How do I deal with a migraine?

 How do I deal with a migraine?

Hey dear ladies, are you suffering from headache? Do you know the reason behind it? Have you ever thought that it might be migraine? But how will you know if it is Migraine or not, so we are going to tell you all about what is migraine, it’s symptoms and causes first and then present you with ideas on how to deal with it.

What is Migraine?

A migraine is a headache that can cause severe pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head. Migraine is quite often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and severe sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine headaches can take hours to days, and the pain can be so severe that it interferes with your daily activities.

For some people, a warning sign known as an aura occurs before or with a headache. An aura can include visual disturbances, such as flashbacks or blind spots, or other disturbances, such as sloping on one side of the face or arm or leg and difficulty speaking.

Although, medications can help prevent some migraines and make them less painful but appropriate medications, combined with self-medication and lifestyle changes, can help.

What are the symptoms of Migraine?

Migraines, affecting children and adolescents as well as adults, can progress to four stages: prodrome, aura, attack and post-drome. Not everyone with migraines goes through all the stages.

Prodrome

A day or two before migraines, you may notice subtle changes that warn of an impending migraine, including:

Constipation

Emotions change, from depression to happiness

Food cravings

Neck stiffness

Increased urination

Liquid retention

Yawning constantly

Aura

For some people, the aura may occur before or during migraines. Auras is a reversible sign of a nervous system. They are usually visible but may include other distractions. Each symptom usually begins gradually, builds up in a few minutes and can last for 60 minutes.

Examples of migraine auras include:

Visual events, such as seeing different scenarios, bright spots or light rays

Loss of vision

Pins and needles on arms or leg

Feeling of weakness or numbness in the face or on one side of the body

Difficulty speaking

Attack

Migraine attack usually lasts 4 to 72 hours if left untreated. But how often migraines occur varies from person to person. Migraine may occur spontaneously or strike several times a month.

During a migraine, you may be:

The pain is usually on one side of your head, but usually on both sides

A sharp pain or tingling

Sensitivity to light, sound, and sometimes smell and touch

Nausea and vomiting

Post-drome

After a migraine attack, you may feel tired, confused, and irritable for a day. 

Some people report feeling happy. 

Sudden headaches may cause pain again for a while.

What are the causes of Migraine?

Although the causes of migraine are not fully understood, genetics and environmental factors appear to play a role.

Changes in the brainstem and its interaction with the trigeminal nerve, a major pathway to pain, may be involved. So there may be an imbalance in brain chemicals - including serotonin, which helps control pain in your nervous system.

Researchers are studying the role of serotonin in migraines. Other neurotransmitters play a role in migraine pain, including genetically related calcitonin peptide (CGRP).

How do I deal with migraine?

Relax in a Silent, Dark Room

Many people with migraines report sensitivity to light and noise, which can make headaches worse. According to a study published in Nature Neuroscience, light-induced pain can be traced to a group of light-sensitive cells called intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells which help maintain the student's sleep and wake cycles in light. . In mice, these cells interact with brain cells that transmit pain.

Exposure to light activated ipRGC cells and pain-transmitting cells, and cells remain active for a few minutes. Researchers say that this may be the reason why headaches become worse and worse for 20 to 30 minutes after dark.

Go to a dark and quiet room, and you may be able to sleep, says Dr. Good. “Not all headaches are when you sleep,” she notes, but chemicals released from your brain during sleep can help ease your pain. And, he says, if you are sensitive to sounds, blocking them can help.

Apply Warm or Cold Compress on your Head or Neck

Apply a warm or cold compress on your forehead or back of your neck.


"Most of my patients prefer cold compresses," said Lawrence C. Newman, MD, director of the headache division at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City and board member of the American Migraine Foundation.

Cold temperatures can contribute to dizziness. "It affects the brain in the scalp," Good said. "It rejuvenates some nerve endings where you put compress."

To protect your skin, keep a cloth between your skin and an ice pack, and if you use a cold commercial pack, make sure there are no leaks where chemicals may escape and may damage your eyes, according to the University of Michigan Health.

Hydrate yourself

About one third of people with migraines say that dehydration is the cause of their headaches, according to the American Migraine Foundation. Therefore, staying hydrated during an attack may help prevent further.

If you feel that a migraine is coming, drinking too much water can help reduce the length of your attack, says Roderick Spears, MD, a neurologist and psychiatrist at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia. He says: “Drinking plenty of water can help.

Massage Your Temples

Massage can help your muscles relax, and they have been studied for pain management in a number of cases, including headaches, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

Whether this helps you depends on the person, Newman said. Some people who suffer from migraine headaches may be very sensitive to touch, and massage may be very harmful. This is especially true for people with allodynia, a common symptom of migraine where people are more sensitive to touch and other less common causes of pain.

Try to Meditate

About 8 out of 10 people with migraines report depression as a cause of headaches, said Rebecca Wells, MD, associate professor of neurology at Wake Forest Baptist Health in North Carolina and director of a comprehensive program for headaches.

Mental meditation can help people manage stress differently by focusing on what is currently happening, he says.

"One example that everyone finds is focused on empathy such as breathing," he said. It is natural to have thoughts and feelings while conducting thoughtful meditation; be aware of that and turn your attention back to your spirit, suggests Dr. Wells.

Smell of Lavender

Lavender scent has a calming effect and helps relieve stress. A clinical study published in the Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research found that four weeks of lavender essential oil aromatherapy reduced stress, anxiety and depression in a group of postpartum women. Lavender Oil has been specifically researched for the treatment of migraines. A small study published in European Neurology evaluated the use of lavender essential oil in people suffering from migraine attacks.

Prevent seizures with Exercise

Exercise during migraine attacks can increase pain, but exercise between attacks can help reduce the number of attacks.

Contrary to popular belief, exercise does not cause migraines in most people, says Dr. Dale Bond, professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Myriam Hospital and Brown Alpert Medical School in Providence, Rhode Island.

Ref: Migraine: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention (webmd.com)

Migraine - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

7 Tips to Ease Migraine Pain | Everyday Health




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