Migraine Pain
If headache occurs in the form of attack episodes, it is referred to as migraine pain. Migraine attacks and migraine pain can vary from person to person. Sometimes they can occur 1-2 times a year, and other times they can appear multiple times within a month. Migraine pains are generally described as very severe headaches.
Migraine pains have certain features that distinguish them from other types of headaches. The most important of these features are nausea, sensitivity to sound and light, which accompany the headache.
Types of Migraine
Aura: First, a sensation comes, smell, sound, light… After the premonitory signs, the pain starts…
Knowing the types of migraines is crucial for proper treatment. Migraine without aura is the most common type, and most people with migraine suffer from this type.
Another type of migraine is migraine with aura. People with migraine with aura may also experience attacks without aura at times.
Causes of Migraine Genetic Factors
Migraine has many different causes, and genetic factors are among the primary ones. If one family member has migraine, the likelihood of another family member having migraine is significantly higher.
Hormonal Changes
One of the causes of migraine pain is hormonal changes in the body. As a result, migraines are more common in women. Migraine attacks in women can increase during menstrual periods due to hormonal fluctuations. The increase in headache during the menstrual period may be attributed to the presence of migraines. During this period, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound can occur. This pain is generally one-sided, intense, and throbbing.
Migraine Symptoms
Severe headache: The most significant symptom of migraine is severe headache. The severity of migraine headache can prevent individuals from carrying out their routine activities and even force them to rest.
One-sided headache: Another symptom of migraine is one-sided headache. This pain can occasionally switch sides. In one-sided headaches, there is often a tendency for more pain to occur on one side of the head than the other. Migraine headaches are typically felt in the temples and sometimes behind the eye or back of the eye.
Migraine symptoms accompanying the headache Excessive sensitivity-reactivity, Excessive and unnecessary cheerfulness, Sluggishness/dullness, Slowed thinking, Speech difficulty, Increased sensitivity to light-sound-smell, Yawning and desire to sleep, Hunger, craving for sweets, increased appetite or loss of appetite, Excessive water intake,
Increased sensitivity to light and sound occurs during migraine pain. This condition can be so severe that exposure to it can increase the intensity of the pain. Another sign of migraine is increased sensitivity to smell. Therefore, nausea and vomiting can occur in patients when exposed to strong smells like perfumes.
Migraine Aura: Another characteristic of migraines is auras. Some neurological symptoms seen before the onset of migraine pain are called “Aura”. These auras can be sensory or visual in nature.
Migraine aura occurs before the pain starts or during the initial development of the pain and is quite short-lived. They usually last about twenty minutes.
Visual aura: Patients describe seeing flickering lights.
Sensory aura: Sensory auras in migraines can cause numbness or tingling in the hands and tongue, or in the mouth and jaw.
Triggers of Migraine
Factors triggering migraines can vary from person to person. Even in the same person, triggers for migraine attacks can change. That is, while one trigger may cause an attack in the same person, another migraine attack may arise from a different cause. Therefore, it is essential to know all the factors that trigger migraines and to pay attention to them.
Some foods like cheese and chocolate can lead to migraine pain. On the other hand, skipping meals or delaying meals and not drinking enough water can also trigger migraine attacks.
Sleep patterns are also crucial to prevent migraines.
Environmental factors can also trigger migraine pain. Bright and intermittent flashing lights, climate changes, and strong odors can be triggering factors.
Psychological factors and hormonal changes in women can also trigger migraine pain. The presence of a food that benefits migraines has been scientifically proven. However, there are also foods that have been shown not to be good for migraines. Patients with migraines should be careful with such foods.
Migraine Treatment One of the most commonly used treatment methods for migraine is acupuncture. Acupuncture has the property of increasing endorphin release in the body, and endorphin is a potent painkiller. At the same time, acupuncture activates calming substances present in the body.