HEALTH & LIFESTYLE Everything you need to know about migraines E
VER experienced a pain in your head so bad that you can’t talk, think or see properly?
Migraines are believed to affect around eight million people in the UK and they can be extremely debilitating, in many cases damaging a person’s quality of life and causing 18 million sick days off work a year.
Contrary to popular belief, a migraine is not just ‘a bad headache’. It’s an extremely painful collection of neurological symptoms, including a headache often characterised by a severe throbbing pain on one side of the head.
As well as pain, migraines are also associated with nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to light and noise, and changes in eyesight.
“Attacks vary in length and frequency from person to person, and in between attacks, there are no symptoms at all – which can make it very difficult to plan and prepare yourself for the next one,” says GP Dr Lizzie Kershaw-Yates, one of the medical team at The Online Clinic
speaks to Dr Lizzie Kershaw-Yates about causes, symptoms and treatments of a potentially agonising condition that can strike any of us responds in a particular way, neurology department, which triptans which stimulate the especially when it comes to change. specialise in the diagnosis and production of serotonin in the brain,” “Migraines mean that someone’s treatment of migraine.” says Dr Kershaw-Yates. brain is responding abnormally to It’s important to get properly “To prevent your migraine attacks, normal signal and sensory diagnosed, if you think you may be there are a variety of medicines information, such as pain, light or experiencing migraines, to ensure which can be tried. The different sound,” explains Dr Kershaw-Yates. you get the right advice and treatments include beta-blockers, “The narrowing and opening of the treatment. anticonvulsants, antidepressants, blood vessels can also play a part in and even Botox.” causing a migraine.” You should always seek
You should watch out for any professional medical advice if you’re external triggers which might be thinking about trying a new causing your migraines. These aren’t treatment method for your necessarily the same for everyone, migraines, as most of them include but can include foods such as side-effects. chocolate, cheese, red wine or citrus Plus, some over-the-counter fruits, psychological factors such as painkillers might not always be the stress, anxiety, depression or most suitable way of treating your tiredness, along with high altitude, migraine. humidity, noise or flickering lights.
Food and drinks which contain caffeine or food additives, sleep (either too much or too little), drugs and dehydration can also be migraine triggers.
“The amount of factors which can cause migraines is huge, so it’s difficult to say exactly what causes them,” says Dr Kershaw-Yates.
“One thing that can help pinpoint your triggers is to keep a migraine diary. Write down when it started, ended and what your symptoms were, along with as many details about your daily life as you can, including medication, exercise, diet and sleep.”
This can help you and your doctor work out what might be triggering your attacks. “NO tests can confirm you suffer from migraines – you can only be diagnosed by a doctor based on your symptoms,” says Dr KershawYates.
“If they are in any doubt, you might be referred to a migraine clinic or a YOU can either treat a migraine when you start to feel the symptoms coming on, or have treatment to prevent it from happening in the first place.
“Once a migraine begins, you can take painkillers, anti-sickness medicine, or a medicine called Severe migraine can be agony, but there are treatments, and doctors can tailor them to your needs as the triggers vary so much DR KERSHAW-YATES says that you should speak to your doctor if your migraines are severe or frequent, or if they are getting in the way of your day-to-day life. “If you experience excruciating pain, paralysis down one side of the body or face, speech difficulties, double vision, or a rash – make sure you seek immediate medical attention ASAP, as this may be a sign of something more serious,” she adds. Also, if you’re struggling to manage your migraines, do go back and see your GP again, or seek a specialist referral – there might be a lot more that can be done to help.