Migraine 101: Understanding Symptoms and Effective Treatment Options

May 15, 2023 Migraine

 

Migraines are a neurological condition that cause great discomfort for sufferers. The World Health Organisation classifies them as a headache disorder.  

According to the Migraine Trust, migraines affect 1 in 7 people. Women are more likely to have them than men, often due to hormonal changes. Statistics aside, we know that migraines can have a significant effect on daily life. Managing symptoms and taking preventative action is key to living with migraines. 

 

Is a Migraine a Bad Headache?

There are many differences between a migraine and a headache. Migraines can be incredibly painful and come with a whole host of other symptoms. They have a significant effect on daily life and can contribute to absenteeism from work.

Migraines vary in length, severity and symptoms from person to person. Over-the-counter pain relief medications and migraine prescription medications are often needed.

It’s safe to say that a migraine is more than “just” a bad headache.

 

How Many Types Of Migraine Are There?

The National Headache Foundation has identified seven main types of migraine:

 

Without An Aura

 

A migraine without aura or Common Migraine, as the name suggests, is the most common.

Symptoms of a common migraine include a painful pulsating headache. This occurs without warning, often on one side of the head.

Other symptoms include

• Nausea

• Confusion

• Blurred vision

• Fatigue

• Mood changes

• Sensitivity to light, sounds or smells
   

Common migraines usually last between 4 and 72 hours. They can recur frequently (weekly) or seldom (annually or similar).

 

With An Aura

A migraine with an aura is a Classic or Complicated Migraine. These begin with visual disturbances up to an hour before a headache strikes.  Vision can become impaired or lost and there may not even be any pain. 

 

Rarely you may encounter neurological symptoms such as:

• Numbness,

• Muscle weakness (on one side of the body),

• Tingling hands and face,

• Trouble speaking

• Confusion

• Feeling nauseous

• Loss of appetite

• Sensitivity to stimuli.

 

Without A Headache

 

This is when an aura occurs without the presence of a headache.

 

Symptoms include

• Nausea,

• Vomiting

• Constipation

• Dizziness, fever and pain in other parts of the body.

 

Brainstem Aura

Teenagers and children are normally affected by this type.  The aura originates from the brainstem and can cause:
 

• Visual impairment

• Double vision

• Dizziness

• Vertigo

• Poor muscle coordination

• Slurred speech

• Tinnitus

• Fainting

 

The pain felt on both sides of the head with this type of migraine comes on quickly.  Muscle strength is not weakened during an attack but coordination can be.  Teenage girls are most prone to this type of migraine due to hormonal changes during their menstrual cycle.

 

Hemiplegic Migraine

This type is extremely rare but can cause temporary paralysis that may last for several days.  Before the onset of a headache the following symptoms may occur:

• Vertigo

• Problems speaking

• Pricking/stabbing sensation

• Visual impairment

• Difficulty speaking and swallowing
   

Usually, these symptoms will subside once the pain starts.  Familial Hemiplegic Migraine (FHM) is when the condition runs in families.

 

Retinal

Retinal migraines cause visual disturbances and loss of vision. These are very rare.

 

Chronic

As the name suggests, Chronic migraines are frequent headaches lasting for 15 days or more for more than three months.  They can occur with or without aura and respond to preventative medication. 

 

Migraine Treatments

Over-the-counter painkillers such as aspirin or Ibuprofen are used to treat mild symptoms.  Severe headaches often require prescription medication with the active ingredient Sumatriptan -

Sumatriptan belongs to a group of medicines known as selective serotonin inhibitors.

These types of medication are available under the brand names;

• Sumatriptan

• Zolmitriptan

• Rizatriptan

• Imigran

• Maxalt Melt

• Zomig 

 

Preventing Migraines

For some migraine sufferers symptoms can appear without warning. For others, there are signs of an approaching migraine. Knowing what your triggers are can help avoid or reduce the severity of migraines. Keeping a migraine diary will help you identify what contributed to or set off your migraine. Common triggers include:

 

• Certain foods and drinks (alcohol and others)

• Sensory stimuli i.e. screens or noise

• Hormonal changes

 

And many others.

Identifying migraine triggers can be highly effective for some sufferers so is worth exploring.

 

In Conclusion

Migraines are certainly no joke. Symptoms vary wildly from person to person depending on the type of migraine.

Over-the-counter medications are the first option. Prescription medications are advised if OTC are not effective enough. Here at Simply Meds Online, we offer a range of migraine medications. Speak to your GP or pharmacist to discuss the most appropriate treatment.

We recognise that migraines can also affect your mental well-being. Please ask your healthcare provider for support with this. Taking care of your mental health is as important as your physical health.