Most people with a migraine headache feel the pain in the temples or behind one eye or ear, although any part of the head can be involved.
Besides pain, migraine also can cause nausea and vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. Some people also may see spots or flashing lights or have a temporary loss of vision.
Migraines can occur any time of the day, though it often starts in the morning. The pain can last a few hours or up to 72 hours. Some people get migraines once or twice a week. Others, only once or twice a year.
Migraines can occur any time of the day, though it often starts in the morning. The pain can last a few hours or up to 72 hours. Some people get migraines once or twice a week. Others, only once or twice a year.
Most of the time, migraines are not a threat to your overall health. But migraine attacks can interfere considerably with your day-to-day quality of life.
Migraines are three times more common in women than in men and affects more than 10 percent of people worldwide. Roughly one-third of affected individuals can predict the onset of a migraine because it is preceded by an "aura," visual disturbances that appear as flashing lights, zig-zag lines or a temporary loss of vision.
Migraines are three times more common in women than in men and affects more than 10 percent of people worldwide. Roughly one-third of affected individuals can predict the onset of a migraine because it is preceded by an "aura," visual disturbances that appear as flashing lights, zig-zag lines or a temporary loss of vision.
People with migraine tend to have recurring attacks triggered by a number of different factors, including:
- stress
- anxiety
- hormonal changes
- bright or flashing lights
- lack of food or sleep
- dietary substances
Migraine in some women may relate to changes in hormones and hormonal levels during their menstrual cycle. For many years, scientists believed that migraines were linked to the dilation and constriction of blood vessels in the head. Investigators now believe that migraine has a genetic cause.
Are There Any Treatments?
There is no absolute "cure" for migraines since its pathophysiology has yet to be fully understood. There are two ways to approach the treatment of migraine headache with drugs: prevent the attacks, or relieve the symptoms during the attacks.
Prevention involves the use of medications and behavioral changes. Drugs originally developed for epilepsy, depression, or high blood pressure to prevent future attacks have been shown to be extremely effective in treating migraine.
Botulinum toxin A has been shown to be effective in prevention of chronic migraine. Behaviorally, stress management strategies, such as exercise, relaxation techniques, biofeedback mechanisms, and other therapies designed to limit daily discomfort, may reduce the number and severity of migraine attacks.
- Making a log of personal triggers of migraine can also provide useful information for trigger-avoiding lifestyle changes, including:
- dietary considerations
- eating regularly scheduled meals with adequate hydration
- stopping certain medications
- establishing a consistent sleep schedule
Hormone therapy may help some women whose migraines seem to be linked to their menstrual cycle. A weight loss program is recommended for obese individuals with migraine.
Relief of symptoms, or acute treatments, during attacks consists of sumatriptan, ergotamine drugs, and analgesics such as ibuprofen and aspirin. The sooner these treatments are administered, the more effective they are.
1. HOW TO SOLVE MIGRAINES
Do's and Don'ts
Trigger Management: If you're prone to migraines, certain stimuli may bring them on. Track your headaches on a calendar to look for patterns and potential catalysts such as the following.
Dropping Estrogen Levels: "Before menstruating, women have a steep decline in estrogen that appears to spark migraines," says Andrew Michael Blumenfeld, MD, director of the Headache Center of Southern California. Low-dose estrogen contraceptives may help.
Alcohol: If you get a "hangover" after one drink, you may actually be experiencing a migraine. Avoid alcohol that gives you a headache within 8 hours of consumption. "The good news is that this cause tends to be very specific," Dr. Blumenfeld says. "People may do fine with vodka rather than beer, for instance."
Missed Meals: Fluctuations in blood sugar can cause a cascade of escalating painthat sets up your migraine response, so don't go longer than 3 hours without food. Include a lean protein whenever you eat to help keep glucose levels steady, Dr. Broner says.
Caffeine: If you regularly consume large amounts of caffeine, you set yourself up for withdrawal headaches, which can stimulate your brain's migraine center and turn into migraines. Limit intake to 200 mg a day—that's roughly one 8-ounce cup of coffee.
Sleep Disruptions: A 2010 study found that sleep-deprived rats experienced changes in key migraine-related proteins. Play it safe by being consistent about when you go to bed and get up.
2. HOW TO SOLVE MIGRAINES
Trigger Management: If you're prone to migraines, certain stimuli may bring them on. Track your headaches on a calendar to look for patterns and potential catalysts such as the following.
Dropping Estrogen Levels: "Before menstruating, women have a steep decline in estrogen that appears to spark migraines," says Andrew Michael Blumenfeld, MD, director of the Headache Center of Southern California. Low-dose estrogen contraceptives may help.
Alcohol: If you get a "hangover" after one drink, you may actually be experiencing a migraine. Avoid alcohol that gives you a headache within 8 hours of consumption. "The good news is that this cause tends to be very specific," Dr. Blumenfeld says. "People may do fine with vodka rather than beer, for instance."
Missed Meals: Fluctuations in blood sugar can cause a cascade of escalating painthat sets up your migraine response, so don't go longer than 3 hours without food. Include a lean protein whenever you eat to help keep glucose levels steady, Dr. Broner says.
Caffeine: If you regularly consume large amounts of caffeine, you set yourself up for withdrawal headaches, which can stimulate your brain's migraine center and turn into migraines. Limit intake to 200 mg a day—that's roughly one 8-ounce cup of coffee.
Sleep Disruptions: A 2010 study found that sleep-deprived rats experienced changes in key migraine-related proteins. Play it safe by being consistent about when you go to bed and get up.
2. HOW TO SOLVE MIGRAINES
"Natural Remedies"
Ice Packs: Always opt for cold rather than heat to stop migraine pain. "Ice is an anti-inflammatory," says Carolyn Bernstein, MD, clinical director of Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians Comprehensive Headache Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Supplements: In a recent study, patients who took 400 mg of riboflavin (vitamin B2) daily experienced significantly fewer migraines after 3 months. CoQ10, another supplement, also proved effective in preventing migraines in a clinical study.
Relaxation Techniques: Massage can ease neck and shoulder spasms, while tai chi increases body awareness, making it easier to detect and treat an oncoming headache. Yoga that focuses on mindfulness, such as hatha and restorative yoga, may also help. (Get started with these 10 yoga poses for emotional health.)
Herbs: New recommendations from the American Academy of Neurology confirm that the herb butterbur can prevent migraines, possibly because it supports healthy blood flow to the brain. Dry-leaf capsules of feverfew may also reduce the frequency of migraines, though the clinical evidence is still inconclusive.
Ice Packs: Always opt for cold rather than heat to stop migraine pain. "Ice is an anti-inflammatory," says Carolyn Bernstein, MD, clinical director of Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians Comprehensive Headache Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Supplements: In a recent study, patients who took 400 mg of riboflavin (vitamin B2) daily experienced significantly fewer migraines after 3 months. CoQ10, another supplement, also proved effective in preventing migraines in a clinical study.
Relaxation Techniques: Massage can ease neck and shoulder spasms, while tai chi increases body awareness, making it easier to detect and treat an oncoming headache. Yoga that focuses on mindfulness, such as hatha and restorative yoga, may also help. (Get started with these 10 yoga poses for emotional health.)
Herbs: New recommendations from the American Academy of Neurology confirm that the herb butterbur can prevent migraines, possibly because it supports healthy blood flow to the brain. Dry-leaf capsules of feverfew may also reduce the frequency of migraines, though the clinical evidence is still inconclusive.
Herbal medicine has been practiced for centuries in numerous cultures throughout the world. Today, there are a number of herbal preparations available OTC as tablets, capsules, gels, sprays, ointments, tinctures, elixirs (essential oils) and teas that are used to prevent and treat migraine attacks.
Acupuncture: Several studies have found that it provides some of the same long-term results as drugs but without side effects. While this efficacy may be partly caused by the placebo effect, the treatment can still provide real relief.
3. HOW TO SOLVE MIGRAINES
"Medical Treatments"
Triptans: Introduced in 1991, these prescription drugs (which include Axert, Relpax, and Imitrex) are formulated to stop migraines. They affect almost every migraine-causing mechanism, but they may sometimes cause rebound headaches.
Beta-blockers/Anti-hypertensives: Intended to treat high blood pressure, angina, and fast heartbeats, these drugs, which include propranolol, metoprolol, and timolol, are also used to prevent migraines because they are thought to affect relevant blood vessels. They have few side effects but can sometimes result in dangerous heart-rate drops.
Antiseizure Medications: For some migraine sufferers, prescription drugs to stop seizures (such as topiramate and valporic acid) also reduce migraine frequency by at least 50%, possibly because they inhibit some neurotransmitters. But they can cause adverse side effects, such as confusion and drowsiness.
Anti-depressants: Tricyclics and SSRIs have been shown to be effective in treating migraines. Researchers say this is because some migraine attacks are characterized by abnormal levels of serotonin, which the drugs work to balance. But they're not usually advised if you don't need treatment for depression.
Botox: Approved by the FDA in 2010, Botox injections to treat chronic migraines are a clinically proven preventive. A treatment involves about 31 shots, given about every 12 weeks. Side effects are rare.
Triptans: Introduced in 1991, these prescription drugs (which include Axert, Relpax, and Imitrex) are formulated to stop migraines. They affect almost every migraine-causing mechanism, but they may sometimes cause rebound headaches.
Beta-blockers/Anti-hypertensives: Intended to treat high blood pressure, angina, and fast heartbeats, these drugs, which include propranolol, metoprolol, and timolol, are also used to prevent migraines because they are thought to affect relevant blood vessels. They have few side effects but can sometimes result in dangerous heart-rate drops.
Antiseizure Medications: For some migraine sufferers, prescription drugs to stop seizures (such as topiramate and valporic acid) also reduce migraine frequency by at least 50%, possibly because they inhibit some neurotransmitters. But they can cause adverse side effects, such as confusion and drowsiness.
Anti-depressants: Tricyclics and SSRIs have been shown to be effective in treating migraines. Researchers say this is because some migraine attacks are characterized by abnormal levels of serotonin, which the drugs work to balance. But they're not usually advised if you don't need treatment for depression.
Botox: Approved by the FDA in 2010, Botox injections to treat chronic migraines are a clinically proven preventive. A treatment involves about 31 shots, given about every 12 weeks. Side effects are rare.