Signs and Symptoms of Migraines
A migraine is a neurological condition that is characterized by multiple symptoms. No underlying cause for a migraine has been found yet but there are several theories on why migraine attacks occur. There are a few factors too that may trigger these attacks.
Migraine attacks affect over 25 million individuals in our country. Migraine attacks mostly start as a sudden throbbing pain on one side of the head, which may eventually spread to other parts of the head.
Let us discuss some of the common signs and symptoms of migraine.
Doctors assess whether or not an individual has migraine based on the patient’s’ history and the frequency of occurrence of these symptoms. The following are some of the early signs and symptoms of migraine that may be an indication of an impending migraine-
- Cravings for specific foods
- Mood changes like depression, irritability, or excitement
- Hyperactivity
- Lethargy
- Fatigue
- Stiffness in the neck
- Frequent yawning
Some individuals with migraine may experience aura. This aura is characterized by uneasiness and problems with seeing and hearing. Most of the aura signs are visual problems, which include seeing strange shapes or flickering lines or light. This aura may occur before the migraine headaches set in or during the migraine attacks. It can last for a duration as less as five minutes to as long as 60 minutes or more. These visual symptoms are not always negative and sometimes may be positive as well.
Migraine attacks can be triggered by a number of factors. Some of them are-
- Mood changes due to emotional triggers like depression, excitement, and shock can lead to migraine attacks.
- Certain medications like sleeping pills, certain contraceptive pills, and other medications that are a part of hormone replacement therapy may also trigger migraine headaches.
- Physical triggers like lack of sleep, bad posture, and over exertion of the body from physical activities lead to migraines.
- Dietary triggers are also quite prevalent. However, the food groups that trigger migraines will be different for everyone.
When it comes to diagnosis, doctors look at the patient history to determine whether the headaches experienced are migraines. The signs and symptoms of migraines need to be present at least five times or more for the headaches to be classified as migraine.
There hasn’t been a cure so far that helps treat migraine; however, there are a number of medications that can be taken to alleviate the signs and symptoms of migraines and to avoid a major migraine attack.
If you experience migraines, there are a few lifestyle changes that you can adopt to help prevent them from occurring more often. These include adopting a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Make a note of what you feel in a diary about all the migraine episodes. This can help you understand what triggers it and what makes you feel better during the migraine headaches. It’s important to detect the early signs and seek advice from a doctor.
