migraine

Definition

There are two main types of migraine attacks:

Migraine with aura: These are reversible warning symptoms that occur before or during the headache and last between 5 and 60 minutes. The warning symptoms may include, but are not limited to, visual, motor, language, or sensory disturbances.

Migraine without aura: The headache is usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting and/or sensitivity to light and noise and can last up to 72 hours. The pain is pulsating and can increase in intensity with physical exertion (e.g. climbing stairs).

symptoms of migraines

Migraines manifest themselves in different ways in different individuals. The most common symptoms of migraines include:

• Unilateral pulsating headache (in rare cases also bilateral)
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• Vomit
• photophobia
• Hypersensitivity to sounds
• malaise
• Visual phenomena (e.g. flashes of light or visual field defects)
• paresthesia and numbness
• Difficulty reading or writing
• dizziness etc

Causes of migraines

There is no clear cause of migraines. In the professional circles, “serotonin” is ascribed an important role. ‘Serotonin’ is a chemical released in the body (particularly in the brain) that causes blood vessels to narrow. When the level of serotonin in the blood is high, the blood vessels constrict and when it is low, they dilate. This swelling of the blood vessels can trigger headaches and explain the development of migraine attacks.

Genetic factors are also discussed as possible triggers. The children of parents with migraines are more likely to suffer from migraines.

Hormonal aspects such as B. Changes in estrogen levels play a role in the development of migraines, which in turn explains why women are more likely to experience migraines than men.

duration of the complaints

A migraine attack usually lasts between 4 and 72 hours and can occur several times a month. People with chronic migraines can have up to 15 migraine attacks a month.

Diagnose

The International Headache Society established certain criteria that must be met when diagnosing migraine. The criteria relate to the duration (4-72 hours), the character (one-sided, pulsating), the intensity (intensified by physical activity), accompanying symptoms (nausea, fear of light or noise) and the reversible aura symptoms (e.g Flashes of light that resolve within 5 to 60 minutes).

When do I have to go to the doctor

If you suspect you may have a migraine, have a persistent headache, or are experiencing new symptoms, you should contact your doctor.

Home remedies for migraines

Avoiding trigger factors is the most important step in treating migraines. A list of possible triggers can be found below in the text.

A headache diary (headache calendar) will help you to find out what triggers the headache. In the diary you can enter the time and date of the migraine attack and what you ate or did before. If certain foods or activities are repeated in the diary, they should be avoided in the future to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.

The following can reduce the pain of a migraine attack:

1. Lie in a quiet, darkened room
2. Apply ice packs or cold compresses to forehead
3. Gentle head massage
4. In some cases, caffeinated drinks help with the pain.

Drug therapy for migraines

Pain relievers and, in some cases, prophylactic medications are often used to treat migraines.

Painkillers are either over-the -counter or require a prescription. Their effectiveness differs from individual to individual and depends on the severity of the migraine. After consultation with the doctor, you can decide which painkiller is most suitable.

The prophylactic drugs (e.g. beta blockers) require a prescription and are often used to prevent chronic migraines. Whether prophylactic drug therapy makes sense should be discussed with a doctor.

Possible causes of migraines

Possible trigger factors for migraines are:

• Stress
• Angst
• Hormonal changes (e.g. caused by the menstrual cycle)
• temperature fluctuations
• lack of sleep
• Hunger or irregular meals
• Noise
• Bright light
• Smoking
• Certain foods (alcohol, chocolate, blue cheese, yeast, pickled vegetables or fruit, processed foods) and much more

This is how Med-Healths can help with migraines

What therapy options and prophylactic measures can you take for migraine attacks? What side effects can occur with drug therapy? Are there other non-drug ways to prevent migraines? You can clarify these and other questions with a doctor via our video consultation. If necessary, a referral is necessary to rule out other causes when it occurs for the first time.