What is Migraine?
A migraine is a frequent neurological condition that manifests as a throbbing, pulsating headache on one side of the head. There are about 150 different types of headaches, categorized into two groups: primary and secondary headaches. A migraine is a primary headache, which means it isn't the result of another medical condition. Physical exertion, lights, noises, or odors are all likely to aggravate your migraine and it may last for several hours or even days. According to research, it is the world's sixth most debilitating disease.
Associated Anatomy:
Brain
Causes of Migraine
Migraine headaches are a symptom of migraine disorder. Medical professionals haven't yet found the exact cause behind migraine headaches, although they appear to be linked to changes in the brain and DNA. Some migraine causes include:
- Fatigue
- Hormonal changes
- Physical factors
- Alcohol
- Sensory stimuli
- Emotional Stress
- Loud noises
- Hormonal changes
- Dietary factors
- Food additives
- Medications
- Caffeine
- Changing weather conditions
Signs Or Symptoms of Migraine
The following are the listed signs and symptoms:
- Blind spots in your vision
- Numb or tingling skin
- Speech changes
- Tunnel vision
- Ringing in your ears
- Temporary vision loss
- Changes in smell or taste
Possible Migraine Treatment
Migraine therapy aims to alleviate symptoms and prevents attacks in the future. Migraine drugs come in a variety of forms. There are two types of medications used for migraine treatment:
- Pain-relieving medications (Ex: Opioid medications, Anti-nausea drugs)
- Preventive medications (Ex: Blood pressure-lowering medications, Antidepressants)
Risk factors of Migraine
Anyone can have a migraine, but individuals with the following conditions are at a slightly higher risk:
- Fibromyalgia
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Anxiety and Depression
- Hormonal changes
- Post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD
- Agoraphobia
- Panic disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Insomnia
Typical Test Required For Migraine Treatment
A physician must first detect a pattern of reoccurring headaches and their symptoms, to make an appropriate diagnosis.
To make a diagnosis, your doctor will:
- Consider your medical background.
- Inquire about your conditions.
- Examine your physical and neurological health.
- Eliminate other medical disorders that might be causing the symptoms. As a result, blood tests, an MRI or CT scan, or other testing may be required.
Additional Types of Migraines:
- Complicated Migraine
- Common Migraine
- Chronic migraine
- Abdominal migraine
- Hemiplegic Migraine
- Retinal Migraine
- Vestibular migraine
- Basilar migraine
- Ice Pick Headaches
- Cluster Headaches
- Migraine with brainstem aura
- Cervicogenic headache
Alternate Name
Aura
Epidemiology
- Headaches affect roughly 90 percent of men and 95 percent of women in a year. Whereas, migraine affects about 6% of men and 18% of women in a year. Migraine is most frequent in individuals who are in their third decade of life. It has also been found that those who come from a lower socioeconomic background are prone to a higher rate of depression and panic conditions.
- Migraine prevalence rates range from 2.6 to 21.7 percent in population prevalence studies, with an average of 12 percent. The prevalence of migraine among neurologists is believed to be much more significant, ranging between 27.6% and 48.6%.
- In the adult population of the United States, the prevalence and burden of self-reported migraine and severe headaches is substantial, impacting one out of every six Americans over three months.
Expected Prognosis
Migraine is a chronic condition characterized by episodic events and a varied prognosis.
- Complete remission
- Partial remission
Pathophysiology
A migraine occurrence is typically divided into three phases: a premonitory period, the migraine headache, and a postdrome phase. Mood swings, fatigue, and neck soreness are common symptoms of the premonitory stage, which starts 24–48 hours before the headache phase. A migraine is a vascular headache induced by a combination of vasodilation and chemical release from nerve fibers around blood vessels.
Migraine Possible Complications
Migraine complications include the following:
- Chronic migraine
- Hearing problems
- Stroke
- Anxiety
- Seizures
- Heart Disease
- Depression
- Fibromyalgia
- High blood pressure
- Migraine-triggered seizures
- Migrainous infarction
Our Medical Migraine Treatment in Mumbai, India Experts
If you are facing any similar signs or symptoms please contact the Nanavati Max team to schedule an appointment at : +91 22 6836 0000
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