Migraine – What it is, Causes and Treatments
What is migraine? Migraine is one of thetypes of headache ( headache ), which is characterized by a throbbing pain on one side of the head (sometimes both), usually accompanied by photophobia and phonophobia, Nausea and Vomiting.
The duration of the crisis varies from four to 72 hours, and may be shorter in children. According to the Ministry of Health, 5 to 25% of women and 2 to 10% of men have migraine .
Migraine is predominant in people aged between 25 and 45 years, and after the age of 50 this percentage tends to decrease, especially in women. The disease occurs in 3 to 10% of children, affecting both genders equally before puberty, but with a predominance in females after this phase. Migraines can be divided into with or without aura, and these into episodic or chronic.
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According to data from the Ministry of Health, 64% of all these patients had migraine without aura, 18% with aura and 13% with and without aura. The remaining 5% had aura without headache. In addition, chronic migraine is characterized by headache on 15 or more days of the month, with eight days with typical migraine attacks, for more than three months, in the absence of drug abuse.
The disease is characterized by frequent attacks of headache , which can vary from person to person. While some have few crises during their lifetime, others experience the problem several times a month. Migraine is caused by persistent dysfunctions of the cortex (outer layer of the brain) and other brain structures that are manifested by repeated episodes of headache, in addition to accompanying symptoms.
Recognizing the Problem: Not everyone has the typical symptoms of the disorder, however, throbbing headaches and nausea are some of the main signs. In addition, Among the phenomena that accompany pain are: vomiting, intolerance to light (photophobia), noise (phonophobia) and odors (osmophobia). Migraine painis accentuated with physical exercises and head movement, leading the individual to avoid routine activities. Attacks still last from four hours to three days when left untreated.
Causes of Migraine: The specific reasons for the development of Migraine are still unknown, however, it is known that there are a number of elements that can contribute to the problem and they are:
- Stress;
- Prolonged fasting;
- Prolonged sleep;
- Head injuries;
- Ingestion of certain foods, such as: chocolate, orange, fatty foods and dairy products;
- Caffeine deprivation, in individuals who consume large amounts of coffee on a given day and not on the other;
- Exposure to loud noises, strong odors or high temperatures;
- Sudden changes in atmospheric pressure, as in an airplane landing;
- Climate changes;
- Drop in hormone levels that occurs before menstruation.
Differentiating the Disorder: Basically there are two types of migraine : one with an aura and one without aura. The aura is nothing more than the name given to the set of neurological symptoms that, in migraine attacks , appear just before the headache. These signs can appear as flashes of light, gaps in the visual field or bright zigzag images. About 20% of people who suffer from migraine have an aura. Those who do not have these symptoms suffer from migraine without aura.
Migraine Treatment: Before starting treatment for migraine , it is necessary to know if the diagnosis is correct and what the triggering factor is. Overall, it’s best to avoid these triggers and take your doctor’s medication when a flare-up appears. Migraine prevention medicationsinclude neuromodulators, beta blockers, antidepressants, anti-vertigo drugs. The indication, however, will depend on each case.
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Expert Help: Before migraines become frequent, it’s time to seek medical help, as the disorder can be associated with other problems. It is necessary to follow up with a specialized professional if other causes of migraines (so-called secondary) are suspected, if there are primary headaches with a significant degree of repercussion on daily activities or the need to use symptomatic medications more frequently than twice. Times a week.