Migraine: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment Options, and Prevention Tips

What is a Migraine?

A migraine is a type of headache that causes intense, pulsating pain. It may also cause vomiting, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine headaches are different from normal headaches, as they may last long, ranging from 4 to 72 hours, significantly affecting daily activities. 

Migraine treatments are necessary for individuals experiencing frequent or debilitating attacks.  It is thought that migraines happen because something abnormal occurs in the brain, which disrupts nerves, chemicals, and blood vessels in the brain. The exact reason why migraines occur is not known. However, people think that both genetic and environmental factors play an important role.

What Are the Types of Migraines?

Migraines can be classified into several types, including:

• Migraine Without Aura: This is the most common type of migraine. It is characterised by severe pain on one side of the head and occurs without any prodromal symptoms, like yawning, tiredness, mood swings, etc.
• Migraine With Aura: With this type of migraine, the headache is preceded by some visual disturbances, such as seeing zigzag lines, flashing lights, or blind spots. These visual disturbances are collectively referred to as an aura.
• Chronic Migraine: This type of migraine lasts for more than fifteen days in a month.
• Hemiplegic Migraine: A headache accompanied by temporary paralysis or muscle strength loss experienced on one side of the body.
• Vestibular Migraine: This type of migraine is characterised by neurological symptoms like dizziness, imbalance, problems in coordination, and even vertigo without necessarily having a headache or a mild headache.
• Ophthalmic Migraine: This is an uncommon form of migraine that affects the eyes and may lead to short-term blindness or vision problems.
• Menstrual Migraine: It happens due to changing levels of hormones in females, mostly a couple of days before menses or during menses.
• Abdominal Migraine: This migraine type is more common in children, characterised by abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting without a headache.

What Are the Symptoms of Migraine?

Symptoms of migraine can vary from person to person but commonly include:

• Intense, throbbing migraine headache, typically on one side of the head
• Sensitivity to light, sound, and smells
• Nausea and vomiting
• Blurred vision or visual disturbances
• Dizziness and difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue and neck stiffness
• Mood changes, irritability, or depression before the onset of the headache
• Tingling sensations in the face, hands, or feet

What Causes Migraine?

The exact cause of migraines is unknown, but several factors contribute to their occurrence:

• Genetics: A family history of migraine increases the likelihood of experiencing them.
• Hormonal Changes: Migraine can be caused by changes in oestrogen levels, particularly among females.
• Dietary Triggers: Migraine may be triggered by some foodstuffs such as caffeine, wine, processed meat, and sugar-free.
• Environmental Factors: Alterations in weather, intense light, and certain smells may bring on an attack of migraine.
• Stress and Sleep Disruptions: Insufficient sleep and stressful events are typical triggers.
• Medications: Migraines might be caused by certain contraceptives, vasodilators, and analgesics.
• Dehydration: Inadequate drinking of water can cause migraines.

When Should I See a Doctor for My Migraines?

Seek medical advice if:

• The frequency or severity of your migraines increases.
• Your head hurts suddenly and very much.
• You get confused, feel like pins and needles are all over, or cannot see properly.
• Painkillers do not work for your head.
• You have a migraine with an aura that makes you weak or affects how you speak.

What is the Treatment for Migraine?

Migraine treatments include both acute and preventive measures:

Acute Treatments

These are used to relieve migraine headache symptoms during an attack:

• Drugs for pain that one can buy without a prescription (ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen)
• Prescription migraine treatments such as triptans and ergotamines
• Medications to control vomiting
• Strong anti-inflammatory drugs for severe migraine attacks
• Neuromodulation devices work better and therefore reduce the symptoms of migraine

Preventive Treatments

Preventive treatments help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.

• Beta-blockers (propranolol)
• Antidepressants (amitriptyline)
• Anti-seizure medications (topiramate)
• CGRP inhibitors (monoclonal antibodies for chronic migraine)
• Botox injections for chronic migraine patients

Prevention Tips for Migraine

The key to preventing migraines lies in appropriate lifestyle changes and avoiding triggers.

• Keep to a Regular Sleep Pattern: Insufficient sleep may set off a migraine.
• Drink Enough: Water dehydration is one of the major triggers of migraines.
• Deal with Stress: Engage in activities that help you relax, such as meditation and yoga.
• Be Active: Doing exercise helps control stress and hormonal imbalances.
• Identify and Avoid Triggers: Keep a headache diary to track potential triggers.
• Eat Well: Say no to junk food and too much coffee.
• Limit Screen Time: Reducing exposure to bright screens and blue light may help.
• Think about Medical Prevention: In case there are many migraine headaches, think about seeing a doctor for drugs that can prevent them.

Migraine vs. Tension Headache

Migraine headaches and tension headaches are different conditions. The following are some of the key differences between a migraine and a tension headache.

• Kind of Pain: Migraine pain is pulsating and mostly unilateral, but tension-type pain is tight like a hat all over.
• Accompanying Symptoms: Migraines include nausea, light sensitivity, and visual disturbances, whereas tension headaches do not.
• Causes: Emotional stress, poor posture, eye strain, a lack of sleep, etc., lead to tension headaches; migraines may be caused by various things such as food, hormonal changes, or the environment.
• Duration: Migraine attacks may persist for some hours up to three days, but tension headaches are mostly brief.
• Remedies: Migraine remedies usually involve specific drugs, while rest and ordinary analgesics are enough for tension headaches.