Migraines are severe headaches, marked by excruciating, throbbing pain and commonly accompanied by neurological symptoms. These symptoms may include sensitivity to light, sound, smell, and touch, tingling sensation in limbs, visual disturbances such as auras, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
Migraines: They’re Not Just Another Headache
Migraines can be an incapacitating illness; over 90 percent of migraine sufferers are unable to function in their daily lives during a migraine episode.
What is causing my migraines?
While the exact cause of migraines is unknown, it is most likely related to the activity of the trigeminal nerve, a major pain pathway within the brainstem. Brain chemical levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters that help regulate pain signals fluctuate during a migraine.
A drop in these chemicals is likely to signal the trigeminal nerve to release neuropeptides, which then act on the outer coating of the brain, causing the intense migraine pain.
Genetics and environment play a major role in the development of migraines as well. Many known triggers exist, including:
- Certain foods or food additives (like MSG)
- Drinks (particularly alcoholic)
- Stress
- Changes to your sleep schedule
- Changes in atmospheric pressure
- Bright lights
- Certain medications
One of the lesser known triggers, however, is hormonal fluctuations in women, specifically estrogen. Women sufferers of migraines outnumber men 3:1, and women have a one in four chance of developing migraines in their lifetimes.
The onset of migraines is most likely to occur for females in the same year menstruation begins. Additionally, women experience migraine pain and symptoms differently than men, typically in longer duration and much higher frequency of episodes.
The relationship between low estrogen and migraines had long been suspected, but was proven when researchers, in a study published in the medical journal Neurology, found that women with history of migraines experienced a 40 percent drop in estrogen levels during their cycles, compared to only a 30 percent drop in those of non-sufferers.
What can I do during a migraine to find relief?
Left untreated, migraines can last between four and 72 hours. In the midst of a migraine though, there are steps you can take to alleviate symptoms and make the pain go away. These include taking your prescribed medications to block the progression of a migraine as soon as you feel it start to come on, turning off all lights and sounds in the room, and using temperature therapy, placing a hot or cold compress on your head to find relief.
What is the best treatment to eliminate my migraines permanently?
If you experience chronic migraines (migraine headaches that occur more than 15 days out of the month), if needed we will perform diagnostic testing. We then take a two-pronged approach to your migraines to help reduce migraine frequency and severity, including prevention education and treatments including medication therapy.
Your treatment plan will be custom tailored for your individual needs based on your test results. If a hormone imbalance is causing your migraines, treating the imbalance will help improve the migraine frequency and symptoms.
Up to half of migraine sufferers go undiagnosed. Do you suffer extreme headaches, accompanied by any of the symptoms discussed previously? There’s no reason to let migraines rule your life any longer.
Board-certified nurse practitioner, Maddy Wiley offers comprehensive care for migraine management at Family Care of Kent.
Call (253) 859-2273 or request an appointment online with Maddy or one of our other amazing nurse practitioners today and get on your way to migraine-free living.