Navigating the nightmare of migraines: How to treat your migraine headache?

Migraine headaches can be a nightmare that can greatly impact your quality of life. They are also more common than you might think affecting millions around the globe. 

Migraine is characterized by a severe and recurring headache. While there is no cure for migraines, there are various treatment options available to manage and reduce the frequency of it's attacks. In this article, we will discuss the possible causes, some common triggers, common symptoms, and management options as well as some tips by a doctor for dealing with this nightmare.

What causes migraines?

Even though the exact cause of migraines is still not fully understood, they are believed to have a multifactorial pathogenesis. Both your genetics and your environment play an important role in determining your susceptibility to migraines. 

Some studies have suggested that migraines may be triggered by changes in a part of the brain called the brainstem and its interactions with a cranial nerve called the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for sensory functions of the face and head.

While there are many triggers for migraine which are different for every individual, some common triggers of migraines include:

1. Hormonal changes in women
2. Excessive Stress which may be either physical or mental.
3. Lack of good quality sleep
4. Bright lights and loud noises
5. Certain food items, for example alcohol.
6. Weather, in particular extremes of weather.
7. Medications and drugs

How to know if your headache is a migraine? 

Just like the triggers, the symptoms and presentation of migraines can be variable. However, some of the most common ones include: 

1. Severe and recurring pain, which is usually unilateral and episodic.
2. Hypersensitivity to light and sound. 
3. Nausea and vomiting.
4. Visual disturbances including blurring and aura(flashing lights, patterns and blind spots).

How do you treat and manage migraine? 

To start off, always consult your doctor before starting any medication.

Migraine management can generally be divided into rescue therapy for an acute attack and preventive therapy for long term management.

Preventive therapies reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks. These may include:

Medications such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers.

Lifestyle changes, which include regular exercise, maintaining a good quality of sleep and nutrition.

Knowing your triggers and avoiding them. It is advised by doctors to keep a record of your attacks and what possibly triggered them. This makes it easier to avoid them in the future.

Rescue treatment is done at the time of an attack in order to manage the symptoms. These include various medications. Some of which, that have a very good efficacy, include:

1. OTC painkillers like ibuprofen and aspirin.
2. Triptans, e.g summatriptan. These are the drug of choice for an acute attack of migraine. 
3. DHE Nasal spray
4. Antiemetics for nausea and vomiting

Some important tips to help manage migraines.

On top of the various treatment options there are various self-management tips and techniques that have been tried and tested. Some of which include: 

• Maintaining a migraine journal to keep track of attacks and triggers.
• Relaxation techniques, which may include yoga and meditation 
• Acupuncture, though it's effect has not been scientifically proven, many claim it to be helpful for their migraines.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

In conclusion , while migraines are a debilitating condition that affects millions around the world and have no complete cure, it is not completely hopeless for you. There are various management options out there. 

 Remember to always work with your doctor in order to develop a management plan that works for you. By understanding the basics of migraines, as well as learning their management options, people can learn to cope with this nightmare and drastically improve their quality of life.

Dr Waqas khan 

MBBS, FCPS resident