Introduction
Migraine is a common problem related to the brain, which makes you experience repeated episodes of severe headaches. With headaches, you also experience nausea and vomiting, as well as sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine can affect people of any age, including children, teenagers, and adults, disrupting their daily lives.
Fortunately, you can manage migraines and lead a life free from significant issues. With a proper understanding, effective treatment, and a healthy lifestyle, many people can reduce the frequency of migraines and find relief from the pain. In this blog, we will learn everything about migraine that is important for you to manage it.
What Is A Migraine?
A migraine is not simply a catastrophic headache; it is a neurological condition that leads to repeated episodes of mild to severe head pain. The pain is usually sharp or vibrating and often hits one side of the head, but it can hit both sides too.
When experiencing a migraine, people often feel very uncomfortable and find it very challenging to do everyday activities such as studying, working, or even just talking normally. Migraine is among the top causes of disability worldwide, especially for young and middle-aged adults, making everyday tasks and work difficult during attacks.
How Common Is Migraine?
Migraine is a very common disease worldwide and affects people in almost every country. According to global research data, well over 1 billion people experience migraines each year. In the world, migraine affects approximately 1 in 7 people.
Women are more likely than men to get migraines. Women experience migraines approximately three times more frequently than men. It usually starts in childhood or during the teenage years and is most common between the ages of 20 and 50. However, it is not limited to that; it can also affect children and older adults.
Types of Migraine
Doctors have divided migraines into different types based on symptoms.
Main types include:
- Migraine without aura
- Migraine with aura
- Chronic migraine
Migraine Without Aura
This is the most common type of migraine, responsible for around three-quarters of migraine cases worldwide. People experience repeated episodes of headaches, which last about 4 to 72 hours if not taken care of properly.
Some of the common features include:
- Pain on one side of the head (sometimes on both sides)
- Throbbing or pulsating pain
- Pain that gets worse with normal activities like walking or climbing stairs
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light and sound
Migraine With Aura
“Aura” refers to temporary changes in how a person sees, feels, or speaks that happen before or during a (migraine). These symptoms usually last 5 to 60 minutes and then disappear on their own.
Some common symptoms of migraines with auras are:
- Seeing zigzag lines, flashing lights, or blind spots
- Tingling or numbness in the face or arm
- Difficulty speaking or finding words
A headache often follows the aura, but occasionally the headache starts at the same time.
Chronic Migraine
Chronic migraine is a type of migraine in which a person has headaches on 15 or more days of a month for over three months, and at least 8 of those days have typical migraine symptoms.
Living with chronic migraine can affect your life very much, including school, work, and other family responsibilities. Because its symptoms are more frequent and often severe, you usually need special medical care for chronic migraine conditions for proper management and long-term relief.
Silent Migraine (aura without headache)
Some people get aura symptoms without any head pain; this is sometimes called “silent migraine.” They may see flashing lights or feel numbness or dizziness for a short time and then feel worn out afterward.
What Happens in the Brain During a Migraine?
There is no exact known cause of migraine yet, but experts say it is a complex brain disorder. Migraine affects your nerves, blood vessels, and brain chemicals that control pain. People experiencing migraines have a more sensitive brain. This condition is known as neuronal hyperexcitability, in which certain brain cells are more sensitive than normal.
This state makes it easy for a migraine attack because of increased sensitivity, which makes your brain react more quickly to the triggers of migraine.
Research shows that during a migraine attack:
- Some areas of the brain become hyperactive and send pain signals.
- A major nerve in the head and face, called the trigeminal nerve, becomes active and releases chemicals that cause swelling and widening of blood vessels, which leads to severe pain.
- Changes in brain chemicals such as serotonin and CGRP play an important role in migraine pain.
Migraines are often hereditary, so if your family has a history of them, you may get them too.
Common Migraine Symptoms
Migraine happens in different stages, but each person’s experience is different from others. Below are some of the common symptoms of migraine.
Typical symptoms can include:
- Mild to severe headache, often throbbing and pulsating
- Pain on one side of the head (sometimes on both sides)
- Nausea and sometimes vomiting
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Worsening pain with routine physical activity
- Feeling tired, confused, or “washed out” afterward
Some people also have:
- Visual changes (aura)
- Tingling or numbness
- Trouble speaking clearly
- Dizziness
Stages of a Migraine Attack
According to studies, there are often five possible stages of a migraine attack. Below are all those stages.
Prodrome (early warning)
The prodrome phase is the first sign that a migraine is coming. It can start hours or even days before the headache does. During this time, the body sends out subtle signals that a migraine may be on the way.
Possible symptoms are mood changes, food cravings, yawning, neck stiffness, or feeling exhausted or irritable.
Aura (in some people)
Not everyone who has migraines has an aura. Aura symptoms normally show up between 10 minutes and an hour before the headache starts and go away in less than an hour.
Some of the examples are seeing bright spots or zigzag lines, tingling in the arm or face, or difficulty speaking.
Headache phase
This phase of a migraine usually starts slowly and gets worse with time. Pain usually happens on one side of the head and might also cause nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound, or smell, blurry vision, mood swings, and tiredness. This state can last for hours or even days.
Some people get migraines without having a headache. Instead of pain in their head, they may have alterations in their vision, nausea, or tiredness.
Postdrome (recovery)
After a migraine attack, during the postdrome phase, people often feel worn out, confused, or dizzy. Concentrating can be difficult, and mood swings are common. This phase can last up to two days before they feel back to normal.
Who is Most Vulnerable to Migraines?
Anyone can experience a migraine, but some factors make a person more likely to experience one. Some of those factors include:
- A family history of migraine
- Being female, especially after puberty
- Hormonal changes (periods, pregnancy, menopause)
- Stress and sleep problems
- Certain medical conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or high blood pressure
Migraine is often seen developing in childhood or the teenage years and can change with time.
Triggers of Migraines
Some triggers can start a migraine attack for someone sensitive. But everyone doesn’t have the same triggers, and the same trigger that caused a migraine yesterday might not cause it another day.
Some common triggers:
- Stress or sudden relaxation after stress
- Changes in sleep (too little or too much sleeping)
- Skipping meals or fasting
- Dehydration (not drinking enough water)
- Bright lights, loud noises, strong smells
- Hormonal changes in women (during periods, pregnancy, and menopause)
- Certain foods and drinks, such as very salty or processed foods, alcohol, and sometimes caffeine
- Weather changes, such as a change in temperature or air pressure
Noting down your migraines can help you identify what your triggers are.
How is Migraine Diagnosed?
There is no single test or scan that can identify and prove that you have migraine. Doctors often diagnose patients with migraines by asking questions about symptoms, how frequent they happen, and what they feel, and by carefully examining the person.
Common steps in diagnosis:
- Detailed questions about headache patterns, triggers, family history, and other health issues.
- Physical and neurological examination
- Brain scans, such as MRI or CT, are only performed if there are warning signs or unusual features that suggest another cause of headache
According to international guidelines, a migraine attack usually lasts 4 to 72 hours. It often has specific types of pain and is commonly accompanied by nausea or sensitivity to light and sound.
When to See a Doctor Immediately
You should see a doctor immediately if you experience:
- A very sudden, extremely severe headache appears (“worst headache ever”)
- Weakness, confusion, trouble in speaking, or seizures
- A headache starts after a head injury
- High fever, stiff neck, rash, or difficulty staying awake
- A new kind of headache comes when you are over 50.
These signs could mean another serious condition, not just migraine, and they need immediate medical care and attention.
Treatment of Migraine
There is no single or perfect cure for migraine known yet, but with proper treatment and management, you can reduce how frequently migraines occur and how severe they are. Usually, treatment requires both medicines and lifestyle changes to manage migraine.
Treatment plan has two main goals:
- Stop or reduce pain during an migraine attack (acute treatment)
- Prevent future attacks or make them less severe (preventive treatment)
Medicines for migraine attacks (acute treatment)
This method includes taking acute medicines when a migraine attack happens or when early symptoms start to appear. Taking them in early stages often proves to be working.
Common options include:
- Simple pain relievers such as paracetamol (acetaminophen) or nonsteroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen
- Triptans, a group of migraine‑specific medicines available in tablets, nasal sprays, or injections
- Anti-nausea medicine if vomiting or nausea is strong.
It is advised not to use pain medications on too many days each month, as this can lead to “medication overuse headache.” Always follow the dose and frequency recommended by an expert or the product label.
Preventive medicines (to reduce attacks)
Preventive treatment is used when migraines happen more frequently or are very disabling. These medicines are taken every day or regularly, not just during attacks.
Types of preventive medicines include:
- Certain blood pressure medicines, like beta‑blockers
- Some anti‑seizure medication
- Some antidepressants
- Newer medicines that target CGRP, a brain chemical linked to migraine
Always speak with your doctor first because he chooses a specific medicine based on your age, other health conditions, and possible side effects.
Practical Tips for People with Migraines
Migraine is a long-term and complex brain-related condition, but many people learn to live with it with the help of proper medical care and self-care. Having migraines doesn’t mean you can’t live your life according to you; it’s just that you have to be extra careful about certain things.
Some simple practical tips:
- Keep a migraine diary noting date, time, symptoms, foods, stress, and sleep; this helps you and your doctor see patterns.
- Take medicine as advised, and carry it when away from home.
- Rest in a quiet, dark room during an attack if possible.
- Use cool packs on the forehead or neck if they feel soothing.
- Talk openly with family, friends, or teachers about what a migraine feels like so they understand your needs.
Support groups and patient organizations can also provide information and community.
Final Thoughts
Migraine is a common brain condition that can’t be treated and makes it difficult to live, not just a “severe headache.” Understanding migraines, figuring out what worsens them, sticking to your treatment plan, and living a healthy life helps you have fewer migraines and feel much better overall.
You don’t have to let migraine control your life. You can still live a life according to you without restricting yourself by proeprly managing your migranes.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the early warning signs of a migraine?
Feeling drained, constantly yawning, experiencing cravings for specific foods, or experiencing consistent mood swings are some of the early warning signs of a migraine. These are some of the early warning signs you experience of a migraine.
2. What is migraine aura?
An aura can be understood as temporary symptoms that happen before or during a migraine attack. Seeing flashing lights, feeling tingling in the hands or face, or having difficulties in speaking are some of the symptoms under aura. It’s not necessary that everyone experiences an aura in migraine.
3. Can stress cause migraines?
Yes, stress is also one of the most common triggers of migraine. Both emotional stress and sudden relaxation after stress can cause migraine attacks in some people.
4. What are migraine triggers?
Migraine triggers are things that can start a migraine attack in sensitive people. Triggers can be different for each person. Some common triggers include stress, lack of sleep, bright lights, loud noises, strong smells, skipping meals, certain foods, hormonal changes, and weather changes.
5. How long do migraines typically last?
Usually, a migraine attack lasts about 4 hours to 72 hours. Some migraines may be shorter compared to others, and everyone’s exact timing is different.
