Migraine

What is migraine?

Migraine is a type of headache that usually occurs in stages and can last for several days. Severe migraine can adversely affect a person’s daily life, including their ability to work or study. It is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.

What are the symptoms of migraine?

Migraine attacks have a number of different symptoms and can affect patients in different ways. Symptoms of migraine include:

(a) Headache that lasts for 4 to 72 hours and has at least two of the following characteristics:

One Sided

Moderate to Severe Intensity

Throbbing

(b) At least one of the following associated symptoms:

Nausea

Vomiting

Photophobia (Sensitivity to Light)

Phonophobia (Sensitivity to Noise)

(c) Other symptoms like:

Osmophobia (Sensitivity to Smell)

Difficulty in Concentrating, Confusion

A Feeling of Being Generally Extremely Unwell

Problems with Articulation or Co-Ordination

Diarrhoea

Stiffness of the Neck and Shoulders

Speech Disturbance

Who is prone to migraine?

One out of every seven people is suffering from migraine and the chronic kind of migraine affects two per cent of the world population. Migraine is often a manifestation of our stressful lifestyles.

Women are three times more likely to have migraine than men, and up to 75% of women have found that they experience attacks around the time of their menstrual period.

What causes Migraine?

Triggers of migraine vary from person to person. They include:

Hormonal Changes

Emotional Triggers (Stress, Depression, Anxiety)

Dietary Factors (Alcohol, Caffeine, Chocolate, Nuts)

Certain Medications

Environmental Factors, including Flickering Screens, Strong Smells, Second hand Smoke, Loud Noises, Humidity, Stuffy Rooms, Temperature Changes, and Bright Lights

Low Blood Sugar

Tobacco, etc.