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  • Migraine
    Migraine
    Migraine is a chronic type of headache that occurs in episodes and affects the day to day activities of an individual. It usually affects one side of the head. Between migraine episodes, the patient is absolutely free of pain. Migraine is the most common neurological condition in the developed world. 
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 28 September 2015

Causes of Migraine

Causes are multifactoral with various genetic and environmental factors playing important roles. The patient may have a history of migraine in the family. Mutations of the gene in chromosome 1 and 19 are responsible for positive family history.

Disturbances in the release of certain brain chemicals called serotonin and dopamine may also cause migraine.

Migraine has two parts: 1) the aura and 2) the headache. (Symptoms of aura are mentioned below.) Cerebral blood vessels initially contract (causing decreased blood flow) and then dilate, starting in the occipital lobe region at the back of brain. The visual cortex at the occipital region is affected and is responsible for visual changes called aura, followed by headache. 

What triggers a migraine: 

  • Dietary factors like Monosodium glutamate, red wine, chocolate
  • Lifestyle factors, like alcohol
  • Psychological factors, like stress, anxiety, depression
  • Tiredness
  • Jet lag
  • Bright flashing light
  • Abnormal sleep pattern
  • Pungent odour
  • Hormonal changes - 1st trimester of pregnancy, menstruation
  • Weather change
  • High altitude
Condition

Stories

  • Management of Migraine
    Patient education and trigger avoidance: The patient needs to understand the nature of the headache and what triggers it. The triggers need to be avoided. To help, the patient can keep a pain diary to record the features, duration and intensity of pain, along with trigger factors and associated symptoms. The treatment options are listed here Know your support team: Who can help General practitioners Neurologists Internal medicine specialists Specialists in treating headaches
  • Migraine Treatment
    Non pharmacological methods: Regular exercise, enough sleep and eating healthily at regular meal times help. Other non-pharmacological treatments include relaxation therapy and behavioural therapy, for instance biofeedback (where you learn to control your body’s functions), acupuncture, meditation, yoga and herbal treatments. Pharmacological methods: These include the following: Pain killers like aspirin, acetaminophen, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Ergotamine derivatives -…
  • Migraine Causes and Triggers
    Causes of Migraine Causes are multifactoral with various genetic and environmental factors playing important roles. The patient may have a history of migraine in the family. Mutations of the gene in chromosome 1 and 19 are responsible for positive family history. Disturbances in the release of certain brain chemicals called serotonin and dopamine may also cause migraine. Migraine has two parts: 1) the aura and 2) the headache. (Symptoms of aura are mentioned below.) Cerebral blood vessels…
  • Migraine Diagnosis and Tests
    Migraine cannot be diagnosed clearly by neuroimaging yet. Neuroimaging, like MRI, is done to exclude other conditions associated with headache, like a blood clot in the brain. Migraine diagnosis is based on history. The clinical criteria to confirm migraine are: Migraine without aura At least 5 headache attacks (in 15 days or more per month for more than 3 months) fulfilling 2 to 4 of the criteria given below. Headache lasting 4 to 72 hours The headache has at least 2 of the following…
  • Types of Migraine and Complications
    There are 2 main types of migraine:  Migraine with aura/ sense of warning – classic migraine Migraine without aura - common migraine Complications of migraine include: Status migrainosus - headaches occur for a period of 15 or more days per month for 3 or more months Persistent aura without infarction - aura for duration of more than 1 hour and less than 1 week with absence of cerebral infarction. Infarction means obstruction of blood supply, hence, blood supply is not obstructed in this…
  • Migraine Symptoms and Signs
    Symptoms Migraine pain can vary from mild to severe. If mild, patient has a tight feeling in the head and neck. In a severe migraine attack, the patient experiences throbbing pulsatile (pulsating) pain, which spreads to the shoulder and neck, too. Pain in adults may last for 4 to 72 hours, whereas in children it lasts for 2 to 4 hours. There are 4 phases in a migraine attack. They are:   Premonitory phase: This phase is also called prodromal symptom, which includes physical and mental…
  • Migraine Prevention
    Can migraines be prevented If you know what triggers your migraine, you can avoid it. Alternately, your doctor may prescribe preventive medications like beta blockers (propranalol, timadol, metoprolol, nadolol, atenolol), calcium channel blockers (nefidipine, diltiazem, verapamil). These drugs reduce the attack frequency in migraine patients. Other preventive medication are serotonin antagonists like methysergide, tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, nortriptyline, doxepin).
  • Stock image of a woman in black and white with a red aura on her temples depicting migraine , Image of single sided headed migraine , Phases of migraine
    Migraine
    What is migraine Migraine is a chronic type of headache that occurs in episodes and affects the day to day activities of an individual. It usually affects one side of the head. Between migraine episodes, the patient is absolutely free of pain. Migraine is the most common neurological condition in the developed world. A migraine attack can come with an aura, which means a sense of warning, or without an aura.  Migraines are three times more common in women than men.     …