What is Migraine – What are the causes of migraine in male and female: A migraine headache is caused by heavy throbbing pain or a pulsating sensation, typically on one side of the brain. Extreme sensitivity to light and sound as well as nausea and vomiting are common side effects.
Attacks from migraines can continue for hours or even days, and the pain they cause may be so intense that it makes it difficult to carry out your everyday activities.
Around one in five women and one in fifteen men suffer from migraines, which is a prevalent medical ailment. In early adulthood is when they typically start.
What are Different types of Migraines and Symptoms?
Nearly 38 million Americans suffer from migraines. On one side of the head, they typically feel like a throbbing or pulsing sensation. However, not every migraine attack is the same. Someone else’s may be very different from yours.
There are mainly Two Types of Migraines:
- Migraine with Aura
- Migraine without Aura
Migraine with aura
A migraine with aura is a strong headache followed by other symptoms including light sensitivity, zigzag lines in your vision, ringing in the ears, or dizziness.
Auras follow about 25% of all migraines. However, not every migraine will likely involve one. Some kids and elderly people may have an aura but no pain.
These headaches aren’t life-threatening, despite the fact that they might hurt a lot and leave you feeling strange. Along with medications and devices, there are actions you may take to cure the symptoms and stop migraines with aura.
Migraine without with aura
Migraines without auras are far more common than any other type of migraine. You can get them as frequently as several times per week or as rarely as once a year.
What Are the Symptoms of Migraines?
Migraine symptoms come in stages, and you may not experience all of them.
Symptoms of Migraine with Aura:
These symptoms may occur just before or during a headache. They usually begin slowly and gradually increase in size. They usually last between 20 minutes and an hour. You may have noticed:
- Flashing lights, zigzag or wavy lines are examples of visual symptoms. They frequently begin an hour or less before the headache begins.
- One side of your body feels weak or numb.
- Vision loss
- Pins and needles like feeling in an arm or leg
- Difficulties in talking
- Uncontrollable movements
- Hearing sounds that do not exist
Symptoms of Migraine Attack:
- It is generally commonly severe throbbing or pulsating pain.
- It affects one of your eyes or one side of your head.
- It might persist between 4 and 72 hours.
- You’re extremely light-sensitive, to the point where you may need to retreat to a dark bedroom.
- You are also highly sensitive to fragrances, noises, and touch.
- You may feel ill to your stomach or vomit.
- You might feel tired or weak.
- Your vision may get blurry.
Causes of Migraine in male and female
Causes of Migraines: The actual cause of migraine headaches is unknown, although it likely that genetics and changes in the brain are the two main contributing factors. Even migraine causes like exhaustion, harsh lights, or climatic changes can be passed from your parents.
For a long time, scientists believed that alterations in the blood flow to the brain were the cause of migraines. Most people now believe that while it may contribute to the headache, it does not cause pain.
According to current theories, your trigeminal nerve, which supplies sensation to your head and face, is likely what triggers an attack of migraine headaches. This signals the release of hormones like serotonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide by your body (CGRP).
The brain’s lining blood vessels enlarge when CGRP is present. Neurotransmitters then contribute to pain and inflammation.
Migraine Triggers
There are various factors that might cause migraines, some are as follows:
Female hormonal changes
Many women seem to experience headaches when their estrogen levels fluctuate, such as before or during menstrual periods, during pregnancy, or throughout menopause.
Oral contraceptives are one example of a hormonal medicine that can make migraines worse. However, some women find that using these medications reduces the frequency of their migraine attacks.
Sensorial signals
Both loud sounds and bright, flashing lights can cause migraines. Some people’s migraines are brought on by strong odours, including perfume, paint thinner, secondhand smoke, and others.
Sleep adjustments
Some people may have migraines if they don’t get enough sleep or sleep too much.
Physical aspects
Migraines may be triggered by vigorous exercise, including sexual activity.
Weather variations
A migraine may be brought on by a change in the weather or barometric pressure.
Medications
Vasodilators like nitroglycerin and oral contraceptives can make migraines worse.
Foods
Migraines may be brought on by aged cheeses, salty meals, and processed foods. As well as missing meals.
Food supplements
These include the food preservative monosodium glutamate (MSG) and the artificial sweetener aspartame.
Drinks
A lot of alcohol, especially wine, and coffee, which is high in caffeine, are examples of these.
Stress
Migraines may be triggered by stress at work or home.
Although each person’s triggers are unique, keeping a diary may be useful to see if you can spot a recurring trigger.
It can sometimes be hard to distinguish between what you’re feeling and a migraine attack’s early warning signs and true triggers.
Treatment for Migraines
Although there is no real cure for migraines, there are a number of treatments that can help minimize the symptoms.
Treatments are as follows:
- Painkillers
Over-the-counter pain relievers including paracetamol, aspirin, and ibuprofen can often assist migraine sufferers lessen their symptoms.
They usually work best when taken as soon as a migraine attack starts since this allows them time to enter your system and reduce your symptoms.
It’s not good to wait until a headache becomes more severe before taking pain medication because by then it may already be too late.
A good substitute are soluble painkiller tablets, which dissolve in a glass of water and are swiftly absorbed by the body.
Suppositories might be a better choice if you experience nausea or vomiting and are unable to consume painkillers. These are inserts that go into the bottom of capsules.
Cautions
Always read and follow by the dose guidelines on the container before taking over-the-counter pain relievers.
Without the supervision of a medical practitioner, children under the age of 16 shouldn’t use aspirin.
- During an attack
The majority of people discover that the best thing to do when having a migraine attack is to sleep or lie down in a darker place.
Others discover that eating something beneficial, or they begin to feel better after becoming ill.
- Triptans
You should schedule an appointment with a GP (General Practitioner) if over-the-counter medicines are not providing relief for your migraine symptoms.
In addition to a triptan type of medication and perhaps anti-sickness medication, they might advise using painkillers.
A special type of painkiller for migraines is called a triptan. They are believed to function by undoing the alterations in the brain that could be the source of migraine headaches.
They result in narrowing of the blood arteries surrounding the brain (contract). This stops the expansion of blood vessels, which is thought to be a migraine symptom.
There are tablets, injectable, and nasal spray forms of triptans.
Usual triptan side effects include:
- Warm feelings
- Tingling
- Flushing
- Tightness
- Feelings of weightiness in the chest, arms, or face
Additionally, some people report feeling nauseated, having a dry mouth, and being sleepy.
Most of the time, these side effects are minor and go away on their own.
Like other medicines, consuming too many triptans can result in a headache from pharmaceutical misuse.
- Anti-sickness medicines
Even if you do not feel ill or queasy, anti-emetics, or anti-sickness medications, can successfully treat migraine in certain patients.
These can be used along with triptans and painkillers and are prescribed by a doctor.
Anti-sickness medications function best when taken as soon as your migraine symptoms appear, similar to how painkillers work.
They are typically sold as tablets, although they are also available as suppositories.
Drowsiness and diarrhea are two side effects of antiemetics.
Migraine Treatment for pregnant and breastfeeding women
In general, when you are pregnant or nursing, you should limit your use of medication to manage migraines as little as possible.
Instead, it’s frequently advised to try to recognise and stay away from suspected migraine triggers. Your doctor could advise you to take a low-dose painkiller like paracetamol if medication is absolutely necessary. Triptans or anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed in specific circumstances.
Before using medication while you are pregnant or breastfeeding, see your doctor or midwife.
Prevention of Migraines
Prevention of Migraine: Avoiding a certain trigger, such as stress or a particular meal, may help lower your risk of developing migraines if you believe it to be the cause of your headaches.
Maintaining a generally healthy lifestyle, such as regular exercise, sleep, and meals, as well as making sure you stay hydrated and limiting your intake of alcohol and caffeine, may also be helpful.
If you experience frequent, severe migraines or if you’ve tried to avoid potential triggers but are still having symptoms, your doctor may recommend medication to help you avoid further attacks.
Topiramate, an anti-seizure drug, and propranolol, a drug often used to treat high blood pressure, are two medications used to prevent migraines.
The first several weeks may be necessary for your migraine symptoms to start getting better.
Special Note: This piece of writing is only for informational purpose. Please consult your doctor before taking any medicine or painkillers for the prevention of Migraine.
You may also be interested in: