Department Details

Migraine and Other Types Of Headache

What is Migraine ?

Migraine is a common and often debilitating neurological condition characterized by repeated attacks of often severe headaches. The headaches are usually ; but not necessarily unilateral. The type of pain is described as throbbing in nature which typically lasts for more than few hours in absence of medicines. The severity may vary and often leads to loss of productivity. The frequency of headaches varies from once a month to multiples days per week.

A majority of migraineurs have a first-degree relative with the disease indication a genetic predisposition. The age of onset of symptoms is between 15 and 55 years with females being affected more than males. Worsening of symptoms during premenstrual days suggest hormonal role in pathogenesis.

Stress, lack of adequate sleep, excessive caffeine, travel are some of the common triggers of migraine headaches.

Stages –

Prodrome symptoms:

  • Problems concentrating.
  • Increased irritability.
  • Difficulty speaking and reading.
  • Yawning.
  • Nausea.
  • Fatigue.
  • Sensitivity to light and sound.
  • Food cravings.
  • Increased urination.
  • Muscle stiffness.

Aura symptoms:

  • Sensory – Numbness and tingling.
  • Visual  –  flashes of light and color, scintillating lines, black spot. Symptoms start from one quadrant of visual field and spread over minutes. Temporary loss of vision.
  • Motor – Weakness on one side of the body.
  • Speech changes.

Headache symptoms:

  • Neck pain, stiffness.
  • Sensitivity to light, smell and sound.
  • Nausea and vomiting.

Postdrome symptoms:

  • Inability to concentrate.
  • Depressed mood.
  • Fatigue.
  • Lack of comprehension.
  • Euphoric mood.

Types –

Migraine with aura (complicated migraine).

This is a headache preceded by

  • Visual symptoms (seeing spots, sparkles, or lines) or vision loss.
  • Sensory symptoms (feeling pins and needles, for example).

Migraine without aura (common migraine).

A common migraine is a headache and:

  • The attacks included pain on one side of your head.

at least five attacks, each lasting between four and 72 hours.

Treatment –

  1. Preventive measures  – dentify and avoid triggers, avoid excessive caffeine, stress management.
  2. Abortive measures – Analgesic, Anti-emetics and Triptans.
  3. Prophylactic measures – Beta blockers, Calcium channel blockers, Anti- depressants, Anti- epileptics.