Migraine affects approximately 15% of the population and women are three times more likely to get them than men. Anyone experiencing 15 or more migraine days per month qualifies as chronic migraine (CM).
Some individuals experience an early warning phase called an aura that may include visual disturbances like flashes of light and blind spots, or pins and needles sensations throughout their bodies.
Medications
Migraine medications can provide much-needed relief during an attack of migraine. Your physician can prescribe various medicines as well as suggest alternative remedies and solutions.
Analgesics (pain relievers) include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium (Aleve), as well as acetaminophen (Tylenol). Your doctor may also recommend combination medicines containing both analgesics and antisickness drugs like prochlorperazine or domperidone to reduce nausea and vomiting common symptoms of migraine headaches.
Triptans are an effective class of medicines that can instantly stop headaches in their tracks. By rapidly decreasing pain signals in the brain, triptans act quickly to relieve symptoms quickly. Common triptans include sumatriptan, naratriptan and frovatriptan; oral doses may work for some, while nasal sprays or injections may provide alternatives if tablets don’t suffice.
Other medications used to prevent migraines include calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonists (gepants). Ubrogepant (Ubrelvy) and rimegepant (Nurtec ODT) are two such gepants taken orally daily that have proven more effective than placebo in reducing both migraine frequency and severity.
Lifestyle changes
Medication may help treat migraines, but lifestyle changes can also help decrease their frequency. These include getting enough restful sleep each night and eating regularly – including avoiding foods known to trigger headaches – at scheduled times and exercising to release chemicals that reduce stress and tension.
As well as these steps, other ways of helping prevent migraines include turning off the lights when you feel a headache approaching, using cold or hot compresses on your head and neck, taking a warm shower or bath, and avoiding caffeinated beverages, though small doses of caffeine may help relieve early migraine pain relief and may complement other pain-relief remedies like Tylenol(r) (acetaminophen) or aspirin (acetaminophen) or aspirin (also called Tylenol(r) or aspirin).
Studies show that regular moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes on three to five days per week can significantly decrease both frequency and severity of migraine headaches, as well as drinking plenty of water while limiting sodium consumption may also help prevent migraines.
Trigger avoidance
There is no cure for migraine, but treatment can reduce both frequency and severity of symptoms. Your healthcare provider may suggest trying different medicines and lifestyle modifications until finding what works for you; this process may take some time. If a severe headache strikes suddenly, call 111 immediately for advice.
Migraines typically involve throbbing pain on one side of the head and other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, mood changes and light, sound or smell sensitivity that last hours or days and make work or function impossible. Migraine can run in families; while adult women are particularly prone to migraine attacks. Furthermore, menstruation or pregnancy increase your likelihood of migraine attacks significantly.
Tracking triggers in a diary or app is one way to decrease the risk of migraines, including certain foods (or food additives such as nitrates in processed meats like hot dogs and pepperoni), food additives (such as nitrates), caffeine intake and other potential sources.
Behavioral therapy
Behavioral therapy is designed to address migraine symptoms and help prevent further attacks. It includes pain-relieving medications taken during an attack as well as preventive medications used regularly to decrease future migraine attacks.
Your migraine care options could also include nontraditional approaches, like acupuncture or biofeedback and meditation. Physical activities, such as walking or swimming can relieve tension while regular meals on a predictable schedule may reduce migraine episodes.
A neurologist, or physician who specializes in headache treatments, might diagnose migraines based on your medical history, symptoms and physical examination. They might also recommend an MRI scan, which uses radio waves and magnetic fields to create detailed images of your brain and blood vessels; an MRI can detect tumors, strokes, bleeding in the brain as well as other conditions that cause headaches.
