Migraine is a common health condition, affecting around one in every five women and around one in every 15 men. They usually begin in early adulthood. A migraine is a primary headache disorder characterized by recurrent headaches that are moderate to severe.
In this article we will dive into the most common causes and symptoms of this condition.
What’s on this page:
What causes migraines?
The exact cause of a migraine is not yet known, but it is thought that migraines are the result of abnormal brain activity which temporarily alters nerve signals, chemicals and blood vessels in the brain.
Around half of all people who experience migraines also have a close relative with the condition, suggesting that genes may play a role. For some disorders, genes play a particularly important role and migraine is a good example. We know this from clinical practice because we often see migraines running in families, and this is confirmed in formal scientific studies. In most cases a single gene defect or mutation probably does not cause a migraine, instead, it results from several different genes all coming together.
There might also be some triggers that can make the attacks worse. There are many possible migraine triggers that have been suggested, including hormonal, emotional, physical, dietary, environmental and medical factors. These triggers are very individual but it may help to keep a diary to see if you can identify a consistent trigger.
Symptoms
The main symptom of a migraine is usually an intense headache on one side of the head. Migraine symptoms usually differ for each individual so it’s not unusual for pain to occur on both sides of your head, your face or even your neck. Here are four possible phases to a migraine, although not all the phases are necessarily experienced.
- The prodrome, which occurs hours or days before the headache
- The aura, which immediately precedes the headache
- The pain phase, also known as the headache phase
- The postdrome, the effects experienced following the end of a migraine attack
Migraines are associated with major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. These psychiatric disorders are approximately 2-5 times more common in people without aura, and 3-10 times more common in people with aura.
Additional symptoms often associated with a migraine include:
- feeling nauseous
- being sick
- sensitivity to light or sound (this is why lots of migraine sufferers like to rest in a dark and quiet room)
Migraine sufferers may occasionally experience other symptoms such as:
- poor concentration
- feeling either very hot or very cold
- stomach pain
- diarrhoea
Migraine symptoms can last anywhere between four hours and up to three days in very severe instances. If you have had a particularly bad migraine you might feel very tired afterwards, so it’s important to get plenty of rest.
When should I see a doctor?
You should see your GP if you have frequent or severe migraine symptoms that can’t be managed with the occasional use of over-the-counter painkillers.1
You should call 999 for an ambulance immediately if you or someone you’re with experiences:
- paralysis or weakness in one or both arms and/or one side of the face
- slurred or garbled speech
- a sudden agonising headache resulting in a blinding pain unlike anything experienced before
- headache along with a high temperature (fever), stiff neck, mental confusion, seizures, double vision, and a rash
These symptoms may be a sign of a more serious condition, such as a stroke or meningitis, that needs emergency attention.
How to diagnose a migraine?
There is no actual test to diagnose a migraine. Diagnosis will depend upon your doctor taking your medical history and ruling out other causes for the attacks. Although there is currently no cure for migraines, every day modern medicine is learning more and more about what causes migraines, which could help find a new treatment for the condition.
- Try sleeping in a darkened or quiet room during an attack
- Make sure you eat regularly
- Take care to avoid any food which you know trigger your migraines
- Excess caffeine might cause migraines for certain people so watch your caffeine intake
- Ensure you are getting enough sleep
- Over the counter painkillers which contain paracetamol or ibuprofen can help to reduce symptoms. Nurofen
- Migraine Paincontains Ibuprofen Lysine which is quickly absorbed in the body, to help provide fast acting relief
If ordinary painkillers are not proving effective in relieving pain it’s a good idea to see your GP who may prescribe specialist medication. When you visit your doctor to talk about your headaches, you should therefore expect to give quite detailed information about your attacks. Keeping a simple migraine diary can be very helpful. This might include details of treatment you have tried in the past which has not helped the attacks.
How can I treat migraine?
As migraines are so individual, it may take some time to find the most effective way to manage your migraines, so be patient. It’s important to remember that what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another.
As we mentioned above there are some things you can do to reduce and prevent the attacks.
- Try sleeping in a darkened or quiet room during an attack
- Make sure you eat regularly
- Take care to avoid any food which you know trigger your migraines
- Excess caffeine might cause migraines for certain people so watch your caffeine intake
- Ensure you are getting enough sleep
- Over the counter painkillers which contain paracetamol or ibuprofen can help to reduce symptoms. Nurofen
- Migraine Paincontains Ibuprofen Lysine which is quickly absorbed in the body, to help provide fast acting relief
Down below we have listed a few of the most used medicines when it comes to treat the attacks:
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