Migraine Symptoms, Causes, Tests & Treatment

Migraine refers to a neurological condition that leads to several symptoms.

Debilitating and intense headaches frequently characterize the health condition. The other signs of the medical condition may include vomiting, nausea, numbness, tingling, difficulty speaking, and sensitivity to light and sound.
Migraines often affect people of all ages, and the diagnosis is determined based on the clinical history, symptoms, and ruling out some other causes. The health diseases can begin in childhood or may begin during early adulthood. However, the research states that women are more likely to get health conditions. The family histories of migraines are the common risk factors for getting diagnosed with the disease. Let us get familiar with the health condition’s symptoms.

Migraine symptoms

The migraine symptoms may start one or two days before experiencing the headache itself. This stage when symptoms are experienced first is known as the prodrome stage, and the symptoms of this stage may include:

• Depression
• Depression
• Frequent yawning
• Irritability
• Low energy or fatigue
• Hyperactivity
• Neck stiffness

However, in the case of the migraine with aura that occurs after the prodrome stage. During the migraine aura, an individual may experience vision issues, sensation, speech, and movement problems. A few examples of these health problems may include:

• Feeling a tingling sensation in arms, face, or legs
• Difficulty in speaking clearly
• Temporarily losing the vision
• Seeing light flashes, bright spots, or shapes.

After the migraine aura phase comes, the next phase is adhering to separate symptoms. The next phase is referred to as the attack phase. This phase is considered as a severe phase where the actual migraine pain is experienced. The attack phase symptoms can last from hours to days. A few signs of migraine may vary from person to person. A few symptoms may include:

• Nausea
• Increased sensitivity to sound and light
• Vomiting
• Throbbing head pain
• Pain on one side of the head
• Dizziness

After the attack phase, the person may experience a postdrome phase where they experience changes in feelings and mood.

Migraine is the seventh leading cause of disability globally.

What causes the migraines?

Though the exact causes of migraines are not defined yet, some contributing factors can be the reason to trigger the condition. This also includes the changes in brain luke decrease in brain chemical serotonin levels. However, other trigger factors may include:

• Severe heat
• Bright lights
• Changes in barometric pressure
• Dehydration
• Excess stress
• Intense physical activity
• Loud sound
• Hormonal changes in women like
• progesterone and estrogen fluctuations
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Skipping meals
• Use of certain medications
• Certain foods
• Unusual smells
• Alcohol use
• Smoking
• Traveling

Migraine Pain!

The individual suffering from migraines may describe the pain in different terms. A few ay describe it as:

• Throbbing
• Pounding
• Pulsating
• Debilitating
• Perforating

Most migraines last around 4 hours, and however if not treated on time, then they can last for as long as 72 hours to a week.

Migraine Tests

The medical doctors diagnose the migraine condition by checking on the symptoms experienced, taking a thorough family and medical history, and conducting a physical examination to rule out the other potential causes. Also, the MRI or CT scan can rule out other reasons, including abnormal brain structures, tumors, and stroke.

Migraine Treatment

There is no cure to the migraine health condition, but the doctors can help manage the symptoms to feel relieved. However, a treatment plan depends on several factors. This includes:

• Patient’s Age
• How often they experience migraines
• How severe the migraine attacks are, based on how much pain a patient experiences.
• Whether the migraines have other symptoms, including nausea, vomiting or any Other health conditions

However, based on all the diagnosis factors, the treatment of migraines include a combination of the following:

• Self-care migraine remedies
• Migraine medications such as acetaminophen or NSAIDs
• Lifestyle adjustments including avoiding migraine triggers and stress management
• Prescription medications that you take when the headache starts
• Prescribed medications to help with vomiting or nausea
• Alternative care including meditation, acupuncture, acupressure, or biofeedback

Migraine Remedies

You can perform a few things that may also help in easing the migraine pains. The migraine remedies may include:

• Lie down in a dark and quiet room
• Massage your scalp
• Place a cold cloth over your forehead

Performing these may help you alleviate the migraine attack pains.

Final Words!

Migraines are challenging to handle. It is a severe medical condition that requires a medical doctor’s advice and potent medications to ease the symptoms. Taking medicines for each of the symptoms can put the patient on strong and potent doses that may trigger several other risk factors. This is the reason why people find an escape from natural remedies.

However, while searching for natural migraine remedies, it has been analyzed that a majority of patients are using another natural remedy that is being a preferred remedial treatment. Want to know more about it? Don’t miss out on our next blog.

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