How long do migraines usually last? Migraines can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. Learn about the different stages of a migraine episode, common symptoms, and effective treatments.

Migraine Episode Timeline

Migraine episodes can be divided into four or five distinct stages, although not all people with migraines experience each phase during every episode. The stages include:

1. Warning or Premonitory Phase: This stage can last from 1 to 24 hours before the aura or headache phase begins. Symptoms may include food cravings, increased thirst, stiff neck, irritability, fatigue, and anxiety.
2. Aura Phase: About 25% of people with migraines experience aura, which typically occurs 10 to 30 minutes before the headache. Aura symptoms can last 5 minutes to 1 hour and may include visual disturbances, numbness, weakness, dizziness, and speech or hearing problems.
3. Headache or Main Attack Phase: This is the most unpredictable stage, with episodes lasting anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Symptoms can include pulsing pain on one or both sides of the head, sensitivity to light/noise/odors, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and worsening with physical activity.
4. Resolution Phase: The headache gradually fades in intensity, and some people find that taking a nap can help relieve their symptoms.
5. Recovery or Postdrome Phase: As the headache lifts, you may experience exhaustion, moodiness, dizziness, confusion, and weakness. These symptoms may last up to a day after the headache.

What Can Trigger a Migraine?

Migraines can be triggered by a variety of factors, including:

• Hormonal changes (e.g., menstrual cycle, birth control, menopause)
• Stress or anxiety
• Certain foods (e.g., aged cheeses, processed meats, alcohol)
• Lack of sleep
• Changes in weather or barometric pressure
• Sensory stimuli (e.g., bright lights, loud sounds, strong smells)

Migraine Symptoms

The primary symptoms of a migraine include:

• Pulsing or throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head
• Sensitivity to light, noise, odors, or touch
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Lightheadedness
• Worsening pain with physical activity or other movement

When to Seek Medical Attention

If your migraine symptoms last longer than 72 hours, it’s important to seek medical attention. Prolonged or severe migraines may require prescription medication or other treatment options. Your healthcare provider can help determine the best course of action based on the frequency, duration, and severity of your migraine episodes.

Migraine Treatment Options

There are a variety of treatment options for migraines, depending on the frequency and severity of your symptoms:

• Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications: For infrequent or mild migraines, OTC pain relievers like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen may provide relief.
• Prescription Medications: For chronic or severe migraines, your healthcare provider may prescribe stronger medications to treat existing symptoms or help prevent future attacks.
• Home Remedies: Measures like resting in a dark, quiet room, applying a cold compress, and staying hydrated can also help alleviate migraine symptoms.
• Lifestyle Changes: Identifying and avoiding potential triggers, such as certain foods or stress, may help reduce the frequency and severity of your migraines.

Migraine Prevention Strategies

In addition to treatment options, there are several strategies that may help prevent or reduce the frequency of migraines:

1. Maintain a consistent sleep schedule and get enough rest
2. Exercise regularly to manage stress and improve overall health
3. Stay hydrated and eat a balanced, healthy diet
4. Identify and avoid potential migraine triggers, such as certain foods or environmental factors
5. Utilize stress management techniques, such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing
6. Consider preventive medication prescribed by your healthcare provider, if appropriate

Tracking Your Migraines

Keeping a migraine journal can be a valuable tool in understanding your symptoms and patterns. Record details such as the duration of each episode, the severity of your symptoms, any potential triggers, and the effectiveness of any treatments. This information can help your healthcare provider develop the most effective management plan for your migraines.

How Long Do Migraines Last? Timeline, Symptoms, and Treatment

Migraine episodes may last anywhere from a few hours to multiple days. Seek medical attention if your symptoms last longer.

A migraine attack typically lasts from 4 to 72 hours but can also last longer. It can be difficult to predict how long an individual episode will last, but charting its progress may help.

Migraine episodes can usually be divided into four or five distinct stages. Not all people with migraine experience each of these phases during each episode. Phases can include:

• warning or premonitory phase
• aura (not all people with migraine experience this phase, and those who do may not experience it during every episode)
• headache, or main attack
• resolution period
• recovery or postdrome stage (not all people with migraine experience this phase, and those who do may not experience it during every episode)

Some of these phases may only last briefly, whereas others may last much longer. You may not experience each phase with every episode you have. Keeping a migraine journal can help you track any patterns and prepare for what’s to come.

Keep reading to learn more about each stage, what you can do to find relief, and when to see a doctor.

Sometimes, migraine can begin with symptoms that have absolutely nothing to do with a headache.

These symptoms can include:

• craving certain foods
• increased thirst
• stiff neck
• irritability or other mood changes
• fatigue
• anxiety

Premonitory symptoms can last anywhere from 1 to 24 hours before the aura or headache phases begin.

About 25% of people with migraine experience aura. Aura symptoms typically happen before the headache, or main attack, occurs. It often occurs 10 to 30 minutes before the headache pain begins.

Aura symptoms can last anywhere from 5 minutes to 1 hour.

Aura can include a wide range of neurological symptoms. You may see:

• colored spots
• dark spots
• sparkles or “stars”
• flashing lights
• zigzag lines
• “heat waves”

You may feel:

• numbness or tingling
• weakness
• dizziness
• anxiety or confusion

You may also experience disturbances in speech and hearing. In rare cases, fainting and partial paralysis are possible.

Although these symptoms usually precede a migraine headache in adults, it’s possible for them to occur at the same time. Children may be more likely to experience an aura at the same time as their headache.

In some cases, aura symptoms may come and go without ever leading to a headache.

Most cases of migraine aren’t accompanied by aura symptoms. Migraine without aura moves directly from the warning stage into the headache stage.

Headache symptoms are typically the same for migraine with and without aura. They may include:

• pulsing pain on one or both sides of your head
• sensitivity to light, noise, odors, or even touch
• blurred vision
• nausea
• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• lightheadedness
• worsening pain with physical activity or other movement

During a migraine attack, many people may be unable to work or continue with their usual daily activities.

This phase is the most unpredictable, with episodes lasting anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

Many migraine headaches gradually fade in intensity. Some people find that taking a nap can help relieve their symptoms. Children may only need to rest a few minutes to see results. This is known as the resolution phase.

As the headache begins to lift, you may experience the recovery phase. This can include a feeling of exhaustion or even of elation. You may also feel:

• moody
• dizzy
• confused
• weak

Your symptoms during the recovery phase may pair with symptoms you experienced during the warning phase. For example, if you lost your appetite during the warning phase you may now find that you’re ravenous.

These symptoms may last for up to a day after your headache.

There isn’t one right way to treat a migraine. If your migraine episodes are infrequent, you may be able to use over-the-counter (OTC) medications to treat symptoms as they occur.

If your symptoms are chronic or severe, OTC treatments may not be helpful. A doctor may be able to prescribe stronger medication to treat existing symptoms and help prevent future attacks.

Home remedies

Sometimes, changing your environment may be enough to relieve the bulk of your symptoms.

If you can, seek solace in a quiet room with minimal lighting. Use lamps instead of overhead lighting, and draw the blinds or curtains to block sunlight.

The light from your phone, computer, TV, and other electronic screens may exacerbate your symptoms, so limiting your screen time may help.

Applying a cold compress and massaging your temples may also provide relief. If you aren’t feeling nauseous, upping your water intake may also be helpful.

It can also help to track, identify, and avoid what’s triggering your symptoms. This may help reduce symptoms and prevent them from recurring.

Common triggers can include:

• stress
• certain foods
• skipped meals
• drinks with alcohol or caffeine
• certain medications
• not getting enough sleep
• hormonal changes
• weather changes
• concussions and other head injuries

OTC medication

OTC pain relievers may help with symptoms that are mild or infrequent. Common options include:

• aspirin (Bayer)
• ibuprofen (Advil)
• naproxen (Aleve)

If your symptoms are more severe, you may want to try a medication that combines a pain reliever and caffeine, such as Excedrin. Caffeine has the potential to both trigger and treat migraine episodes, so you may want to avoid this product unless you’re sure that caffeine isn’t a trigger for you.

These medications shouldn’t be used more than 10 to 15 days per month. Doing so can lead to medication overuse headaches.

Prescription medication

If OTC options aren’t working, you may decide to talk with a doctor.

They may be able to prescribe stronger, more targeted medications to help ease the pain.

This may include triptans, such as:

• sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet)
• zolmitriptan (Zomig)
• eletriptan (Relpax)
• rizatriptan (Maxalt)
• almotriptan

If your migraine episodes are chronic, a doctor may also prescribe medication to help prevent future episodes. These medications may include:

• Calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists: rimegepant (Nurtec ODT) or ubrogepant (Ubrelvy)
• Selective serotonin 1F receptor agonist: lasmiditan (Reyvow)

They may also prescribe medication to help relieve nausea.

If you’re experiencing a migraine episode for the first time, you may be able to relieve your symptoms with home remedies and OTC medications.

But if you’ve had multiple migraine episodes, you may want to make an appointment with a doctor. They can assess your symptoms and develop a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs.

You should see your doctor right away if:

• Your symptoms began after a head injury.
• Your symptoms last longer than 72 hours.
• You’re 40 years old or older and are experiencing a migraine for the first time.
• You develop a sudden severe headache.
• You’re over the age of 50.
• Your headaches have changed in quality.
• You have a headache that occurs with neurological symptoms, such as weakness on one side of the body, numbness, loss of vision, loss of consciousness.

A migraine episode typically lasts anywhere from 4 to 72 hours.

It consists of four or five phases during which you may experience other symptoms. During the headache phase, you may experience throbbing pain and sensitivity to light, sound, smell, or touch.

A doctor can prescribe prescription medication that may help relieve pain and prevent future episodes.

How Long Do Migraines Last? Timeline, Symptoms, and Treatment

Migraine episodes may last anywhere from a few hours to multiple days. Seek medical attention if your symptoms last longer.

A migraine attack typically lasts from 4 to 72 hours but can also last longer. It can be difficult to predict how long an individual episode will last, but charting its progress may help.

Migraine episodes can usually be divided into four or five distinct stages. Not all people with migraine experience each of these phases during each episode. Phases can include:

• warning or premonitory phase
• aura (not all people with migraine experience this phase, and those who do may not experience it during every episode)
• headache, or main attack
• resolution period
• recovery or postdrome stage (not all people with migraine experience this phase, and those who do may not experience it during every episode)

Some of these phases may only last briefly, whereas others may last much longer. You may not experience each phase with every episode you have. Keeping a migraine journal can help you track any patterns and prepare for what’s to come.

Keep reading to learn more about each stage, what you can do to find relief, and when to see a doctor.

Sometimes, migraine can begin with symptoms that have absolutely nothing to do with a headache.

These symptoms can include:

• craving certain foods
• increased thirst
• stiff neck
• irritability or other mood changes
• fatigue
• anxiety

Premonitory symptoms can last anywhere from 1 to 24 hours before the aura or headache phases begin.

About 25% of people with migraine experience aura. Aura symptoms typically happen before the headache, or main attack, occurs. It often occurs 10 to 30 minutes before the headache pain begins.

Aura symptoms can last anywhere from 5 minutes to 1 hour.

Aura can include a wide range of neurological symptoms. You may see:

• colored spots
• dark spots
• sparkles or “stars”
• flashing lights
• zigzag lines
• “heat waves”

You may feel:

• numbness or tingling
• weakness
• dizziness
• anxiety or confusion

You may also experience disturbances in speech and hearing. In rare cases, fainting and partial paralysis are possible.

Although these symptoms usually precede a migraine headache in adults, it’s possible for them to occur at the same time. Children may be more likely to experience an aura at the same time as their headache.

In some cases, aura symptoms may come and go without ever leading to a headache.

Most cases of migraine aren’t accompanied by aura symptoms. Migraine without aura moves directly from the warning stage into the headache stage.

Headache symptoms are typically the same for migraine with and without aura. They may include:

• pulsing pain on one or both sides of your head
• sensitivity to light, noise, odors, or even touch
• blurred vision
• nausea
• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• lightheadedness
• worsening pain with physical activity or other movement

During a migraine attack, many people may be unable to work or continue with their usual daily activities.

This phase is the most unpredictable, with episodes lasting anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

Many migraine headaches gradually fade in intensity. Some people find that taking a nap can help relieve their symptoms. Children may only need to rest a few minutes to see results. This is known as the resolution phase.

As the headache begins to lift, you may experience the recovery phase. This can include a feeling of exhaustion or even of elation. You may also feel:

• moody
• dizzy
• confused
• weak

Your symptoms during the recovery phase may pair with symptoms you experienced during the warning phase. For example, if you lost your appetite during the warning phase you may now find that you’re ravenous.

These symptoms may last for up to a day after your headache.

There isn’t one right way to treat a migraine. If your migraine episodes are infrequent, you may be able to use over-the-counter (OTC) medications to treat symptoms as they occur.

If your symptoms are chronic or severe, OTC treatments may not be helpful. A doctor may be able to prescribe stronger medication to treat existing symptoms and help prevent future attacks.

Home remedies

Sometimes, changing your environment may be enough to relieve the bulk of your symptoms.

If you can, seek solace in a quiet room with minimal lighting. Use lamps instead of overhead lighting, and draw the blinds or curtains to block sunlight.

The light from your phone, computer, TV, and other electronic screens may exacerbate your symptoms, so limiting your screen time may help.

Applying a cold compress and massaging your temples may also provide relief. If you aren’t feeling nauseous, upping your water intake may also be helpful.

It can also help to track, identify, and avoid what’s triggering your symptoms. This may help reduce symptoms and prevent them from recurring.

Common triggers can include:

• stress
• certain foods
• skipped meals
• drinks with alcohol or caffeine
• certain medications
• not getting enough sleep
• hormonal changes
• weather changes
• concussions and other head injuries

OTC medication

OTC pain relievers may help with symptoms that are mild or infrequent. Common options include:

• aspirin (Bayer)
• ibuprofen (Advil)
• naproxen (Aleve)

If your symptoms are more severe, you may want to try a medication that combines a pain reliever and caffeine, such as Excedrin. Caffeine has the potential to both trigger and treat migraine episodes, so you may want to avoid this product unless you’re sure that caffeine isn’t a trigger for you.

These medications shouldn’t be used more than 10 to 15 days per month. Doing so can lead to medication overuse headaches.

Prescription medication

If OTC options aren’t working, you may decide to talk with a doctor.

They may be able to prescribe stronger, more targeted medications to help ease the pain.

This may include triptans, such as:

• sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet)
• zolmitriptan (Zomig)
• eletriptan (Relpax)
• rizatriptan (Maxalt)
• almotriptan

If your migraine episodes are chronic, a doctor may also prescribe medication to help prevent future episodes. These medications may include:

• Calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists: rimegepant (Nurtec ODT) or ubrogepant (Ubrelvy)
• Selective serotonin 1F receptor agonist: lasmiditan (Reyvow)

They may also prescribe medication to help relieve nausea.

If you’re experiencing a migraine episode for the first time, you may be able to relieve your symptoms with home remedies and OTC medications.

But if you’ve had multiple migraine episodes, you may want to make an appointment with a doctor. They can assess your symptoms and develop a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs.

You should see your doctor right away if:

• Your symptoms began after a head injury.
• Your symptoms last longer than 72 hours.
• You’re 40 years old or older and are experiencing a migraine for the first time.
• You develop a sudden severe headache.
• You’re over the age of 50.
• Your headaches have changed in quality.
• You have a headache that occurs with neurological symptoms, such as weakness on one side of the body, numbness, loss of vision, loss of consciousness.

A migraine episode typically lasts anywhere from 4 to 72 hours.

It consists of four or five phases during which you may experience other symptoms. During the headache phase, you may experience throbbing pain and sensitivity to light, sound, smell, or touch.

A doctor can prescribe prescription medication that may help relieve pain and prevent future episodes.

Migraine in children | Rassvet Clinic

Do children have headaches? Yes, it definitely hurts. Children are characterized by approximately the same types of headaches as adults. One of the most common and worrying is migraine, and let’s talk about it.

Migraine in a child can occur at any age and manifest itself in different ways. Infants do not complain of headache, but they can see its precursors, such as benign paroxysmal torticollis: head-tilting episodes that may be accompanied by vomiting and loss of body control. There are also studies showing a link between migraine without aura and colic.

Young children may have episodes during which they are less active than usual. Occasionally, vomiting occurs and the child may cry, rock in place, or hide, which may indicate a headache. In some cases, babies with migraine act as if they are dizzy: for example, they are afraid to walk.

School-age children can complain about headaches and how they feel about them. At this age, pain most often affects the forehead. Migraine pain lasts from 1 hour or more, is often accompanied by sensitivity to light and noise, there may be nausea and vomiting.

Symptoms of migraine in adolescents are similar to those in adults. It is pulsating, one-sided, accompanied by nausea or vomiting. Adolescents recognize their pain quite clearly and can pay attention to the aura, mood swings before an attack, and the gradual development of pain. A migraine attack at this age usually lasts from 4 to 72 hours.

Some children with migraine experience vision changes, tingling and numbness of the extremities, or difficulty speaking within a few minutes (5 to 60) before the onset of the headache. These neurological symptoms that precede the headache are called “aura”.

Visual aura is most common and may include flashing lights, zigzag lines or partial loss of vision (for cattle), visual “snow” or unusual phenomena: the image of an object remains in the field of view when the object itself has already been removed (palinopsia). It is important to know that a migraine aura usually occurs in front of one eye, spreads gradually, is usually flat, and has no specific colors.

Migraine is a primary headache, so we will not find changes on MRI, CT and other examination methods. In most cases, the cause of a child’s headache can be determined by obtaining a complete medical history and examination. Additional research is usually not required.

Diagnosis

In order to make a diagnosis of migraine, doctors use special diagnostic criteria that are suitable for children over 5 years of age.

A. At least five attacks of headache fulfilling criteria B to D.

B. Headache lasting 30 minutes or longer (without treatment).

C. Headache has at least one of the following characteristics:

• pain of moderate or severe intensity;
• unilateral or bilateral headache;
• throbbing or pressing pain;
• exercise intolerance, avoidance of walking or playing.

D. Headache associated with at least one of the following symptoms:

• loss of appetite, stomach discomfort or dizziness;
• sensitivity to light and sounds, as evidenced by the inability to watch TV or play on a computer, set-top box;
• Presence of nausea or vomiting during headache.

Е. Headache was not associated with other nosologies.

But in some cases, MRI examination of the brain is still worth it. What are these cases?

• Changes in the state that the neurologist finds during the examination.
• Sudden onset of headache.
• Pain is aggravated by straining, coughing, sneezing.
• Pain is worse when lying down.
• Under 6 years of age.
• No family history of headache.
• Recently had a head injury.
• Headache accompanied by fever.
• Headache that is new or progressive.

If any of these criteria are met, the doctor will order an MRI of the brain to rule out other causes of the headache.

Diagnosis – migraine. What to do?

Learn to stop an attack.

For migraine it is important to stop the attack as soon as possible. For this, ibuprofen, paracetamol or naproxen can be used in children.

It is important not to use combined analgesics and preparations containing caffeine, because their frequent use can lead to an increase in headaches. It is also necessary to abandon analgin and aspirin due to their side effects.

If these drugs do not help, you can talk to your doctor about using triptans. In Russia, children are allowed sumatriptan from the age of 18 (abroad from the age of 5). The most common side effects of triptans are jaw or chest tightness and mild drowsiness.

It is important to know that active movement, relaxing music and aromatherapy cannot help a child at the moment of an attack – these remedies will rather exacerbate the headache. It is better to invite the child to lie down in a quiet and dark place.

Learn to prevent the development of headaches.

Prevention of migraine begins with the search for triggers – stimuli that provoke the development of a headache. For each person, these incentives are different, but there are several of the most frequent ones: stress, disruption of the regimen, reduced sleep, menstruation.

Find out what triggers your child’s migraine with a headache diary. For an effective assessment of the diary, it is necessary to keep it for 3 months, noting in it when the headache began, how long it lasted, how it was stopped, what was provoked, how it started, what was accompanied. You can download the diary here, keep it on paper yourself or use applications and bots, for example, migrebot.

Non-drug methods.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – not only helps with anxiety and depression, which affect the frequency of headaches, but also with nervous cognitive attitudes associated with headaches (for example, “I will always have a headache”).

Mindfullness is a mindfulness training based on meditation. Helps reduce stress, improve psychological well-being and reduce headache days.

Cefaly is a transcutaneous trigeminal nerve stimulator, which is one of the main links in the development of migraine. It can help and stop a headache, and prevent it.

Medical methods.

Headache can be prevented by medication using certain anticonvulsants (topiramate, valproic acid), antidepressants (amitriptyline), and beta-blockers (propranolol). However, modern studies show that the effect of most of them is comparable to placebo. Therefore, some experts now suggest choosing cognitive-behavioral therapy and learning to live with migraine to start treatment. If these methods are not available, doctors, together with the patient, decide on the appointment of one of the drugs described above, based on the presence of concomitant diseases and side effects. For example, topiramate is contraindicated in people with urolithiasis and underweight, and amitriptyline is contraindicated in people with arrhythmia.

Effective in adults but not needed in children:

• botulinum toxin – indicated and proven effective in treating chronic migraine in adults, was as effective as saline in a study on chronic migraine in children;
• monoclonal antibodies are a good method, but not indicated for children, due to the risk of cessation of growth;
• biofeedback – in children has limited evidence-based effectiveness, in several studies comparing classical therapy and biofeedback, biofeedback clearly loses.

Migraine is an insidious disease and significantly reduces the quality of life, but timely diagnosis and rationally selected therapy will improve a child’s life and help him enjoy every new day again.

Author:

Frolova Anastasia Valentinovna
pediatric neurologist

Migraine – causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Make an appointment

Headache is one of the most common complaints of patients who visit a neurologist or family doctor. Its causes can be different – from stress to diseases of the skull and brain. Headaches can vary in nature, duration and intensity. They are divided into primary and secondary, while primary headaches are an independent pathology, and secondary ones arise as a result of diseases of the skull and brain. In this article we will consider one of the forms of primary headache – migraine.

Contents of the article:

• What is migraine
• Forms of migraine
• Causes of development
• Diseases – symptoms
• Which doctor to contact
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• What to do in case of an attack
• Prevention

What such a migraine

Migraine is one of the most common neurological diseases that occurs in people of all ages and genders. It manifests itself in the form of sharp headaches that can last from several hours to several days. Often the pain is localized in one half of the head and is accompanied by photosensitivity, nausea, weakness and other symptoms.

Migraine is a serious disease that has its own characteristics and requires the right approach to treatment. Treatment may include medication, preventive measures, behavioral therapy, and referral to a neurologist or GP. An attack most often occurs in the form of outbreaks and there are connections between its appearance and a long period of a year or a person’s life.

It is necessary to treat the disease directly under the supervision of a specialist, choose the right course of treatment and do not take analgesics more than twice a week. To find out more information about the services and prices of migraine treatment centers, you can refer to information groups or pages on the Internet where you can evaluate the quality and condition of the field of neurology in Russia. It is also important to consider health conditions, restrictions and intolerances of drugs, as well as follow the rules and permits when visiting medical institutions and obtaining diagnostic services.

Migraine forms

Migraine is a type of headache characterized by recurring attacks. These attacks are accompanied by a throbbing headache, which can have a unilateral localization and a sufficiently high intensity, which makes it difficult for a person’s daily life.

In patients, pain may be aggravated by climbing stairs and exertion. In addition, such pain is often accompanied by one or more symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light and sound. Usually, a migraine attack lasts from 4 hours to 3 days. These symptoms are characteristic of migraine without aura, which occurs in 80% of cases.

Migraine with aura (in 20% of cases) includes a complex of reversible neurological symptoms that precede an attack. These include fully reversible visual disturbances such as flickering spots, streaks, visual disturbances, fully reversible sensory symptoms such as numbness and tingling sensations, fully reversible speech impairments, and fully reversible distortions in the perception of size and shape of objects.

Causes of development

Studies show that migraine headache is caused by neurogenic inflammation and secondary dilatation of blood vessels, that is, their persistent expansion.

Many migraine patients have a family history of migraine. However, the appearance of migraine is also associated with the level of female sex hormones, so women are more likely to suffer from it.

People with migraine have increased excitability of brain cells, which may be increased by exposure to various migraine triggers—emotional stress, weather changes, menstruation, hunger, lack of or excessive sleep, certain foods (eg, chocolate, citrus fruits, bananas) , fatty cheeses) and alcohol. In response to the excitation of brain structures, specific proteins are released that cause the expansion of cerebral vessels and the activation of pain receptors in their walls. Pain impulses are transmitted to the sensory cortex of the brain, which creates a feeling of throbbing pain in migraine attacks.

Diseases that lead to headaches

Migraine refers to primary headache when there are no other diseases that could cause it. However, secondary headaches caused by other diseases can resemble migraine, and therefore the doctor usually conducts a thorough examination of the patient in order to establish the cause of migraine-like conditions and determine the tactics of treatment.
Possible causes of secondary headaches are listed below:

• head and/or neck injury;
• vascular lesions of the cervical spine;
• non-vascular intracranial lesions such as brain tumors or intracranial hypertension of various origins;
• medication intake and/or withdrawal;
• infections;
• violation of the structures of the skull and face;
• mental illness.

In the presence of secondary headaches, treatment should be aimed at eliminating the underlying disease that caused them. However, for primary migraine, treatment is aimed at reducing the frequency and severity of attacks, and at relieving symptoms during an attack.

Which doctor to contact

If you have a migraine, it is recommended to consult a neurologist or a neurologist or an osteopath. A neurologist is a specialist who diagnoses and treats diseases of the nervous system, including headaches, including migraines.

Depending on your symptoms and medical history, your doctor may recommend additional tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or an electroencephalogram (EEG), to establish a diagnosis and rule out other possible causes of headache.

Your doctor may also prescribe medicines to relieve and/or prevent migraine attacks. It is important to remember that self-medication and the use of medicines without the advice of a doctor can worsen the condition and lead to side effects. Therefore, in the presence of migraine, it is better to contact an experienced specialist for advice and treatment.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of migraine is usually based on the symptoms described by the patient and their characteristics. Often, to clarify the diagnosis and exclude other possible causes of headache, a neurologist may prescribe a number of additional examinations.

One such method is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which provides a detailed picture of the brain and excludes other possible causes of headaches, such as swelling or bleeding. An electroencephalogram (EEG) may be ordered to rule out other conditions that may be causing migraine-like symptoms.

In addition, a neurologist may perform a physical examination, including blood pressure, fundus examination, and motor coordination. They may also ask a series of questions about symptoms to clarify the diagnosis and determine the best treatment.

Diagnosis of migraine requires complex examinations, including blood tests, CT and ultrasound of the arteries of the head, instrumental methods for detecting pathological changes, and others. In modern medical practice, combined methods of treatment are used, including taking medications, general daily regimen, activity, sleep and nutrition phases.

It is important to note that an accurate diagnosis of migraine may take time and observation of the patient’s symptoms for several months. Therefore, if you have a headache, you should contact a qualified specialist who will conduct a thorough examination and help determine the exact diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment of migraine is carried out under the supervision of a neurologist or osteopath, and includes pain relief, preventive therapy and behavioral therapy. To stop a pain attack, the patient is selected drugs that relieve headaches and, if necessary, drugs that reduce nausea and vomiting.

One of the main points in the treatment of migraine is the prevention of attacks. To do this, it is necessary to avoid triggers such as weather changes, stress, alcohol, and certain foods. You can also use antidepressants, beta-blockers and other drugs that can affect the headache.

However, it must be remembered that migraine can be a sign of other diseases, so if it occurs, you should consult a doctor and conduct a comprehensive examination. In addition, when using drugs, it is necessary to monitor their duration of use and possible side effects.

Prophylactic treatment prescribed by a neurologist or osteopath is individual for each patient, as not all migraine patients are indicated for it. The goal of preventive therapy is to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks.

To increase the effectiveness of treatment, patients are advised to follow recommendations to improve lifestyle, eliminate factors that can provoke migraine attacks, such as emotional stress, insufficient or excessive sleep, hunger and alcohol intake. You should also avoid certain foods that can make headaches worse, such as chocolate, citrus fruits, bananas, and fatty cheeses.

An osteopath can use a variety of techniques to treat migraine, including manual therapy, gentle techniques, manual therapy of the cervical spine, muscle stretching, and muscle strengthening exercises.

Chiropractic can help restore normal circulation and reduce levels of neurogenic inflammation in the brain, which can reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks. The osteopath may also recommend lifestyle changes such as dietary modifications, muscle strengthening exercises, and changes in work and daily habits.

It is important to remember that migraine is a chronic condition and treatment must be prescribed and monitored by a physician. Patients should follow the doctor’s recommendations and avoid factors that can provoke seizures, if possible, in order to achieve the best treatment results.

Migraine attack – what to do

If a person suddenly has a severe headache that he has not experienced before, then you should immediately consult a doctor. The doctor will conduct a thorough examination and find out the cause of the headache, as well as determine whether it is a migraine or not.

Do not self-medicate, because the proportion of secondary headaches that occur on the background of diseases is very high. Effective treatment of such pain depends on the treatment of the underlying pathology, and often treatment with painkillers is ineffective.

It is especially important to see a doctor if you experience “new” headaches, as headaches may be the only symptom of life-threatening conditions such as hypertensive crisis, stroke, and others. Therefore, you should not postpone the visit to the doctor and it is better to immediately consult with him to determine the cause of the headache and choose the appropriate treatment.

Prevention

There are many ways to prevent migraine, including changing your daily routine and working conditions, controlling hormonal changes, using medications, and massage.

For most children and adults with migraine, a list of triggers such as smells, red wine, or being too active should be made. It is also important to monitor sleep and nutrition.

Many anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, can reduce the risk of migraine symptoms. However, before using any drugs, you should consult with a therapist or neurologist to avoid possible contraindications.

Comprehensive measures can also help, including classical neurology, studying the process of migraine and assessing its duration. Combination therapies that can affect the patient’s well-being are prescribed in the front-line rooms of the clinic, designed to study migraine.

Migraine symptoms can also be relieved by massage and body modification, such as changing the position of the head and hands. However, in the case of severe manifestations of migraine, concomitant diseases or depression, the help of a neurologist is necessary.

It should also be borne in mind that migraine can appear at any age and on both sides of the head, and its manifestations can be different. When signs of migraine appear, you should consult a doctor to select the most effective treatment and prevention.