Symptoms and signs of migraine

Migraine has been known to mankind for many centuries. This disease is characterized by severe paroxysmal headaches. Experts define migraine as a type of neurological pathology, which is characterized by pain localized in one half of the head. The nature of the pain and the absence of organic causes that cause it greatly complicate the diagnosis of the disease. Migraine, the symptoms and treatment of which depend on many factors, doctors refer to the category of chronic diseases that are practically impossible to treat. At the same time, subject to certain preventive measures and rules, seizures can be successfully stopped and reduced in number. Questions about how to treat migraines are quite common on the Internet. The best way to solve this problem is to consult a qualified doctor in a timely manner, who will conduct a comprehensive examination and offer a course of treatment.

In most cases, migraine occurs, the symptoms of which depend on the cause of the pathology, severe throbbing pain in the head. In addition to severe pain with pulsation, hemicrania is characterized by:

• nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite and often slight weight loss;
• dizziness;
• irritability up to bouts of aggression;
• drowsiness;
• hypersensitivity to smells, tastes and light.

The symptoms depend on the stage of development of the pathology. After the migraine attack passes, patients usually feel good. Experts distinguish the following stages of the development of the disease:

• Harbingers of migraine is characterized by manifestations of depression, fatigue, irritability a few hours before the attack. Some patients, on the contrary, feel an increase in activity and appetite;
• aura, which is a reflection of certain processes occurring in the brain that are associated with the mechanism of migraine development. The duration of the aura is on average up to 30 minutes, but in some cases the stage is longer. This stage is characterized by visual effects in the form of blind spots, flashes of light, sensitive effects in the form of numbness or tingling, problems with the choice of words or difficulties in speech. Symptoms may occur alone or in combination;
• Headache can last from 2-3 hours to several days. Very strong pain of a bursting or pulsating nature can cover the entire head or be localized in the temporal region. At this stage, nausea or vomiting attacks are not uncommon, the desire to take refuge in a dark room alone;
• Resolution follows the headache phase and is accompanied by fatigue, depression or irritability. Concentration is difficult. Symptoms persist for up to a day.

Signs and aura

Signs of migraine are determined by the form of pathology. There is not much difference between the symptoms in men and women, but women have seizures more often. Experts distinguish migraine, the causes of which are different with and without aura. The aura in hemicrania is a complex of neuropsychological symptoms caused by spasms of cerebral vessels at the initial stage of development of the next attack.

There are the following types of aura, classified according to the symptoms:

• visual with characteristic glare, distortion, flashes in the eyes, loss of visual fields;
• auditory with characteristic auditory hallucinations, tinnitus;
• motor, manifested by difficulties in movement;
• sensory, characterized by changes in smell and taste;
• vestibular with dizziness up to falls;
• aphatic with speech disorders.

Experts divide migraine into two main forms: normal and pathology with neurological symptoms.

Classification of hemicrania depending on the symptoms

• Headache migraine without aura is defined by episodic headaches without neurological deficits.
• Cervical migraine with severe headaches due to impaired blood flow through the vertebral artery.
• Paroxysmal chronic, which is characterized by short-term pain repeated several times a day.
• Ocular, the duration of which is no more than half an hour, appears due to circulatory disorders in the occipital part of the cerebral cortex.
• Ophthalmoplegic with characteristic gas-motor disorders due to compression of the gas-motor nerve and spasms of the artery feeding the nerve.
• Retinal with characteristic bouts of transient blindness due to spasms of the vessels of the retina.
• Aactual with speech disorders during severe pain.
• Basilar (rare), characterized by tinnitus, visual impairment, discoordination, dizziness, loss of consciousness and severe prolonged pain. Most often, this variety occurs during puberty in girls.
• Abdominal, accompanied by nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and severe abdominal pain occurs only in children.
• Hemlegic with short attacks, weakness in the body and limbs.
• "Decapitated" is characterized by visual impairment and is difficult to diagnose.

Only a qualified doctor can answer the patient's question as to why the migraine appeared after the examination.

Causes

The reasons why hemicrania appears are still not fully understood. In the course of research, scientists have determined the fact of transmission of predisposition to this disease by inheritance. The disease is transmitted, namely the features of the nervous system, by women who suffer from hemicrania much more often than men.

The main cause of seizures is called the activation of the nucleus of the trigeminal nerve, leading alternately to spasm and subsequent expansion of the arteries of the brain. It has also been determined that the failure of seratonin metabolism in the central nervous system is involved in the formation of pain.

There is a predisposition when exposed to triggers or certain factors that doctors have identified in 4 groups:

1. psychological triggers, including stress, emotional and mental stress;
2. external triggers, the list of which includes changes in atmospheric pressure, loud sounds, bright lighting, smells, stuffy atmosphere, etc.;
3. physiological triggers, which include overwork, insomnia, hormonal disruptions;
4. food triggers. Doctors call alcohol and tyramine contained in many products (citrus fruits, smoked meats, cocoa, cheese, nuts, chocolate, etc.) the main stimulants of hemicrania attacks.

Insufficient intake of clean water and food, diet or caffeine withdrawal, jet lag, weather changes, menstrual cycles in women, relaxation after severe stress can also cause an attack. Migraine in men and women can occur due to hormonal imbalances due to external factors, as well as due to prolonged abstinence during the period of sexual activity.

Hemicrania in women

Migraine is diagnosed, the symptoms of which in women depend on the cause much more often than in men. Among the main causes of seizures in women:

• changes in vascular tone under the influence of hormonal levels changing during the menstrual cycle. In some women, migraine pain appears during bleeding, in others during ovulation. Migraine medicine is prescribed taking into account the hormonal background of the patient and her age;
• pregnancy, during which the load on the circulatory system of the pregnant woman increases significantly. Treatment of migraine in women carrying a fetus requires caution in the choice of drugs;
• menopause, with the onset of which the ratio of hormones in the body of women changes significantly.

Since migraine, the symptoms and treatment in women who depend on the individual characteristics of the body, can appear unexpectedly, doctors recommend taking preventive measures. Prevention with the use of traditional medicine, massage and other types of therapeutic effects can significantly reduce the risk of an attack.

Hemicrania in children

Migraine in children appears in most cases due to overwork due to heavy loads at school. Another reason for the occurrence is changes in hormonal levels due to puberty. If migraine in women is more common than in men, then in childhood, on the contrary, boys are more likely to suffer from migraine attacks. It is very difficult to diagnose migraines in young children who cannot articulate their complaints clearly. Migraine medications for children and adolescents are prescribed on the basis of survey data.

Risk factors

Risk factors for hemicrania are:

• genetic predisposition;
• age - most often the disease occurs in patients 30-39 years old;
• frequent stressful situations;
• certain foods, including those of artificial origin or of poor quality;
• starvation or irregular, malnutrition (diets);
• change in sleep patterns;
• weather changes or moving to another climatic zone;
• intense physical exertion;
• taking medications.

Complications

The main complications of hemicrania are:

• mingrenous status, manifested in the form of successive severe attacks lasting more than 72 hours with frequent vomiting;
• Mingrenose stroke, characteristic of migraine with aura.

Mingrenose status requires the patient to be admitted to a hospital.

When to see a doctor

You should make an appointment with a neurologist on suspicion of migraine if you have the following symptoms:

• vision is blurred;
• flies float in front of your eyes;
• severe paroxysmal, pressing or throbbing headache;
• feeling nauseous or vomiting;
• Dizzy;
• a state of drowsiness and weakness;
• increased irritability.

Preparing for a doctor's visit

Preparation for an appointment with a neurologist consists in collecting data: the results of previous examinations, expert opinions, and a list of medications taken. Before taking, it is advisable to refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol, so as not to affect the data of the examination and examination.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of migraine is carried out on the basis of collecting complaints and anamnesis of patients, examining the patient and talking with him. If the initial consultation does not allow you to accurately diagnose diseases, identify the causes of pathology, the neurologist can give a referral for an extended examination using modern diagnostic equipment:

• MRI of the neck and brain;
• CT scan of the brain;
• scintography of the brain;
• electroencephalography;
• duplex scanning of arteries;
• Doppler ultrasound.

Consultation with an ophthalmologist allows you to determine the condition of the fundus and cerebral vessels. The presence of migraine symptoms can indicate serious pathologies, so a thorough examination is mandatory.

Migraine is often a symptom of more serious diseases, so high-quality diagnostics using modern diagnostic equipment is an effective way to detect pathologies in a timely manner. Timely detection of diseases and access to qualified doctors is a prerequisite for recovery and full restoration of vital activity.

Treatment

If a patient is diagnosed with a migraine, the doctor selects treatment taking into account many factors, including the results of the examination:

• Drug therapy is symptomatic. The main goal of drug therapy is to reduce the intensity of seizures. The doctor selects migraine pills taking into account the form of the disease, the patient's state of health and the nature of the attacks;
• with a slight pain syndrome, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be prescribed;
• with infrequent attacks and mild forms of the disease, aniladas in combination with the effect of vasoconstriction help effectively from migraines;
• triptans for migraine with vasoconstrictor effect.

It is important to remember that migraine drugs are selected by the patient and prescribed only by a doctor, since uncontrolled medication can cause side effects and complications that will lead to serious deterioration in health.

Non-drug methods include the organization of work and rest, the exclusion of products that stimulate seizures, the rejection of alcohol and smoking, the selection of a diet, etc.

Among the non-drug methods should be mentioned:

• neck massage;
• acupuncture;
• Acupressure.

Specialists approach the treatment of migraine comprehensively. An integrated approach minimizes the impact of the disease on the patient's body and the patient's health as a whole. The combination of various methods of rehabilitation and therapy allows you to achieve excellent results in a short time. Referral to neurologists provides an opportunity to significantly improve the quality of life.

Home remedies

Home remedies for migraines can complement the effects of drug therapy. If migraine is diagnosed, treatment at home can be undertaken after consulting a doctor. Among the most effective ways should be noted:

• infusions of medicinal herbs (chamomile, peppermint, lavender, raspberry leaves, etc.);
• oregano infusion as a preventive measure;
• solution of mummy before bedtime;
• rubbing essential oils into whiskey for mild attacks;
• cold compresses on the head;
• Rest in a darkened room with clean air in silence.

Prophylaxis

In severe forms of hemicrania, preventive drug therapy can be prescribed, the use of which can significantly reduce the frequency and intensity of seizures. The drug for the prevention of hemicrania attacks is prescribed by the doctor solely on the basis of examination and examination of the patient.

An important role in prevention is played by the rejection of bad habits, the normalization of stress and rest, the minimization of emotional and physical stress. During pregnancy, medication prophylactic drugs are not prescribed due to possible harm to the health of the fetus.