Migraine is characterized by an intense throbbing sensation in one area of your head. About 10% of the world’s population is affected by this common disorder, with women three times more likely to experience migraines compared to men. Read on to find out how you can detect and prevent migraines below.
What is a migraine?
Migraine is a common brain disorder which can affect the way you deal with your daily life. According to studies, having chronic migraine can be disabling and can happen at least 15 days per month. Migraines are so common that the World Health Organization (WHO) has listed migraine as one of the top 40 conditions causing worldwide disability back in 2012.
Symptoms
According to Mayo Clinic, migraines usually progress through four stages: prodome, aura, headache, and post-drome. Not everyone experiences all stages, but most of the symptoms of migraine are common like:
- Throbbing pain, usually on just one side of your head.
- Vertigo, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
- Feeling lightheaded, may cause you to faint.
- Visual disturbances (aura) before or during migraines which can cause you to see flashes of light.
- On rare cases, you may experience sensory aura which can cause tingling/numbing sensation all over your body.
Causes
The link between migraines and certain imbalances in your brain chemicals, specifically involving serotonin, are still being studied by researchers. Serotonin levels drop during a migraine attack, and since this essential chemical helps regulate the feeling of pain—a sharp decline can lead to migraine pain.
Risk Factors and Triggers
There is still insufficient data on the specific causes of migraine but some studies suggest that heredity and external factors may affect your risk level. Age and sex can also play a role since it is more common in women, tend to develop during adolescence, and peak during your 30s. Some women can also experience bouts of migraine before or during their monthly menstruation due to the drop in estrogen levels in their bodies.
Diagnosis
The first step to diagnosing migraine is to recognize the pattern of your headaches to determine how chronic your episodes are. Your doctor will ask you about your family medical history and may perform several neurological examinations. Afterward, you may be prescribed to take certain medications containing paracetamol or ibuprofen to help with your headaches.
What you can do
You can avoid certain triggers to lessen the frequency of your migraines like:
- Salty food
- Fasting/skipping meals
- Drinking alcoholic beverages
- Consuming caffeinated drinks
- Not getting enough sleep
- Taking certain medications
General disclaimer
Always consult your doctor before taking any medicine. Your doctor will be in the best position to give the appropriate medical advice. For suspected undesirable drug reaction, seek medical attention immediately and report to the FDA at www.fda.gov.ph and UNILAB, Inc. at 8-864522-1 (8-UNILAB-1) or productsafety@unilab.com.ph. Always buy from your trusted drugstores and retailers.
Sources:
- Weatherall, M. (2015). The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine. Therapeutic Advances In Chronic Disease, 6(3), 115-123. doi: 10.1177/2040622315579627
- Mateen, F., Dua, T., Steiner, T., & Saxena, S. (2008). Headache Disorders in Developing Countries: Research Over The Past Decade. Cephalalgia, 28(11), 1107-1114. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2982.2008.01681.x
- Migraine - Symptoms and causes. (2018). Retrieved from Migraine - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
- Migraine Symptoms. Retrieved from Migraine - NHS
- Migraine Information Page | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Retrieved from Migraine | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
