Migraine: A chronic disease

Posted by Drugvilla on August 6th, 2018

Migraine has become most common disorder worldwide. A migraine is not just a headache but is a chronic neurological disease. A migraine affects the daily activities and normal functioning of the person.It never comes with age but commonly found in the age group of 25 to 55 years, though it can affect the people of all ages including children. Migraine attack causes chronic pain and is unbearable

Here are some tips for headache relief:

*. Close your eyes and rest.

*. Massage your neck and finger tips

*. Warm up your neck Try putting a heating gel pad or warm rubber water bottle or a warm cloth around your neck and the base of your skull to ease tension headaches and to relax unbearable pain.

*. Relax.

*. Minimize stress.

A migraine generally starts from a headache. Pain in a migraine can be from moderate to severe. Pain is often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting,

increased sensitivity to light or sound or visual disturbances. This unbearable pain usually occurs in one half of the head and may last from 2 to 72 hours.

Drugs used to stop a migraine include:

Over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen (Tylenol, for example) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.

The migraine attack is divided into phases and accordingly, the symptoms occur:

The prodrome phase: This phase is the early stage of a migraine. This occurs in a maximum number of people suffering from a migraine. The symptoms include a headache,

irritability, fatigue, depression or euphoria, constipation or diarrhea, mood swings, and sensitivity to smells or noise and many other symptoms aas well.

The aura phase: This phase occurs just before a headache starts and may continue with a headache. This can last for a couple of minutes or for an hour as well.

Numbness or tingling of the senses, speaking problems, motor disorders, and hallucinations are also observed during this phase.

The pain phase: This is called as headache phase where the pain is throbbing and can be severe. It gradually increases and becomes worse with physical activities.

Duration and frequency vary among age groups. The main symptoms include sweating or frequent urination.

The postdrome phase: This phase occurs when migraine attack ends. This shows the symptoms after an acute headache is over. In this phase symptoms like head pain,

gastrointestinal disorders, cognitive problems, mood swings and weakness along with sore feeling in the area affected by a migraine are observed

Causes:

The causes of a migraine are still a mystery to be solved. The causes comprise a mixture of genetic factors and environmental factors.

Genetic factors: A family history of a migraine is supposed to be the one of the common cause of a migraine. Twins are more likely at a risk to develop a migraine.

Environmental factors: Environmental factors can trigger migraines such as a change in weather conditions, altitude or wind pressure, change in daily routine or traveling. Changing of lights and loud noise can also trigger a migraine.

Physical factors: Following physical factors can trigger a migraine:

Tiredness

Workload at job or working in shifts

Poor posture

Toothache

Bending

Straining

Head or neck pain

Low blood sugar

Intensive form of exercise

Emotional factors: Emotional factors which can trigger a migraine are:

Stress

Anxiety

Depression

Tension and worries

Family issues

Excitement

Shock

Hormonal factors:  Changes in hormonal level also triggers menopause. A woman suffers from a migraine during their menstrual cycle due to change in hormones.

A migraine can be diagnosed on the basis of signs and symptoms only. The main causes are difficult to find out the migraine type. So if one observed any of these 

symptoms should consult the doctor at the earliest. Because, if left untreated it can lead to lifelong disability and can impact the normal functioning of life as well.

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