Around the world, it is estimated that seven (7) in ten (10) people experience at least one (1) headache a year. This fairly common occurrence is described as discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck area. When the pain intensifies, it can then be classified as migraine—undoubtedly the worst kind of headache. As it comes with intense pulsing on one (1) or both sides of the face, migraines can render people practically incapacitated and incapable of being productive. In the United Kingdom, those who go to work or school lose approximately twenty-five (25) million days a year due to chronic migraine episodes. In the Philippines, about twelve (12) million Filipinos suffer from migraine. With such a high record, it is essential to know more about this prevalent illness to manage it best when it happens—starting with its types: migraine with aura and without.
What is a Migraine?
A migraine is a severe pounding headache that typically lasts about four (4) hours, with extreme cases extending for three (3) days or more. The pulsing pain often begins in the forehead before it trails down to the side of the head or around the eyes. Unlike regular headaches, other factors come into play that can make migraines worse, including simple movements, activities, bright lights, or loud noises. Migraines can also result in nausea and vomiting.
What is a Migraine with Aura?
A migraine with aura, also called classic migraine, is a recurring headache during or after sensory disturbances known as aura. While these disturbances may vary from person to person, they may include:
Seeing zigzag lines, flashing lights, blind spots
Having distorted vision or temporary vision loss
Hearing constant ringing
Smelling strange odors
Tingling in hand or face
Types of Migraine
While migraine is among the most common illnesses worldwide, one case is not completely the same as the other. Individuals with migraine may be dealing with either one of two things:
Migraine with aura
As previously mentioned, classic migraines include auras which are physiological warning signs to alert the body for an onset of a migraine. However, it may also manifest during or after an episode. In a Cleveland Clinic report, fifteen (15) to twenty (20) percent of people with migraines are said to experience auras, which could last from ten (10) to sixty (60) minutes. Head pains that come with classic migraines may be focused on one (1) side of the head or both.
Migraine without aura
As its name suggests, this type of migraine occurs in the absence of an aura. Unlike the classic kind, migraines without aura occur in eighty-five (85) percent of people with migraines. Those who have it can experience up to three (3) distinct phases, namely prodrome, headache phase, and postdrome. In total, an episode can last up to seventy-two (72) hours.
Causes of Migraine
Scientists and medical experts are yet to pinpoint the main cause of migraines. However, it is believed that multiple factors have a lot to do with it, such as:
Hormonal changes
Research shows that women are two (2) to three (3) times more likely to have migraines than men due to the hormonal fluctuations during their menstrual cycles, pregnancy, menopause, or hormonal birth control use.
Changes in sleep pattern
Suddenly having too little or too much sleep can trigger migraines, too. While it is true that resorting to more hours of rest when sleep-deprived can manage migraine episodes to an extent, hypersomnia or sleeping extensively can only make matters worse.
Mental or emotional triggers
Other migraine triggers to watch out for are mental or emotional variables such as stress, anxiety, and depression. While it may take time to control these concerns easily, there are ways to alleviate these stressors and prevent migraines altogether, including relaxation, biofeedback, and self-hypnosis techniques.
Environmental triggers
Changes within the vicinity—either fixed or controlled—can also contribute to the build-up of migraines. Some individuals are hypersensitive to blinking lights, fluorescent tones, alteration in air pressure or altitude, or even bright visual patterns.
Physical triggers
Falling ill, experiencing fatigue, and skipping meals are factors that can cause migraines. Excessive exercise, motion, and head injuries can also contribute to this list of physical triggers. To avoid extreme headaches, it is vital to take care not only of the mind but the body, as well.
Food
Diet also plays a role when it comes to migraines. Whether standalone or as a part of a combination of other triggers, the following foods and additives are believed to be common contributors to a migraine attack when consumed:
Artificial sweeteners
Flavor enhancers
Cheese
Chocolate
Citrus fruits
Avocados
Bananas
Raisins
Plums
Drinks
Aside from food, certain beverages are also known to trigger migraine. Too much of the following can bring not only mild to severe attacks but also danger to overall health:
Red wine or other alcoholic beverages
Caffeinated drinks (coffee, tea, or sodas)
Medications
While some drugs can relieve migraine symptoms, others only set-off or make them worse. Many over-the-counter and prescription medicines can prompt migraines, such as:
Cimetidine
Birth control pills and hormone therapy
Hydralazine
Nifedipine
Nitroglycerin
Reserpine
Symptoms
Although not all migraine episodes are the same for all individuals who experience them, there are multiple symptoms to help distinguish whether an attack is one with aura or without.
With Aura
Visual phenomena. This occurrence includes seeing multiple images at a time, shrunken or enlarged images, distortion of a shape or entire picture, and persistence of visual images.
Vision impairment. People experiencing migraines with aura may suffer from temporary blurriness or vision loss often described as “looking through a film.”
Difficulty speaking. Aphasia is common, too. It is a condition associated with the difficulty of finding words to say. Such a concern can affect one’s capacity to write and understand a language.
Numbness. Tingling sensations in one (1) hand or on one (1) side of the face is another sign of migraine with aura. This numbness may begin at a small portion of the body and then spread slowly throughout the limbs and face.
Hearing non-existent sounds. An aura can also cause hearing disturbances. Sometimes, those with extreme migraines hear music or noises not even there, such as a ringing in the head.
Without Aura
Mood changes. While in the absence of an aura, individuals suffering from this migraine can feel depressed, irritated, and distracted. They may also experience sudden shifts in mood throughout the day.
Food cravings. Intense hunger is one of the common symptoms of headaches, and those dealing with migraine often have food cravings, as well. This strong urge to consume food manifests in the prodrome phase of a migraine.
Mild muscle stiffness. Muscle weakness may also appear when managing migraines without aura. While nothing extreme like numbness throughout the body, there can still be stiffness, especially around the neck.
Sensitivity to light and sound. Like common headaches, bright or flashing lights and loud noises can trigger or worsen a migraine without aura episode. People who experience intense pounding in their heads can build sensitivity for these things.
Nausea and vomiting. Migraine attacks that give off intense pain on one (1) or both sides of the head can weaken the body. In some cases where serotonin levels drop, it can result in nausea or even vomiting.
Managing Migraines Better for Peace of Mind
Although painful, migraines with or without an aura are not as life-threatening as other, more severe illnesses. However, such distracting discomfort can greatly affect a day’s worth of work and fun, making it just as important to manage as any other condition. Taking breaks and destressing is a great start in dealing with migraines from the root. Relaxing both the mind and body can aid in preventing any stressors that may build up headaches and other symptoms that come with its worst kind. For frequent and intolerable migraine attacks, it is best to consult a doctor. Prescribed medications and targeted treatments can ultimately alleviate migraines with or without aura and other neurological diseases linked to them. If you are on the lookout for top-notch experts in neuroscience and world-class healthcare services to address your medical needs, reach out to Makati Medical Center today.
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