usually associated with the aura. Flashing lights, colors, a pattern of lines, or shadows may be visible. Some of your eyesight, such as your side vision, may be temporarily lost. You may also have an odd prickly or burning feeling on one side of your body, and also muscle weakness. However, you could find it difficult to communicate. You may also have feelings of depression, irritability, and restlessness.
Auras can last anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. Auras can occur either before or after a headache. At times, the pain and aura may overlap, or the discomfort may not appear at all. Migraines are defined as pain on one or both sides of the head.
Migraine without head pain:
Migraines without head pain, sometimes known as “silent migraines,” can cause other migraine symptoms but no pain. At the very least, not the usual migraine pain in the temples and around the eyes. With this type of migraine, there may even be an aura phase. You may also feel the same sensitivity to light and sound as if you were suffering from a migraine.
Retinal Migraines:
Retinal migraines are also known as ocular migraines. It involves vision abnormalities that are unrelated to the aura. Less vision or even blindness in one eye are symptoms of retinal migraines. These symptoms are short-lived. However, they might happen before or after a headache. It is critical to notify your doctor if you are suffering from this type of migraine.
Cluster headache:
Cluster headaches are not the same as migraines. However, cluster periods are unusual headaches that occur in a predictable sequence. For a week or perhaps a month, you may get a headache at the same time every day. Headaches in clusters can be very severe. They usually make one side of your head hurt. Your eyelids may droop and your nose may become stuffy because of the pain.
Hemiplegic Migraines:
Hemiplegic migraines cause weakness on one side of the body, comparable to a stroke. These signs and symptoms will only last a short time. Migraine attacks are a common symptom. Your face, arm, or leg may feel weakness. The weakness can last anywhere from an hour to days. It usually disappears within 24 hours. This type of migraine is exceptionally rare.
Symptoms:
Migraines can go through four stages: Prodrome, Aura, Attack, and Post-drome, and they can affect children teenagers, and also adults. Not everyone who suffers from migraines goes through all of the stages.
Prodrome:
- Constipation
- Food cravings
- Fluid retention
- Mood swings
Aura:
- Vision loss
- Pins sensation in arms and legs
- Difficult in speaking
- Weakness
Attack:
A migraine can persist anywhere from 4 to 72 hours if untreated. The frequency with which migraines attack varies from person to person. Migraines can hit once a month or several times a month.
- Feeling one side pain of the head
- Sensitivity to light, sound
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Post-drome:
You may feel fatigued, confused, and washed out for up to a day after a migraine attack. Some people claim to be elated. A sudden head movement may reactivate the discomfort for a short period.
What are some Migraine Triggers and Risk factors?
Certain circumstances are referred to as “risk factors” that increase your chances of getting a migraine headache. Other factors ate known as triggers can cause a migraine. The following are some of the most common migraine risks:
- If one or both of your parents experienced migraines, you’re far more likely to get them as well.
- Migraines are more common in women than in men.
- The majority of people first have migraine around adolescence. However, migraines can strike at any age, generally before the age of 40.
Common Migraine Trigger includes the following:
- Women’s hormonal changes: Many women experience headaches when their estrogen levels fluctuate, such as before or during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or menopause. Oral contraceptives and other hormonal drugs can worsen migraines. However, some women report that using these drugs reduces the severity of their migraines.
- Drinks: Alcohol, especially wine, and too much caffeine, such as coffee, are examples.
- Stress: Migraines can be caused by stress at work or home.
- Stimuli to the senses: Migraines can be triggered by bright or flashing lights, as well as loud noises. Some people are sensitive to strong aromas such as perfume, paint thinner, secondhand smoking, and other strong odors.
- Sleep habits change: Lack of sleep or excessive sleep can cause migraines in certain people.
Migraines Pain can diagnose in a variety of ways:
The symptoms you describe can help your doctor diagnose migraines. If your doctor is unsure about the diagnosis, he or she will conduct a physical examination. Blood tests or imaging tests, such as a brain MRI or CAT scan, may be ordered by your doctor. These tests can help determine if the headache is caused by something else. It’s also possible that you’ll be requested to keep a headache journal. This can help your doctor figure out what’s causing your migraines.
Treatment:
Migraine has no proven cure. However, medications can be used to treat symptoms when they occur, and patients can take actions to reduce the frequency and severity of episodes. However, take in mind that these drugs may cause negative effects.
Medications:
Pain relievers and other medications can often be beneficial. Taking medication as soon as symptoms occur may help prevent them from worsening. Over-the-counter drugs that may help reduce migraine pain for mild to moderate migraines include:
- Aspirin
- Acetaminophen
- A mix of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
- Ketoprofen
People with more severe migraines may need to take pharmaceutical medications that are “Abortive.” Ergotamine is a drug that can be used alone or in combination with other medications. Dihydroergotamine is a derivative of ergotamine that can be beneficial. Sumatriptan, zolmitriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, almotriptan, eletriptan, and frovatriptan are some more migraine medications.
