Migraine
Introduction
Migraine is a neurological disorder characterized by the recurrent, severe headache is often accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light or sound. This usually affects a side of the head, can live from hours to days, and can significantly interfere with daily activities. Migraine is believed to include nerve signals in the brain, abnormal brain activity affecting blood vessels and chemicals.
Types of Migraine
Migraine without aura
the most common type, incorporating headaches attacks without warning signs, usually lasting 4-72 hours.
Migraine with aura
including sensory disturbances such as visual glow, zigzag lines, or tingling before the headache begins.
Chronic migraine
Headache occurs in 15 or more days per month for more than three months, which features migraine features at least 8 days.
Hemipalgic migraine
Rare type causes temporary weakness or paralysis of the body with symptoms of migraine.
Causes of Migraine
- Genetic factors play an important role, as migraines often run in families in generations.
- Hormonal changes in estrogen during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause, especially ups and downs can trigger migraine attacks.
- Stress and anxiety can change brain chemistry and increase the possibility of migraine episode.
- Some foods and beverages such as aged cheese, chocolate, processed meat, caffeine or alcohol migraine can be provoked.
- Irregular sleep patterns, including too much or too low sleep, can contribute to the onset of migraine.
- Bright lights, loud noise, or strong odor can eliminate the nervous system, trigger headaches.
- Food or long -term fasting can cause less blood sugar, causing migraine symptoms.
- Changes in weather, including changes in barometer pressure, temperature, or humidity, may affect the frequency of migraine.
- Excessive use of some drugs, especially pain relievers, can cause headaches and may spoil the severity of migraine.
- Neurological changes in brain activity and abnormal regulation of blood vessels can begin directly migraine pain.
Clinical features of Migraine:
Severe headache pain
usually severely medium in intensity, often affects a side of the head.
Aura symptoms
may include visual disturbances such as flash, zigzag lines or temporary vision loss before headache.
Nausea and vomiting
usually with migraine attacks, deteriorating discomfort.
Sensitivity to light and sound
even normal light or sound can feel unbearable during an attack.
The duration of the attack
the headache can last from 4 hours to 72 hours if untreated.
Symptoms associated with Migraine
- Pain or pulsed pain in one or both edges of the head.
- Looking at blurred vision or glowing lights and zigzag patterns.
- A strong urge to nausea and vomiting during a headache.
- Bright light, loud voice, or excessive sensitivity to strong smell.
- Prior to migraine attack, during or later fatigue and weakness.
- Difficulty focusing during the episode and mental confusion.
- Dizziness or a spinning sensation, sometimes with balance problems.
- Before the onset of a headache, the face, lips, or tingling or numbness in the hands.
Investigations in Migraine
- The doctor gathers detailed information about the frequency, duration, trigger and related symptoms of headaches. Family history of migraine or other neurological disorders is also considered. It helps to distinguish migraine from other headache types and guides the need for further clinical trials.
A complete physical examination and neurological evaluation is performed to evaluate physical and neurological examination, awareness, muscle strength, coordination and sensation. These tests help to detect any abnormalities that may indicate other conditions, such as brain lesions, strokes or nervous disorders, which may mimic migraine symptoms.
MRI scans produce wide images of brain and blood vessels. They are used to control tumors, strokes, arterirs or structural abnormalities. Although not always necessary for specific migraine, MRI is valuable when symptoms are abnormal or neurological examination reveals unusual conclusions.
CT scans are sharp imaging tests that are used to detect bleeding, tumors or problems of important brain structure. They are often used in emergency cases where sudden, severe headache occur. The whistle helps to exclude life-drank causes and provides assurance if the symptoms of migraine overlaps with other disorders.
EEG measures brain electrical activity. Although regularly not used for migraine, this can be done when seizures are suspicious or symptoms are overlap with epilepsy. It helps distinguish between migraine -related aura symptoms and seizure -related visual or sensory disturbances, to ensure that the correct treatment approach is followed.
Blood tests can identify infection, inflammation, or metabolic issues that can cause headaches. They help control thyroid disorders, vitamin deficiency or autoimmune diseases that can mimic migraine symptoms. These results, combined with clinical findings, guide further evaluation and treatment decisions for headache management.
This test examines cerebrospinal fluid for infection, bleeding, or other neurological conditions. It is rarely essential for migraine, but when there is suspicion of meningitis, encephalitis, or sabarachinoid hemorrhage, especially can be done in cases with a sudden onset or unusual headache pattern.
Since some migraines cause visual symptoms, eye stress, optic nerve inflammation, or a wide eye examination for retinal problems. This helps control vision-related causes of headache and ensures that visual disturbances related to migraine are not wrong for primary eye disorders.
can help prevent migraine identifying food allergies, environmental triggers, or hormonal changes. Allergic testing or elimination diet may be advised for patients whose migraines appear to be associated with specific triggers, allowing medical treatment with medical treatment to reduce migraine episodes.