Migraine: Warning Signs and Tips

Migraine is a common neurological condition that affects 1 billion people around the world. It usually manifests itself as a throbbing and painful sensation on one side of the head that can be disabling for some individuals. A migraine attack may happen several times a week depending on the severity of your condition and usually lasts a few hours or even up to a few days.

Migraine Phases

A migraine is a neurological disease that involves nerve pathways and neurotransmitters (a.k.a. brain chemicals). While most people may assume that a headache is just a milder form of a migraine, it is actually just one of its several symptoms. Suffering from migraine causes you to experience extreme fatigue, be sensitive to light, and feel extremely nauseous. A migraine episode comes in phases which may or may not be experienced by all:

• Prodrome phase – initial signs of an upcoming migraine episode may arise 1-2 days before, such as mood changes, food cravings, neck stiffness, and more.
• Aura phase – a common aura consists of visual changes, slurred speech, and numbness/weakness.It may be associated with the less common type of migraine called the hemiplegic familial migraine.
• Headache phase – this is the phase when you may feel the most pain. Exposure to possible migraine triggers like physical activity and light can aggravate symptoms.
• Postdrome phase – the last and final phase wherein symptoms start to subside and you start feeling exhausted.

Who are at risk?

Risk levels for migraine are distinguished by many factors including but not limited to: triggers, genes, environment, and many more. For starters, suffering from migraine can be inherited from family members who have it. While both men and women are likely to experience migraine episodes, women are more at risk and are three times more likely to suffer from migraines due to hormonal changes.

Treatment

Migraines can be treated accordingly depending on what your identified triggers may be. Your doctor may request for tests like MRI and CT scans to rule out possible secondary causes of headaches. Medications like pain relievers may be prescribed to help alleviate or prevent your symptoms. Mayo Clinic recommends these tips that may help reduce your migraine episodes:

• Following a fixed sleeping and eating schedule – avoid sleeping too much or too little and keep a balanced diet.
• Trying relaxation techniques – stressful situations are not good for your health in general, most especially if you have migraine. Give yoga a try or design your very own exercise routine to help lower your stress levels.
• Staying hydrated – drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and the occurrence of migraine.
• Recording your episodes – keeping a headache diary can help you properly determine your specific triggers which can help

General disclaimer

Your doctor will always be in the best position to give the appropriate medical advice for your condition. For suspected undesirable drug reaction, seek medical attention immediately and report to the FDA at www.fda.gov.ph and UNILAB, Inc. at 8-UNILAB-1 or productsafety@unilab.com.ph. Always buy your medicine from your trusted drugstores and retailers.

Sources:

• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20360207
• https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/headache-disorders
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20360201
• https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/what-type-of-headache-do-you-have/
• https://migraine.com/clinical/cluster-headache-high-altitude/
• https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/migraine