Migraine impacts about 39 million human beings, such as children, in the United States. Migraine isn’t only a headache; it’s a neurological situation with neurological signs and symptoms.
Symptoms of migraine can consist of:
- extreme throbbing ache, normally on one facet of the head
- visual disturbances
- nausea
- vomiting
- dizziness
- heightened sensitivity to light, scent, and touch
- tingling or numbness inside the face or extremities
Migraine may be a chronic circumstance that seriously impacts excellent of existence, making it a extreme fitness concern. Knowing the levels of migraine permit you to address the signs early and doubtlessly assist limit its effects.
Stage 1: Prodrome
The prodrome stage is likewise called the premonitory phase, and it may begin 1 to a few days earlier than the headache itself.
Symptoms can consist of:
- food cravings
- fatigue
- depressed temper
- hyperactivity
- irritability
- neck pain or stiffness
- problem concentrating
- sensitivity to mild or sound
- yawning
Halting migraine
The key to preventing a migraine episode is early recognition and treatment. Treatments are much more likely to be successful whilst started out early, in preference to waiting to see if the symptoms get worse.
If you’ve been prescribed a medicine like a triptan, taking it at some point of the prodrome stage can assist forestall a migraine episode.
Stage 2: Aura
Not each migraine episode has an aura. Aura occurs in about one-third of migraine episodes.
For those who’ve migraine with air of secrecy, the headache is followed by way of neurological symptoms (the air of mystery) approximately 10 to half-hour earlier than the headache.
Visual signs and symptoms, like flashing lighting fixtures, zigzag lines, and blind spots, are maximum commonplace in auras. Other air of mystery symptoms can encompass:
- numbness or tingling within the face or limbs
- impairments or disturbances in taste, smell, or touch
- weak spot inside the face or limbs
- partial vision loss
- adjustments in speech
Rescue treatments for migraine
Putting a chilly compress in your brow can relieve signs and symptoms. Also, if you’ve been prescribed a medication for migraine, taking it can assist lower signs and symptoms.
These medications can consist of:
- over-the-counter (OTC) capsules like acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- triptans like rizatriptan and sumatriptan
- dihydroergotamine
- anti-nausea pills
- gepants like ubrogepant or rimegepant
- ditans like lasmiditan
Stage 3: Headache
The traditional throbbing pain of a migraine headache is the headache degree. This can final hours to days. The average period is about 4 hours.
Symptoms can vary, but they may include:
- multiplied sensitivity to light and sound
- nausea, vomiting, or both
- dizziness
- pulsing or throbbing head or neck ache
- mood adjustments
- issue dozing
Migraine remedy
Most treatments for migraine paintings quality whilst used as soon as possible after the symptoms seem.
Many humans bring their medication with them all the time for that reason. If you can’t take your remedy as quickly as symptoms seem, take it whilst you could.
OTC treatments like aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pills like ibuprofen help a few people.
If those don’t work, a prescription medication can be necessary. Prescription medicinal drugs can fall into one in every of numerous classes:
- Triptans. These balance the chemicals within the brain. Examples include sumatriptan, rizatriptan, and zolmitriptan, amongst others.
- Ergot derivatives. These paintings like triptans. Examples include ergotamine tartrate and dihydroergotamine.
- Gepants. These are a newer form of therapy. They goal receptors on sensory nerves to treat migraine complications.
- Ditans. These also are pretty new. Ditans don’t have an effect on blood vessels so they will be better for older adults with a records of heart ailment or stroke.
Sometimes you have to attempt different medicines to locate the only that works quality for you. Speak with a physician if your current treatment isn’t relieving signs or running for you.
Stage 4: Postdrome
The postdrome level is also known as a migraine hangover. It starts when the peak ache of the headache has lessened.
Migraine can affect the whole frame. During the postdrome degree, the resulting ache or discomfort can arise everywhere in the frame.
Postdrome can last 24 to 48 hours, but it doesn’t affect all and sundry, and it doesn’t must arise after each headache. People with migraine can experience the stage otherwise, and now not every body’s signs and symptoms might be the same.
Symptoms of postdrome can include:
- fatigue
- body aches
- mental “fogginess”
- dehydration
- depressed mood
- euphoric temper
- trouble concentrating
Treatment
You can reduce or save you postdrome signs via:
- staying hydrated at some stage in the migraine episode
- stretching or doing light sports after the headache
- decreasing stress, if feasible
- avoiding migraine triggers, if possible
- the use of a migraine medicine early in the episode
When to touch a doctor
Contact a health practitioner if:
- You have numerous complications in keeping with month, with each lasting hours to days.
- Your complications affect your paintings, home life, or school functioning.
- You have nausea, vomiting, or sensory disturbances with your complications.
- You have severe complications with a stiff neck.
- You have ache around the ear or eye.
- Your headaches just started all of the sudden.
