2023-05-11 15:16:03
Although many people suffer from migraines—affecting about 12 percent of the US population—the neurological condition is often misdiagnosed and misunderstood. So headaches and migraines are sometimes lumped together or underestimated how debilitating migraines can actually be.
According to the American Migraine Foundation Historically, migraines have been neglected as “one of the most debilitating diseases in the world”.
Although it occurs three times more often in women than in men and can also be genetic, migraines can affect anyone, including children. Understanding what triggers them and how best to treat them can make all the difference.
Experts have explained what people often misunderstand about migraines.
1. Migraine attacks are the same as headaches
Migraine attacks are not just a simple headache, experts say. “Migraines are much more complex,” explains Lauren Green, a neurologist at Keck Medicine of USC Yahoo Life.
dr Kiran Rajneesh, a neurologist specializing in headache, migraine and pain medicine in the department of neurology at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, explains Yahoo Lifethat migraines can be “debilitating” and are caused by “electrochemical imbalances” in the brain.
“It’s associated with nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and a variety of other symptoms,” Green says. She adds, “Often people who don’t suffer from migraines are unaware of just how debilitating an untreated migraine can be. The pain can be severe and the associated symptoms horrendous, rendering a person unable to go about their normal daily activities.”
2. Not all migraine attacks are created equal
Migraine symptoms are not universal and can vary from person to person. “One person may have a migraine with an aura consisting of blinking lights or zigzag lines, while another person may not,” explains Green. “Some people experience severe nausea, while others are more likely to experience light sensitivity or dizziness. The way a migraine progresses varies greatly from person to person, so the treatment plan is very individual as well.”
Rajneesh explains that the electrochemical imbalance that leads to a migraine attack can start in different parts of the brain. “Depending on where it starts, the symptoms can be different,” he says. However, he notes that in most cases the imbalance originates in the occipital lobe, which is located at the back of the brain and contains the visual cortex, which helps people interpret what they see. This also explains why some migraine sufferers see auras. These arise in the occipital lobe and can be described as “spots, zigzag lines [und] lightning appears”.
dr Niushen Zhang, clinical assistant professor in the department of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford Medicine, also points out that there are many classifications of migraines. “For example, the frequency of migraine attacks determines whether a person suffers from episodic or chronic migraines,” Zhang said Yahoo Life. “People with episodic migraines have fewer than 15 headache days per month. Chronic migraines are when someone has headaches for more than 15 days a month, where [mehr als] 8 of those days are moderate to severe and associated with migraine symptoms for more than 3 months.”
3. Food is not the main cause of migraines
Although certain foods and alcohol, such as red wine, chocolate, and cheese, are known to trigger migraines in some people, the main cause of migraines is actually stress. “It’s a very, very important trigger,” says Rajneesh. According to the American Migraine Foundation, stress is a trigger in nearly 70 percent of people who suffer from this neurological disorder.
Using stress management techniques can help keep stress at bay, according to the Mayo Clinic especially mindfulness meditation in the form of calming breathing methods or picture journeys to relax body and mind. Sleep and regular exercise, including yoga, also help manage stress, according to Rajneesh.
4. Over-the-counter painkillers don’t always help with the pain
If you’ve ever had a painful migraine attack and over-the-counter pain relievers didn’t help, you’re not alone. While some migraine sufferers respond to over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen with caffeine, “many others require prescription medications to either prevent the migraine from occurring or treat the migraine acutely,” says Green.
If patients don’t respond to over-the-counter pain relievers, Green says, there are “many” different prescription drugs available — including triptans — that your doctor or neurologist can prescribe. “Each patient is different when it comes to what type of drug is effective for them,” says Zhang. “It’s helpful when patients talk to their doctors about what’s right for them.”
5. When you take your painkillers is more important than you think
When it comes to treating migraine attacks, timing is key. According to experts, if you feel the first signs of an oncoming migraine, it is important to take the appropriate preparation immediately. “Migraine medication should be taken right at the onset of the migraine,” says Green. “If they are not taken right away, the migraine will continue to get worse and the drug will be less effective.”
6. Painkillers aren’t the only way to treat migraine attacks
Migraine medications are only part of a treatment plan. As Rajneesh explains, “Lifestyle changes are just as important in migraine attacks as taking medication.”
These lifestyle changes include figuring out what your personal migraine triggers are — which can include stress, certain foods, smells like perfume, and even weather changes — and avoiding them or reducing exposure to them as much as possible. But Rajneesh says it’s just as important to eat a healthy, balanced diet – “not just avoid triggers” – and prioritize sleep. Research shows that lack of sleep can increase the severity and frequency of migraine attacks.
While medication can help migraine sufferers, Rajneesh says, “I can’t stress enough the importance of lifestyle changes.”
Zhang agrees, saying that “the foundation” of migraine treatment is lifestyle changes. “A regular, predictable daily schedule of eating, sleeping, and exercise can be very helpful in reducing the frequency and severity of migraines,” she says.
Rachel Grumman Bender
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