What is Migraine? Symptoms and treatment

Everyone has complains of headache at least once in their life, but do you know what migraine is? And How it is different from normal headache?

So come lets know about it.

What is migraine? What are the symptoms?

Migraine is a complex neurological disease that impact more than billion people all over the world.

Our neurons work to understand the things around us, they are the sensory nerves of our body that send signals to the spinal cord and brain. 

And due to disturbances in these neurotransmitters or not being able to function properly, we have a complaint of migraine.

Due to mutation in the part of our DNA which we also called genes our transmitters become hypersensitive, which could be another reason for migraine. 

People with migraine may also have anxiety, depression, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic floor pain, fibromyalgia Sjogren's disease

What Migraine feels like?

Migraine headaches are pulsatile and often unilateral head pain that is often disabling and occurs with associated symptoms.

They are unilateral which means they usually occur on one side of the head and they're pulsatile which means that they are pounding in nature.

so they're a pounding or throbbing type of headache and it's believed that the underlying pathophysiology of migraine headaches may be due to abnormal cerebral vasodilation or neuronal impairments.

How Migraine is caused?

Abnormal cerebral vasodilation is where the vasculature in your head becomes dilated abnormally and then there's also this possible issue of neuronal impairments. 

 As well as these will tie into some of the dietary factors or dietary triggers. 

There are so many forms and symptoms of migraine disease. These mutated genes affect the function of other parts of the body

What are the phases of a Migraine attack?

the typical phases of a migraine attack are

·        Prodrome (starting hours before a headache) .

·        Aura headache.

·        Pounding headaches

·     Pro-drome includes subtle symptoms such as yawning fatigue or moodiness experienced only by some.

Aura may be short-term visual changes such as flashes of light, zigzags or blind spots. Symptoms may also include muscular weakness, and vertigo. 

Pounding headaches may occur on only one side of the head often lasting 4 to 72 hours. Other possible symptoms include light and noise sensitivity or nausea.

Post-drome a person feels like they have a hangover which lasts for another day or two. 

Migraine attacks are often brought on by specific stimuli or triggers such as:

·        increased stress, weather change, 

·        too much or too little sleep, 

·        certain foods

Are Migraine headache dangerous?

It is important for treatment planning to distinguish migraine on the basis of frequency and character of attacks. 

Less than 15 headache days per month is Episodic migraine.

·        More then 15 headache per month is Chronic migraine.

Each year about 3 percent of those with episodic migraine become chronic, this worsening of symptoms may be due to changes in hormones as well as cumulative effects on the nervous system from years of migraine attacks. 

Migraines have a prodrome so there's a subset of patients that have prodromes with a migraine headache which they have odd signs and symptoms that precede the migraine headache.

Migraine headache there can be photophobia and phonophobia. 

so photophobia is sensitivity to light,phonophobia is sensitivity to sound. 

and then oftentimes migraine headaches are exacerbated or worsened by physical activity and it’s better to rest and being in dark places.

What are some dietary triggers of migraines?

Coffee 

Coffee contains caffeine methylxanthine stimulant that acts as an antagonist at adenosine a1 and a2a receptors and adenosine is linked to cerebral vessel vasodilation which is why it may be a trigger of migraine headaches.

According to study 6.3 to 14.5 percent of individuals who have migraines report caffeinated beverages like coffee as a trigger of migraines

The interesting thing that we also see is that caffeine can be used to treat headaches as well so there is this property of caffeine where caffeine can actually improve headaches in some instances.

If a person drinks a lot of coffee and quits that habit, then he starts complaining of headache. This means that caffeine and migraines are interlinked.

But caffeine does seem to play a role as a trigger in some individuals who get migraines.

Some examples of caffeinated beverages that may trigger a migraine in some individuals include caffeinated coffee, tea, soft drinks and energy drinks

Chocolate 

it contains many vaso-active biogenic amines as well as caffeine so again it contains caffeine and as we mentioned before caffeine may be a trigger of migraines in some individuals.

so chocolate has vasoactive biogenic amines which may potentially lead to cerebral vessel vasodilation as well

Studies shows that 1.4 to 22.5 percent of individuals report chocolate as a trigger of migraines

Processed food

 Avoid meats like bacon sausages pepperoni , salami and other processed foods.

In such foods nitrites and nitrates are commonly used as food preservatives.

nitrites can be processed to nitric acid which has vasoactive properties so this is the reason why we see nitrites being a cause of migraine headaches

It's also noted that in individuals who are experiencing the episode of migraine headaches that their plasma nitrite levels are higher during those migraine attacks where can we see nitrites and nitrates

Alcohol 

We should avoid alcoholic beverages such as Red wine, vodka, Gin etc They contain vasoactive compounds such as sulphites flavanoids, tyramines, and histamines that cause migraine attacks.

 Some more foods like eggplants, cabbage, dates, figs , bananas, avocados, some dry fruits like walnut also causes the migraine attacks.

Dairy products 

Some dairy products like aged cheese is also a reason behind migraine attacks. As we mentioned above the tyramine which is vasoactive compound may cause migraine attacks.

Citrus fruits 

fruits like Oranges, Grapes, juices of citrus fruits may trigger the migraine attacks. Consuming in less quantity may help to reduce migraine attacks.

Also the fasting, overeating and dehydration causes migraine.

Finally make sure you drink plenty of water when suffering from a migraine attack

Diet can help you keep migraine attacks at bay and also get relief

What are the foods to avoid Migraine?

Omega-3 

Consuming omega-3 rich foods can soothe the blood vessels of the brain thereby reducing the headache such pair includes

Fish like salmon and sardines.

Flax seeds.

Pumpkin seeds.

Eggs.

Soya beans tofu are also good sources.

Use canola or olive oil for cooking as these are rich in omega 3

Magnesium rich diet 

It can prevent as well as shorten the duration of migraine headaches such foods include spinach, Sesame seeds, Sunflower seeds, cashew nuts legumes and whole grains like oats and brown rice

Ginger 

Another valuable food item which one can have to help abate the headaches. It contains Serotonin by increasing in the level of serotonin you may get relief from migraine attacks.

Some more food items are

·        Cherries- contains array of polyphenol antioxidant reduces information and migraine attacks.

·        Cucumbers- helps to hydrate your body.

·        Black eyed beans – rich in iron and magnesium

·        Orange foods – Carrots and sweet potatoes rich in anti inflammatory property.

·        Green Vegetables – such as leafy green vegetable and water rich foods.

What are the treatments of Migraine attacks?

Some medicated treatment may help to reduce Migraine attacks.

If over-the-counter medicines fail to relieve symptoms it might be time to talk to your Doctor.

Painkillers 

such as paracetamol aspirin can help reduce symptoms.

Using painkillers too frequently can make migraines worse and always remember that aspirin should not be given to children under 16 or to people have liver kidney or stomach problems.

They are most effective when taken in soluble form

Anti-inflammatories 

Anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen are usually effective in treating migraine symptoms you can buy them over the counter at pharmacies or by getting a prescription from your doctor.

Anti sickness medicines 

These can treat migraines even if you're not suffering from nausea they can be prescribed by your doctor and take them long with painkillers they will usually come in either tablet or suppository form.

Combination medicine 

combine both painkillers and anti sickness medication which some people find more convenient.

Remember the dose of either may not be enough to treat your symptoms so you may need to keep them at separate doses you should consult your doctor first before taking these medicines