Migraines, commonly identified by a pulsating pain that is usually only felt on one side of the head, are frequently accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and increased sensitivity to light or sound. This condition tends to affect women more frequently than men and typically starts in the early stages of adulthood.
Although the most typical sort of migraine is one that strikes without warning, some people may get warning symptoms before an attack (known as a migraine with aura).
Chronic migraines
When a migraine episode happens for at least 15 days each month, it is considered chronic. A patient with chronic migraines finds it very difficult to function daily.
Causes of migraines
Although the exact cause is unknown, migraines are suspected to be caused by abnormal brain activity that affects nerve impulses, blood vessels in the brain, and neurotransmitters. Migraine symptoms vary due to the fleeting nature of brain activity. Some studies suggest that a person’s genetic make-up may play a role in migraine risk.
People who have migraines are frequently impacted by the triggers that cause their headaches and other related symptoms. The data is conflicting as to whether they are indeed migraine triggers, with some research raising the possibility that food cravings may actually constitute prodromal migraine symptoms.
A few potential causes include:
- Hormones: Hormones are a typical issue for women during their menstrual cycle because of fluctuations in hormone levels. Some women get migraines after, during, or before their period. ‘Menstrual migraine’ is another name for this.
- Emotions: Stress, worry, tension, shock, melancholy, and even excitement are examples of emotions.
- Physical activity: insufficient sleep, odd work schedules like shift work, bad posture, stress in the neck or shoulders, low blood sugar levels, jet lag, and physical exertion (when not used to exercising) like starting a new gym routine are some examples of this.
- Diet: This might include skipping meals or eating erratically, dehydration, drinking alcohol, taking caffeine, or consuming tyramine-containing foods.
- Environmental causes: bright or strobe lighting, flashing from a computer or television screen, smoking, high noise levels, fluctuations in humidity levels or extremely cold weather, strong odours like cologne or perfume, and inadequate air circulation leading to stuffy rooms or buildings.
- Medicinal factors: The combination oral contraceptive pill (COCP) and hormone replacement treatment (HRT) are examples of medicinal influences.
Keeping a migraine diary might help patients find any potential causes by revealing a pattern of migraine episodes.
Symptoms of a migraine
The major sign is a severe headache, which is typically characterised as a throbbing head ache on one side. In youngsters, however, the pain is typically felt on both sides. The discomfort, which can be mild to severe, gets worse as you move. In more extreme circumstances, the pain could be felt on both sides of the head, as well as in the neck or face.
Additional signs include:
- Having the flu or feeling unwell
- Heightened sensitivity to sound and light
- A reduction in concentration
Less frequent signs include:
- Changing temperatures that make you feel either too cold or too hot
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhoea
Migraine types
Migraine comes in a variety of forms.
- Migraine with aura: These migraines include warning signs like:
- Seeing black patches, flashing lights, or zigzag patterns is one example of a visual disturbance.
- Usually beginning in one hand and moving up the arm before affecting the face, lips, and tongue, numbness or a tingling feeling comparable to pins and needles
- A loss of balance or dizziness
- Impaired speech
- A loss of consciousness can occur relatively rarely.
- aura-free migraines (or migraines with no early warning signs)
- Migraine aura without headache (silent migraine): This has migraine-related symptoms but no actual headache.
- Abdominal migraine: This condition is frequently identified in children and is characterised by episodes of nausea, vomiting, and stomach discomfort rather than headaches. Abdominal migraine sufferers frequently have a personal or familial history of migraines.
Diagnosis of migraines
There isn’t a particular test to identify migraine. A doctor will evaluate a patient to determine the pattern of their recurrent headaches.
A person who suffers from migraines may find it useful to keep track of their episodes in order to spot patterns and potential triggers. A migraine journal might contain details like:
- Date
- Day and time
- Location
- Any other noteworthy events: Such as being in a room that was extremely bright, adjacent to a strong fragrance, or subjected to excessive noise before the migraine started.
To help rule out further probable headache reasons, blood tests or imaging scans may be required.
Migraine therapy
There is currently no treatment for migraines. Migraine patients can control their condition using proactive and reactive therapy. What could be useful is:
- Staying still and in the dark while avoiding potential triggers
- Consider eating something light.
- Several claim to feel better after being ill.
Pain relievers that you can find in most shops, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or paracetamol, may assist. It is advised to take pain medication as soon as a migraine episode starts. Pills that are eaten whole are not as quickly absorbed by the body as soluble pain relievers.
Suppository painkillers put into the rectum may be a preferable alternative in severe migraine instances where nausea or vomiting limits the consumption of pills or fluids.
Migraines and Medical Cannabis
If you suffer from persistent migraines and want to test medical cannabis treatments for headaches, you may schedule a marijuana consultation with MARUCANNA. Our professional experts will determine your eligibility and whether medical cannabis is a viable therapeutic option for your migraines.
Fast-track your private cannabis prescription consultation
With MARUCANNA’s private cannabis consultation, the process is quick and easy. Complete a free eligibility check, fill out a simple questionnaire, and receive an instant decision. Qualified patients will have a virtual consultation with our medical team.