Understanding the Debilitating Nature of Migraine Headaches

?Although any head pain can be miserable, a migraine headache is often disabling. Migraine pain can be excruciating and may incapacitate you for hours or even days.

Signs and symptoms

It is also often accompanied by other signs and symptoms.

• Severe pain — many migraine headache sufferers feel pain on only one side of their head, while some experience pain on both sides
• Pain that hinders your regular daily activities
• Nausea with or without vomiting
• Sensitivity to light and sound.

?Most people suffer from migraines without auras, which were previously called common migraines. Some have migraines with auras, which may include:

• Sparkling flashes of light
• Dazzling zigzag lines in your field of vision
• Slowly spreading blind spots in your vision
• Tingling, pins-and-needles sensations in one arm or leg
• Rarely, weakness or language and speech problems

?Migraine headache triggers

Common migraine headache triggers include:

• Hormonal changes.?Women often have reported headaches immediately before or during their periods, during pregnancy or menopause. Hormonal medications, such as contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy, also may worsen migraines.
• Foods.?Common offenders include alcohol; aged cheeses; chocolate; monosodium glutamate — a key ingredient in some Asian foods; certain seasonings; and many canned and processed foods. Skipping meals or fasting also can trigger migraines.
• Stress.?
• Sensory stimulus.?Bright lights and sun glare can produce head pain. So can pleasant scents, such as perfume and flowers, and unpleasant odors, such as paint thinner and second-hand smoke.
• Physical factors.?Intense physical exertion, including sexual activity, too much or too little sleep.
• Changes in the environment.?A change of weather, season, altitude level, barometric pressure or time zone can prompt a migraine headache.

??Risk factors

·??????Many people with migraines have a family history of migraine. Even if only one of your parents has migraines, you’re still at increased risk of developing migraines.

·??????Women are three times as likely to have migraines as men are.

·??????Headaches tend to affect boys and girls equally during childhood but increase in girls after puberty.

Prevention

Whether or not you take preventive medications, you may benefit from lifestyle changes:

• Avoid triggers.?If certain foods seem to have triggered your headaches in the past, eat something else. If certain scents are a problem, try to avoid them. Try to establish a daily routine with regular sleep patterns and regular meals.
• Exercise regularly.?Regular aerobic exercise reduces tension and can help prevent migraines.
• Quit smoking.?If you smoke, talk to your doctor about quitting. Smoking can trigger headaches or make headaches worse.

What I tell my patients to do:

• Keep a diary.?A diary can help you determine what triggers your migraines. Note when your headaches start, how long they last and what if anything, provides relief. Be sure to record your response to any headache aggravating or relieving factors.

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