What Is Migraine and How to Treat It?


 

When your head hurts, you shouldn’t just endure it and do nothing. It is worth taking a pill, even if the pain is not so strong, and does not distract you from work or some household chores. The same can be said about migraine - a special type of headache. It was included in the list of diseases that most affect the patient's quality of life. According to the latest data, about 16% of the world's population lives with migraine. There are about 15 types of this headache.

Migraine has been known by humanity for a long time, it was first described by ancient healers in 3000 BC, but first was named by the ancient Roman physician Claudius Galen - the first name for this disease was "hemikrania", which means "half head". Later, the word “hemikrania” was transformed into the term “migraine”, which is familiar to us.

A migraine is more than just a headache. Before treating it, you should first determine its type and causes, and then try to select therapy for migraine relief.

The Symptoms of a Migraine

Main types of migraine:

  • migraine with aura;

  • migraine without aura.

Aura is reversible symptom that precede the headache and last no more than 60 minutes. The aura can be in the form of a flash, lightning before the eyes, ringing in the ears, changes in taste, etc.

Migraine is manifested by recurring attacks of headache, which can be described as follows:

  • duration from 4 to 72 hours;

  • hurts on one side

  • throbbing pain of medium or high intensity;

  • the pain is aggravated by routine  physical activity (walking, climbing stairs);

  • additional symptoms: nausea/vomiting, hypersensitivity to light or sound.

Why Does Migraine Appear?

A migraine attack can be triggered by stress, certain foods, hormonal changes, and sleep disorders. Often this disease may have a hereditary background

It is impossible to completely cure migraine, but together with a neurologist, the patient can achieve a decrease in the frequency and severity of attacks.

If you have already been diagnosed with a migraine, you definitely do not need to:

  • do an MRI of the brain for control;

  • do ultrasound of the vessels of the neck and head;

  • do an EEG;

  • drink vascular drugs;

  • take nootropic drugs;

  • drink B vitamins (if there is no deficiency);

  • endure a headache;

  • follow a strict diet; 

  • self-medicate.

It is noted that often migraine headaches affect active, goal-directed people who are prone to perfectionism, highly emotionally sensitive, and engaged in intellectual labor. There is no ultimate treatment for migraine yet, however, some prescription medications can bring you relief.

Food to Avoid During Migraine Episode

It’s not obligatory to avoid these foods but they can make your pain more severe if you consume them during your migraine episode. It may happen because these products contain tyramine, histamine, and serotonin (amines that are responsible for the sharp narrowing and expansion of the vessels).

In addition, such taste enhancers as sodium glutamate, preservative sodium nitrate, and substitute for sugar aspartame can increase the headache. Caffeine may be actually helpful in reducing the pain but not if it’s a migraine

Gluten may increase a headache as well, so be careful with gluten-containing products during your episode.

This is the list of products to avoid during a migraine attack:

  • Cheeses - ripe (cheddar, parmesan), mold (Roquefort, brie, camembert), brine (mozzarella).

  • Smoked meats, canned fish, sausages, fast food products, and spicy food.

  • Alcohol (especially red wine and beer), soda drinks, cola.

  • Tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, nuts.

  • Olives, sauerkraut.

Some fresh vegetables and fruits: raspberry, banana, tomato, eggplant, cucumber, avocado, pineapple, citrus fruit, corn, beans, and mushrooms.

And it will be good to add to your diet some food rich in magnesium (seaweed, broccoli, bell pepper, parsley, melon, oats) and unsaturated fatty acids (corn, olive oil, almond), pomegranate if you have no problems with stomach acidity.

If you follow these simple recommendations for diet, you can actually make your life easier and shorten the number of migraine attacks without medication.

Health