Everything you need to know about migraines
Ever 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, causing 18 million sick days from work each 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 (theonlineclinic.co.uk).
She explains that there are are three different types of migraine, which vary in their characteristics:
Migraine without aura: “This is a throbbing headache at the front or side of the head, usually on one side. It can include moderate to severe pain, with nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to bright light and can be worsened by head movements.”
Migraine with aura: “This has all the same features of a migraine without aura but there is also a warning sign at the start of the headache. This could be visual – such as seeing flashing lights, or experiencing a partial loss of vision – or it could be a sensation, such as numbness, struggling with speech or a smell.” Migraine with aura, without
headache: “This type of migraine has the same features of a migraine with an aura, but without the onset of a headache.”
How common are migraines?
“Migraines affect more women than men. On average, one in five women suffer from them, and one in 12 men.”
They usually begin in the teenage years, but can start at any age. “Over half of migraine sufferers have one or more attacks a month, and more than one in 10 have one or more attacks a week,” says Dr Kershaw-yates.
What’s causing my migraines?
People with migraines are believed to have a very sensitive nervous system which responds in a particular way, particularly when it comes to change. “Migraines mean someone’s brain is responding abnormally to normal signal and sensory information, such as pain, light or sound,” Dr Kershawyates says.
You should watch out for any external triggers which might be causing your migraines. These aren’t necessarily the same for everyone, but can include foods such as chocolate, cheese, red wine or citrus fruits, psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, depression or tiredness, along with high altitude, 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.
“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.
How are migraines treated?
“Once a migraine begins, you can take painkillers, anti-sickness medicine, or a medicine called triptans which stimulate the production of a chemical in the brain (serotonin),” says Dr Kershaw-yates.
“To prevent your migraine attacks, there are a variety of medicines which can be tried. The different treatments include beta-blockers, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and even Botox.”
You should always seek professional medical advice if you’re thinking about trying a new treatment method for your migraines, as most of them include side-effects. Plus, some overthe-counter painkillers might not always be the most suitable way of treating your migraine. n