General Information regarding migraine
First of all you should know that what is migraine? It is a medical condition with severe headache.The headache is also accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound in this condition.
This condition may last for hours and even days.It includes sensory changes before the attack of migraine termed as aura.It is different from common headache.It may affect the daily routine like working and study.
A survey conducted in 2015 showed that 19 percent of females and 9 percent of males are affected from this medical condition.
A research conducted United States in 2019 revealed that 18 percent of adults suffered from it in last three months.
A person may suffer from migraine between 18 to 44 years of his age.It can be inherited so it has tendency to run into families.
Types Of Migraine
1-Common migraine
It is characterized as not having any symptoms of aura.It is to be noted that 80 percent of migraines are common migraines.
2-Classic migraine
In this type of migraine,along with headache symptoms of aura are also observed.It is more severe as compared to common migraine.
3-Acephalgic migraine
It is also known as silent migraine.Because in this condition there is no headache.However,other symptoms like aura are observed.
4-Hemipelgic migraine
It;s symptoms include weakness on one side of body,loss of sensation and feelings.It may also result in stroke.
5-Retinal migraine
It includes symptoms like loss of eyesight in one eye.It may last from days to months.It is reversible process means that its recovery is possible within certain time.
6-Chronic migraine
It is the more acute and more persisting form of migraine.It may last for more than half of a month for consecutive three months.
7-Status migrainosus
It affects less than one percent of the people.Its symptoms may last for consecutive 72 hours.
What can trigger migraine?
No exact mechanism or causes are known so far pertaining to migraine.However,researches and studies have shown that following factors have a role in triggering migraine.
1-Hormonal level changes
Hormonal level changes cause migraine mostly in females. During mensis, ovulation and pregnancy females have hormone level changes in their body which may trigger migraine.Their body may also trigger migraine while using birth control pills.Reason is that the birth control pills change hormonal level of body.
2-Stress situations
During stress situations like depression,anxiety and excitement ,brain releases hormones. Hormonal imbalance can also trigger hemicrania.
3-Foods
Foods like aged cheese,alcohol and sugary drinks may cause splitting headache. Moreover,nitrates and Mono Sodium Glutamate (MSG) commonly known as china salt may also trigger it.
4-Skipping of meals
If you are skipping your meals or taking them in irregular manner,you have a risk of misery in the head.
5-Caffeine intake
If you are getting too much caffeine it may cause megrim. Similarly,if you are taking caffeine in an amount less than your body can accustom, it may also trigger it.
6-Changing weather
Change in weather may also trigger migraine. For example,winds,storms,change in barometric pressure and changing altitudes may also trigger it.
7-Strenuous physical activities
Sudden and highly intense physical activities and exercises also plays role in triggering cephalalgia. Physical exercises also include sexual activity.
8-Irregular sleep time
Changes in sleep time are also responsible for triggering sinus headache.
If you are taking too much or too short sleep,it may affect hormonal level of your body. Change in hormonal level ultimately causes splitting headache.
Symptoms of migraine
Symptoms of migraine normally appear in four stages. However,it is not necessary that each and every person suffering from splitting headache passes from all these four stages.
These four stages are:
1-Prodrome
This stage appears at one or two days prior to the attack of hemicrania.
Symptoms include
- constipation
- mood changes
- food cravings
- increased thirst
- urination
- yawning
- neck stiffness
These symptoms are indication to the attack of misery in the head.
2-Aura
It’s symptoms are reversible and may last from 20 to 60 minutes.
These symptoms include
- Loss of vision
- Loss of sensations
- Involuntary jerking movements.
Moreover,difficulty in speaking and hearing of noise are also its indications.
3-Attack
It is the main stage of this medical situation and it may last from 4 to 72 hours. Time may vary from person to person. It may occur several times a month.
Its symptoms include
- Pain in one side of head
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sensitivity to light and sound.
4-Postdrome
This stage occurs after the attack. In this stage person feels drained, washed out and confused for whole day(one day). Sudden head movement may also cause pain to occur again.
How To Diagnose Migraine
There is no specific test available for the diagnosis of splitting headache. General practitioner may ask from you the history and lasting time of pain.
The best way to diagnose it is to save or note it’s history in diary. Here the history means when it start, it last for how much time, medication you use to cure it and results of that medication.
In case the initial diagnosis and treatment is not working, you may be referred to a neurologist for further diagnosis and treatment.
The Ways You Can Adopt To Cure Migraine
1-Medication
There is no permanent cure available for sinus headache. However,some medications are used to relieve the pain and other symptoms and in order to avoid its attack in future.
You can use pain relievers like paracetamol, aspirin, ibuprofen to overcome and control symptoms. Moreover, you can also take gepants which block the protein which causes inflammation and pain known as calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP).
2-Preventive measures
Here are some preventive measures you can use to avoid this headache instead of medication.
- Take regular sleep
- Take meal regularly and don’t skip meals.
- Reduce stress and anxiety by aerobic exercises.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) may also help in this regard.
- Lose weight,because obesity causes migraine.
- Limit caffeine intake.
- Drink water throughout the day in order to avoid dehydration.
- Reduce TV watching time
- Avoid alcohol and sugary drinks.
Conclusion
You all are well aware of the fact that “prevention is better than cure.”So whether you are suffering from migraine or not,you should follow and adopt the preventive measures. Following the preventing measures would definitely save you from these attacks in future.
Although medication also works but it has some side effects.So the best way to cure or avoid this severe headache is to follow preventing measures mentioned above.
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