So what is migraine?
Migraine is a distinct long-term, disabling neurological disease, a variant of headache. It is more common in women.
Is it a migraine or a simple headache?
It’s high time to understand about it and correctly identify it because it has a severe impact on the personal as well as professional lives of individuals. Despite this, it is underdiagnosed as well as undertreated. It involves recurrent attacks of moderate to severe head pain that is typically pulsating, often unilateral, and associated with nausea, vomiting and the person having migraine is sensitive to light, sound, and odors. Some people experience an aura before the onset of the main attack.
Some people suffer (> 15 headache days per month for more than 3 months), then their attack is categorized as chronic headache.
Triggers of migraine?
Every person have their own personal triggers that may initiate their attack.
Stress, extreme fatigue, changes in weather, caffeine withdrawal, certain foods, skipped meals, changes in the normal sleep pattern are among the common culprits.
Tips to manage migraine:
PREVENTION IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN CURE
Prevention
- Learn your own triggers.
- Establish a daily routine. If possible keep a migraine diary to identify triggers.
- Watch what you eat and drink
- Eat regularly, don’t skip meals.
- Good sleep hygiene
- Keep yourself stress-free.
Cure:
There is no complete cure for migraines, only certain pain killers and few specific medications can be used to abort the attack. Do not use any medications without any doctor’s prescription.
Written by –
Dr. Amir,
Mch Neurosurgery,
AIIMS BBSR.
