Neurologist Ashraf Suleiman defines migraine as a throbbing pain or sensation limited to one side of the head that lasts for hours or days, and is accompanied in some cases by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. The pain can become so severe that it interferes with your daily activities.
Migraines are the second most disabling condition worldwide, as they prevent people from performing their daily tasks due to painful symptoms. According to statistics in the United States, more than 40 million Americans suffer from migraines.
Although the causes of migraines are not fully understood, genes and environmental factors appear to play a role. Changes in the brainstem and its connections to the trigeminal nerve may be involved, as may an imbalance of brain chemicals including serotonin, which helps regulate pain sensation in the nervous system.
Warning symptoms
Doctor Suleiman explains: Minor changes may occur that warn of an upcoming migraine attack, including:
Constipation. Mood changes from depression to euphoria. Urgent desire to eat. Neck stiffness. Frequent urination and fluid retention in the body. Frequent yawning. Before a migraine attack begins, some visual disturbances occur, such as seeing various shapes, bright spots, or flashes of light. He continued: “Each symptom usually begins gradually, and increases in severity over the course of several minutes and can last for a period of up to 60 minutes. After that, a tingling sensation begins, such as pins and needles, in the arm or leg, weakness or numbness in the face or one of its sides, and difficulty speaking.” While migraines usually last from 4 hours to 72 hours if not treated.
He added: “The number of times a migraine occurs varies from one person to another. Migraines may occur rarely or may occur several times a month.”
Migraine triggers
After a migraine attack, the patient may feel exhausted, confused and unfocused for a day, and sudden brain movement may bring on the pain again for a short period. Migraine triggers include:
First: Hormonal changes in women. Fluctuations in estrogen, such as before or during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, are likely to cause headaches for many women. Second: Hormonal medications, such as oral contraceptives, can worsen migraines. Third: Beverages. These include alcohol and a lot of caffeine, such as coffee. Fourth: Stress. Stress at work or home can cause migraines. Fifth: Sensory stimuli. Bright or flashing lights and loud sounds can trigger migraines. Strong odors, such as perfumes, paint thinner, passive smoking, and others, can also cause migraines in some people. Sixth: Sleep fluctuations. Lack of sleep or too much sleep can lead to migraines in some people. Seventh: Physical stress. Severe physical exertion, including sexual activity, can cause migraines. Eighth: Climate changes, such as changes in weather or atmospheric pressure, can cause migraines. Ninth: Medications such as oral contraceptives and vasodilators, such as nitroglycerin, can aggravate migraines. Tenth: Foods: Aged cheeses, salty foods, and processed foods can trigger migraines, as can skipping meals, and also food flavorings, including aspartame and monosodium glutamate, which are found in many foods.
Suleiman explains that adjuvant medications may prevent some types of migraines and make them less painful, and a combination of appropriate medications, self-care treatments, and lifestyle changes may be helpful in treatment. Researchers are studying the role of serotonin in treating migraines, as other neurotransmitters play a role in migraine pain.
Botox injections and migraine
Suleiman points out that Botox is a very common treatment for reducing migraines, as it is not limited to hiding the lines and wrinkles that appear on the face, and it is considered one of the methods of treating migraines, as this substance can cause the muscles of the head or face to relax.
He added: “It is often possible to know whether Botox injections are suitable for treating a patient’s migraine during his first visit to the neurologist, where a comprehensive neurological consultation is provided to the patient, and a discussion is held with him about whether Botox treatment is suitable for him.”
When to see a doctor?
Migraines often cannot be diagnosed and treated if you have regular migraine signs and symptoms. Therefore, the patient should keep a record of the attacks he has experienced and how he overcame them. After that, a medical appointment should be made with the doctor to discuss the headache attacks that he experiences in order to develop an appropriate treatment plan.
