Migraine, a neurological disorder, is usually characterized by painful headaches that are accompanied by other symptoms such as sensitivity to sound, light, smell, or touch.

Migraine is more than just a cause of "really, really bad headaches." It can also cause other symptoms. Other symptoms include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• Having difficulty speaking
• Numbness or tingling
• Light and sound sensitivity

It is a condition that can affect people of all ages and often runs in families. Migraine is more common in people who were assigned females at birth.

A migraine diagnosis is made based on the clinical history and reported symptoms, as well as by excluding other causes. Most migraine headaches are classified as episodic or chronic. Then, there are those without aura and others with aura.

What is the feeling of a migraine?

People describe migraine pain as:

• Pulsating
• throbbing
• Perforating
• pounding
• Debilitating

The pain can feel like a dull, constant, or severe ache. It may begin as a mild pain. It can be mild at first, but without treatment, it can get moderate or severe.

Migraine pain is most often felt in the forehead. Usually, it occurs on one side of your head. However, it can also occur on the other side or during a shift.

Most migraine attacks last around 4 hours. They can last up to 72 hours if they are not treated or if they do not respond well to treatment. Pain may occur in migraines with auras. It may also overlap with the aura.

Migraine symptoms

The symptoms of migraine may start 1-2 weeks before the actual headache. The prodrome is the stage before the headache. This stage may include symptoms such as:

• Food cravings
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• Fatigue or low energy
• frequent yawning
• Hyperactivity
• irritability
• Neck stiffness

Aura occurs in migraines after the prodrome. You may experience problems with vision, sensation, speech, or movement during an aura. These problems can include:

• Having difficulty speaking clearly
• Feeling a tingling or prickling sensation on your face, in your arms, or in your legs
• Vision Loss/Seeing Shapes, Flashes of Light or Bright Spots
• Temporarily losing your sight

Next comes the attack phase. The actual pain of a migraine occurs during this phase. This can occur at the same time as an aura or during a migraine attack in some people. The symptoms of the attack phase can last from hours to even days. The symptoms of migraines can vary greatly from one person to another.

Some of the symptoms include:

• Increased sensitivity to sound and light
• nausea
• Feeling dizzy or faint
• You may experience pain in one or both temples, on either the front or back of your head, or on your left or right side.
• Headache that throbs and pulses
• vomiting

After the attack phase a person may experience the postdrome. This phase is characterized by mood and feeling changes. Feelings can vary from euphoric to extremely happy or even apathetic. You may have a mild, dull headache that persists.

These phases are different in intensity and length for different people. A phase can be skipped, and a migraine may occur without causing any headache.

What causes migraine attacks?

Researchers still haven't found a cause for migraine. They still believe that the condition is caused by "abnormal brain activity," which affects nerve signals, chemicals, and blood vessels in the brain.

Many migraine triggers are reported to include:

• Bright lights
• Extreme heat or other weather extremes
• Dehydration
• Changes in barometric pressure
• hormonal changes for people born female, such as estrogen and progesterone fluctuations in menstruation or pregnancy.
• Stress is a problem for many people.
• loud sounds
• intense physical exercise
• Skip meals
• Changes in Sleep Patterns
• Use of certain medications, such as oral contraceptives and nitroglycerin
• Unusual smells
• certain foods
• tuxedo
• alcohol use
• Traveling is a great way to meet new people.

Your doctor may suggest that you keep a headache diary if you suffer from a migraine. You can identify triggers by writing down what you did, what foods you consumed, and which medications you took prior to your migraine attack.

Migraine treatment

Your doctor can give you tools to manage migraine attacks. This may help you have fewer attacks overall. The treatment can make migraines less severe.

Your treatment plan depends on:

• Your age
• How often do you get migraine attacks?
• The type of migraine that you have
• How severe your symptoms are depends on the length of time they last, the amount of pain, and whether they prevent you from attending school or working.
• Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms.
• Other health conditions and medications that you may be taking

Your treatment plan could include:

• Stress management, avoiding migraine triggers, and other lifestyle changes
• OTC medications for pain or migraines, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (or acetaminophen Tylenol),
• Prescription migraine medications you take daily to prevent headaches and reduce the frequency of headaches
• Take prescription migraine medication as soon as symptoms begin to appear to prevent it from getting worse and to reduce symptoms.
• Prescription medications for nausea and vomiting
• If you experience migraines during your period, it may be time to consider hormone therapy.
• You can also find out more about counseling.
• Alternative care may include meditation or acupressure.

Medication

You can use medications to prevent migraine attacks or to treat them once they have occurred. OTC medications may provide relief. If OTC medication doesn't work, your doctor might prescribe another medication.

You will be able to determine the best treatment for your migraines and other conditions based on their severity.

Take these medications as soon as possible if you suspect that a migraine is about to strike.

• NSAIDs: These medications are used for mild to moderate attacks without nausea or vomiting.
• Sumatriptan, eletriptan, and rizatriptan are all medications.
• Antiemetics These medications are used in conjunction with NSAIDs, such as metoclopramide and chlorpromazine.
• Ergot Alkaloids: These drugs, such as Migranal or Ergomar, are not prescribed very often and are reserved for people who do not respond to triptans and analgesics.

Preventive medication is prescribed for migraineurs who suffer from debilitating attacks or have them more than four days a week. It can be taken every day or once every three months by injection. These medications include:

• Antihypertensives These medications are prescribed to treat high blood pressure, but they can also be helpful in treating migraine attacks. Antihypertensive medications used to prevent migraines include beta-blockers, angiotensin antagonists (candesartan), and other antihypertensive medications.
• Anticonvulsants Some anti-seizure medications may be able to prevent migraine attacks.
• Antidepressants Certain antidepressants, like amitriptyline or venlafaxine, may be able to prevent migraine attacks.
• Botox: Botox is administered every three months to the muscles of the neck and head.
• Calcitonin-related peptide treatment: This treatment is administered via IV or injection and works to prevent migraine attacks from occurring.

Migraine triggers

Certain foods or ingredients can trigger migraine attacks more than others. These include:

• Alcohol- or caffeine-containing drinks
• Food additives such as nitrates or monosodium glutamate (MSG), artificial sugars like aspartame, or nitrates in meats
• Tyramine can be found naturally occurring in certain food items.

Tyramine is also increased when foods are fermented and aged. Some aged cheeses, sauerkraut, and soy sauce are examples. The role of tyramine is being studied more closely in migraines, as it may not be a trigger that was previously believed.

The triggers for migraine attacks are varied and can seem random.

• Hormone triggers in women born to male parents
• stress
• You can also find out more about
• Enjoy the excitement of the day with a friend or loved one.
• Poor sleep quality
• Exercise that is strenuous (but only if done regularly)
• Bright lights
• Changes in climate
• Hormone replacement therapy drugs

Keep a diary of your migraine attacks to help identify your triggers.

Migraine Types

There are several types of migraines. There are two types of migraine: migraine without aura. Some people suffer from both types. There are many types of migraines.

Migraine without aura

Aura is not common in migraine headaches. Individuals who have migraines without an aura have had at least five attacks that have these characteristics. Trusted Source:

• The attack lasts between 4 and 72 hours if the treatment does not work or is not given.
• At least two of the following traits are present in an attack:
  • Unilateral means that it only occurs on one side (or the front) of the head.
  • Pain that is pulsating, throbbing, or throbbing
  • The pain level is mild or severe.
  • When you move, such as when climbing stairs or walking, your pain can get worse.
• At least one of the following traits is present in every attack:
  • It makes you sensitive (photophobia) to light.
  • It makes you sensitive to sounds (phonophobia).
  • You may experience nausea without vomiting or diarrhea.
• The attack is not caused by another illness or diagnosis.

Migraine with aura

A typical aura occurs in 25% of migraineurs.

You are most likely to have two migraine attacks with these symptoms:

• An aura is a symptom that disappears, is reversible, and includes one or more of the following symptoms:
  • Visual problems (the most common aura symptoms)
  • Sensory problems in the face, body, or tongue, such as tingling or numbness
  • Speech or language disorders
  • Symptoms of weakness or difficulty moving that may last for up to 72 hours
• Brainstem symptoms include:
  • difficulty speaking or dysarthria
  • vertigo (a spinning feeling)
  • Tinnitus, or ringing of the ears
  • diplopia (double vision)
  • Ataxia is the inability to control your body's movements.
  • Eye problems only affect one eye. This includes flashes of light, blind spots, or temporary blindness.
• An aura with at least two of the following traits:
  • At least one symptom spreads gradually over 5 minutes.
  • Each symptom lasts from 5 minutes to 1 hour.
  • At least one aura symptom is confined to one side of the brain, such as vision, language, or speech problems.
  • The aura begins with the attack, or about an hour before it begins.
• The attack was not caused by another medical condition, and transient ischemic attacks have been excluded.

Auras usually occur before headache pain, but they can persist once the attack begins. Auras can also start simultaneously with headache pain.

Chronic Migraine

Chronic headache was formerly called "combination migraine" or "mixed migraine", because it could have both migraine and tension headache symptoms. This condition is also known as a severe headache migraine and can be caused by overusing medications.

Chronic migraine is characterized by severe headaches or migraine attacks occurring more than 15 times a month over a period of 3 months or longer. Over eight of these attacks are migraines with or without an aura.

Other risk factors for chronic migraine include

• Anxiety
• depression
• Another type of chronic pain is arthritis.
• Other serious health conditions, including high blood pressure and coronary disease are also an increasing threat.
• Previous head or neck injuries

Acute migraine refers to a migraine attack that is not classified as chronic. This type of migraine is also known as episodic migraine.

A migraine attack can occur up to 14 times a month in people with episodic migraines. People with episodic headaches have fewer migraine attacks per month than those with chronic migraines.

Vestibular migraine can also be called migraine-associated vertigo. Around 1 percent of the general population suffers from vestibular headaches. The symptoms can cause dizziness or affect your balance. Vestibular migraines can affect people of all ages, including children.

Your doctor may recommend that you consult a vestibular rehabilitation therapist if your condition is diagnosed. You can learn exercises that will help you maintain your balance when you are experiencing the worst symptoms. You and your doctor might discuss taking preventive medication because these migraine attacks are so severe.

According to the National Headache Foundation, up to 60% of women with migraine experience menstrual migraine. An aura may or may not surround the individual. The attacks can occur during or before menstruation and during ovulation.

Menstrual migraines tend to be more severe, last longer, and cause more nausea than migraines not related to the menstrual cycle.

Migraine aura without headache, also known as a silent migraine or visual migraine without headache, occurs when someone has an aura but does not get a migraine headache. This type of headache is more common among people who first develop migraines after the age of 40.

The most common are visual aura symptoms. This type of migraine may cause an aura that spreads over several minutes, moving from one symptom to another. The visual symptoms may be followed by numbness in the hands or face, problems with speech, and/or tingling.

A hormonal migraine is a migraine headache that occurs during menstruation. It's caused by estrogen, a female hormone. People who ovulate often report headaches when:

• Their period
• Ovulation
• pregnancy
• perimenopause

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Migraine nausea

As a migraine symptom, many people suffer from nausea. Some people also vomit. These symptoms can start at the same moment as the headache. They usually start around an hour after the headache pain starts.

The nausea and vomiting are as distressing as the migraine attack itself. You may still be able to take your migraine medication if you are only experiencing nausea. Vomiting can make it difficult to swallow pills or to keep them in the body for long enough to absorb them. You may experience a worsening of migraine symptoms if you delay taking your migraine medication.

Treating nausea and preventing vomiting

Your doctor may prescribe anti-nausea drugs or antiemetic medications to help you with nausea. The antiemetic will help prevent vomiting and reduce nausea.

Acupressure can also help with migraine nausea. A study from 2012 (Trusted Source) found that acupressure can reduce migraine-related nausea as early as 30 minutes. Improvements continued for 4 hours.

Migraine prevention

There are several options available to you if you have been diagnosed with a migraine. Some options may be more effective for you.

• Avoid foods, situations, and smells that trigger migraine attacks.
• Stay Hydrated. Dehydration may cause both headaches and dizziness.
• When possible, avoid skipping meals.
• Concentrate on good sleep. Sleep is essential for good health.
• Stop smoking.
• Reduce stress in your daily life.
• Spend time and effort developing relaxation techniques.
• Exercise regularly. Exercise is linked to lower stress levels.

What is the diagnosis of migraine?

The doctor will listen to your symptoms and take a complete medical and family history. Physical examination: Your healthcare provider may perform an examination in order to rule out other possible causes for your discomfort.

Imaging scans, such as an MRI or CT scan, can be used to rule out other possible causes.

• tumors
• Brain structures that are abnormal
• stroke

Devices to treat migraines

The FDA has approved four neuromodulation treatments for migraine. The FDA has approved four treatments.

• A single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulator is a handheld device that produces a magnetic pulse that affects electrical signals in the brain.
• A transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulator is a small and noninvasive device that stimulates the vagus in the neck using electrical stimulation.
• transcutaneous supraorbital A neurostimulator is a device that simulates supraorbital neurons with electrical stimulation.
• The Multi-Channel Brain Neuromodulation System is a headset that can target multiple brain nerves.

Consult your doctor to determine the best treatment for your migraine type and neuromodulation.

Migraine among children

Many children can suffer from migraines similar to those of adults. Children are more likely to experience symptoms on both the left and right sides of their head until they reach their teens. Rarely do children experience headaches in the back. The migraine attacks last between 2 and 72 hours.

Some migraine variants are more prevalent in children. Abdominal migraine is one of the most common types.

Migraine abdominale

Children with abdominal headaches can have stomach pain instead of a migraine. The pain may be mild or severe. Pain is usually felt in the middle part of the stomach, around the belly button. The pain may not be localized in this area. It's possible that the belly just feels "sore."

Your child may also experience headaches. Other symptoms include:

• Lack of appetite
• Vomiting or nauseated?
• Sensitivity to sound or light

Children with abdominal migraines may develop typical migraine symptoms in adulthood.

Migraine attacks during pregnancy

Many pregnant women experience a reduction in migraine attacks during pregnancy. They may worsen after delivery because of sudden hormonal changes. It is important to pay special attention to attacks during pregnancy in order for the cause of the attack to be understood.

A recent small-scale study by Trusted Source revealed that migraine sufferers during pregnancy were more likely to have:

• preterm delivery or early delivery
• preeclampsia
• A baby with low weight at birth

Some migraine medications are not considered safe to use during pregnancy. Aspirin is one of the medications that can be harmful to pregnant women. You can also take aspirin.

Headache from medication overuse

medication-overuse headache Trusted sources can occur when migraine medications are used frequently and repeatedly.

Talk to your doctor about your frequency of medication use when determining the best way to treat migraines. Discuss alternative medications with your doctor.

Migraine vs. tension headache

Both migraines and tension headaches share many symptoms. Migraine is associated with a number of symptoms that tension headaches do not share. Both migraines and tension headaches respond differently to treatment.

Both tension headaches and migraines can be caused by:

• Mild-to-moderate pain
• A steady ache
• Pain on both sides of the brain

These symptoms are only seen in migraines.

• Pain that is moderate to severe
• The pounding or the throbbing
• Inability to perform your normal activities
• Pain on one side of the brain
• Vomiting or nauseated?
• moment aura
• Sensitivity to sound or light

Migraine home remedies

There are a few home remedies that can help relieve the pain of migraines:

• Lie down in a quiet, dark room.
• Massage your head or temples.
• Put a cool cloth on your forehead or behind your neck.

Takeaway

Some migraine symptoms can be mistaken for those of a stroke. If your headache is:

• Causes of slurred or drooping speech on one side
• New leg or arm weakness
• The symptoms can be severe and sudden, with no warning or lead-in symptoms.
• It is accompanied by a high fever, stiff neck, confusion, seizures, double visions, weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking.
• Aura symptoms that last more than an hour
• The "worst headache of all time"