Migraine
Migraine Pain – An Overview
Migraine is a condition that triggers crippling headaches and other symptoms. It is considered to be a neurological disorder that can affect people of any age. Migraine is considered to be hereditary and can pass from one generation to the other. It also observed that women are more prone to migraines than men.
The impact and effect of migraine are distinct for each individual suffering from it. The migraine attack, and the pain caused by it, can last for hours or even days causing disruption of a person’s daily life.
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Causes of Migraine Pain
The real cause of migraine pain is not known and researchers believe it to be a neurological disease linked to hereditary issues running in one’s family. Certain imbalances in the chemical secretions of the brain are also believed to be the cause of migraine. Migraine affects people of all ages be it young or old; women are at a higher risk of migraines than men.
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Symptoms of Migraine Attack
There is a pattern of symptoms to a migraine attack and it follows a certain cycle. The migraine symptoms can be divided into four phases called prodrome, aura, attack, and post-drome.
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Prodrome: This happens a couple of days before the actual attack and includes symptoms like constipation, food cravings, stiffness, frequent yawning and fatigue, hyperactivity, and depression.
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Aura: Certain visual symptoms appear due to the nervous system malfunctioning. A patient starts hallucinating and sees black dots, flashes of lights, and shadows that are not there. Symptoms like strange sounds in the ears, loss of vision, mangled speech, and weakness or numbness are also observed.
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Attack: The duration of the migraine attack can last from hours to days. There is severe throbbing pain accompanied by vomiting and nausea. The patient becomes extremely sensitive to stimuli such as sounds, light, and touch.
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Post-drome: This is the last stage after the attack is over. In this phase, people report disorientation and confusion, extreme exhaustion, and muscle pain. On the contrary, some people might report a refreshing feeling within them.
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People suffering from migraines can experience migraine pain due to hormone changes, stress and anxiety, alcohol or caffeine intake, hunger, medication drugs, and even sensory overload due to noises or lights.
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Diagnosis and Treatment of Migraine
At Dunes Pain Clinic, our specialists dive deep into the patient’s symptoms and medical history for precise diagnosis. Your physician might ask about your symptoms, medical, and family history. Apart from this, imaging scans like MRI, blood tests, and electroencephalogram might also be done. Based on the conclusion from these tests, the treatment is started. Migraine treatment might include:
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Painkiller medicines like ibuprofen and aspirin. However, too much dependency on them is not advised.
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Nausea controls drugs.
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Administration of triptans like almotriptan or zolmitriptan through shots, nasal intake, or swallowing. This is to control the brain chemical imbalances.
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Non-invasive treatments like vagus nerve stimulation and single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (STMS).
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Alternative treatments like acupuncture, meditation, deep breathing, and yoga might greatly aid healing as they help the body to calm down.
These are only some of the treatment methods and techniques that might be used to relieve you from your migraine pain. Book an appointment with our specialists for your migraine!
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treatment care provided to improve a situation (especially medical procedures or applications that are intended to relieve illness or injury) More (Definitions, Synonyms, Translation)