Health news of the week : Migraine
Migraine is a severe form of headache that is felt as an intense pain in the front or side of the head, although the location of the pain may change during an attack of migraine. The pain usually worsens on exposure to light, sound or even when a person tries to move.
Neuroimaging study reveals structural changes in the brain of migraine patients
Some of the symptoms of migraine include:
– Severe throbbing headache in the front or one side of the head
-Increased sensitivity to light or photophobia. Migraine sufferers often need to rest in a quiet, dark room during an attack.
-Increased sensitivity to sound or phonophobia which can also be eased by resting in a dark and quiet room.
-Increased sensitivity to smell or osmophobia.
-Nausea and sometimes vomiting
-Concentration may be poor
-Increased sweating and hot flashes
-Abdominal pain that may lead to diarrhea
-Increased frequency of urination
– Aura: Nearly one third of all migraine sufferers experience aura or warning signs before their migraine starts. There are various types of aura and they begin around 15 minutes to one hour before an attack. Examples of auras that people may experience include:
– Visual disturbances such as seeing zig-zag patterns, flashes of light or blind spots
– Dizziness or difficulty balancing
– A pins and needles sensation or stiffness in the neck, shoulder or jaw
– Speech may become slurred and unintelligible
– In rare cases, a person may lose consciousness
The symptoms of migraine can last from 4 to 72 hours but not all symptoms are seen in all individuals. In most cases, the symptoms disappear when the headache subsides, although weakness and fatigue may persist for about a week after the attack has passed.
Some people also develop silent migraines, characterized by the presence of aura and other migraine symptoms such as nausea and vomiting but without the development of an actual headache.
Treatment:
Currently, there is no known cure for migraine and treatment is aimed at preventing headache onset and relieving symptoms when they do occur.
The symptoms of migraine do not always respond to treatment in the same way and it is important that migraine sufferers take time to find out which treatment or combination of treatments work for them. In addition, the migraine attacks are often triggered by particular factors, which a sufferer needs to carefully identify if they are to be avoided. People who cannot manage their migraine symptoms using over-the-counter medications should consult their doctor.
Some examples of the types of treatments that may be used for cases of migraine include:
Pain relievers
Over-the-counter pain relievers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin can help ease the pain caused by migraine and are usually the first approach to treatment in migraine. However, over-use of pain killers can also increase the incidence of migraine attacks as well as making them more severe. Pain relief is more effective at relieving symptoms if taken when early warning signs start, so the drug has time to dissolve in the bloodstream and act on the body before the severe headache begins. Pain relief taken once the headache has already become severe is often ineffective. Soluble painkillers work more rapidly than insoluble forms do.
Anti-inflammatory medications
Anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen can provide effective relief from the symptoms of migraine. Ibuprofen can be bought over the counter while other anti-inflammatories such as diclofenac, naproxen and tolfenamic acid need to be prescribed by a doctor.
Triptans
Triptans may be recommended in cases where migraine symptoms are not relieved by painkillers. Some triptans such as sumatriptan are available over the counter, while others require a prescription. These drugs work by constricting blood vessels, therefore counteracting the widening of vessels that is thought to contribute to the process of migraine. Triptans are available in the form of pills and nasal spray.
Antiemetics or anti-sickness medications
Antiemetics can be effective against migraine, even in the absence of nausea and these drugs can be taken alongside painkillers. If the vomiting is severe, these medications can also be taken as suppositories (dissolvable pills inserted into the anus or the back passage for easy absorption).
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
TMS is a treatment procedure that has recently been approved for the treatment and prevention of migraines. A small magnetic device is held against the head and delivers magnetic pulses through the skin. Research has shown that this can reduce the severity of migraines. TMS can also be used in combination with the medications described above.
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