Understanding Migraines
Understanding Migraines
Migraine is a diagnosed medical condition that usually causes recurrent headaches. There are several different stages to a migraine attack, but it may start with changes in behavior or an “aura”, with the headache then typically starting as a dull ache which increases over time resulting in an intense, throbbing pain that is frequently felt on one side of the head and may worsen with movement, leaving you unable to carry out regular tasks.
Migraines may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, dizziness, and light or sound sensitivity. Migraines leave the sufferer feeling very fatigued during the attack and after and the attack can last from a few hours in most patients to a few days in severe cases.
Migraine Triggers
Migraine prevention is very important where possible, so recognising your triggers is a good place to start. Common triggers include lack of sleep, dehydration, stress, hormonal changes, some foods e.g. cheese, citrus fruits, and chocolate.
If you are suffering from regular migraine attacks, it is useful to keep a diary of your lifestyle, so you might be able to identify a pattern around each attack. If you know your trigger and can plan to avoid it, it can reduce the frequency of your migraine attacks.
Some patients experience an aura with their migraine attacks which acts as a warning of what is to come. Auras can be very different from patient to patient and include visual disturbances (blind spots or flashes of light), speech disturbances, or sensory symptoms (tingling or numbness). Auras usually appear in the hours just before an attack.
There are some risk factors associated with migraines; women are more likely to suffer from migraines than men, most sufferers start having migraines in early adulthood, a family history increases your risk, and patients who suffer from some other medical conditions such as epilepsy, depression, and sleep disorders.
Treating your migraine
Practical management of migraines are a common part of treatment, some tips include:
- If you feel dizzy, lying down with a cold damp face cloth across the forehead will help
- If you experience sensitivities to light/sound, lie down in a dark room and go to a quiet place
- Drink water to rehydrate
- Relaxation techniques such as meditation or deep breathing may help ease migraine
- Track your triggers and avoid them where possible
- Set a regular sleep pattern to prevent fatigue
- Pinching the skin between the thumb and index finger is an acupressure point that has been found to relieve headaches
Migraines can be a very difficult condition to deal with, but there are a variety of treatment and prevention options, our teams will be more than happy to help you try to get your attacks under control and will advise you when it is time to speak to your G.P.
Over-the-counter pain relief can be very effective in treating migraines and after answering a few of our questions, a member of staff can recommend which will suit you and your medical history best. Panafon, Nurofen, Excedrin are great, effective pain relievers that are all available to buy in-store if they suit your medical history.
Another migraine treatment that is now available to buy over the counter for patients aged 18-65 years who have already tried some of the above remedies is Sumatran Relief (Sumatriptan) however this one requires a previous migraine diagnosis from a doctor. One theory of the cause of migraine is that the blood vessels in the brain dilate resulting in the headache attack, so Sumatran Relief works to reverse that. It is important that ‘migraine’ has been previously diagnosed by a doctor and after going through a quick consultation form with one of our Pharmacists, we will let you know if this treatment is suitable for you.
This treatment comes in a pack of two tablets, you take one tablet when the migraine begins, and it should help. If the first tablet made the migraine go away but it has come back again, you can take the second tablet at least 2 hours after you have taken the first tablet, but if the first tablet did nothing for your migraine, do not take the second tablet.