Why Does Migraines occur?
More than just a headache, migraines are a severe headache disorder that causes a wide range of debilitating symptoms. Migraine attacks can last for hours and sometimes days which means that migraine sufferers are often unable to go about their daily lives for significant periods of time.
If you suffer from migraines, you’re probably desperate for some relief. The best way to treat painful migraines is to understand them so that you can apply the most effective treatment possible.
What Is a Migraine?
A migraine is a headache that causes intense, throbbing, and pulsating pain that can be on one side of the head or both. Depending on the type you have, a migraine can cause a wide range of symptoms throughout the entire body.
If you have a common type of migraine known as a migraine with an aura, you will experience visual disturbances like flashes of light, blind spots in your vision, or floaters before the head pain starts. Not all migraines have auras and it’s even possible to have an aura without any head pain.
Migraine symptoms
- Head pain
- Sensitivity to light, sound, and smell
- Nausea
- Trouble speaking
- Visual disturbances
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Confusion
Migraine Causes and Triggers
The exact cause of migraines isn’t fully understood, but studies have shown that when they occur the chemicals, nerves, and blood vessels in the brain go through temporary changes and this is what causes the symptoms.
It is believed that certain situations, substances, and triggers are what cause the changes in the brain. The following list isn’t exhaustive, especially since migraine triggers can be extremely subjective, but these are some of the most commonly reported triggers among migraine sufferers.
Common Triggers:
- Changes in climate and temperature
- Perfumes or other aerosols
- Cigarette smoke
- Stressful events
- Sleep Apnoea
- Menstruation
- Food additives
- Sleeping in
- Not sleeping enough
- Depression
- Poor postureDehydration
- Hormones
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Exercise
- Exposure to the “headache tree,” the California Bay Tree.
As you can see, there are many potential triggers for a migraine attack. Everyone is different so what causes migraines for some may not cause migraines in others. If you’re having trouble narrowing down your triggers, you can try a headache diary.
Recommended by migraine foundations and doctors alike, headache diaries should include information like the day/time of the migraine, how long it lasted, and how bad it was. You can also list any side effects and medications you took. Wherever possible, write down any food, drinks, or activities you took part in during the hours leading up to the migraine.
Preventing Migraines
While all migraines aren’t preventable, there are some things you can do to make them less frequent and less severe. Alongside avoiding your triggers, you should:
- Stick to the same sleep schedule
- Exercise regularly to prevent overexertion
- Correct your posture
- Reduce stress wherever possible
- Drink plenty of water
- Eat regular meals
- Reduce caffeine intake
- Take migraine medication
- Migraine Medication
There aren’t any medications that can prevent migraine, but if you feel one coming on you can take a type of migraine medication known as a triptan. Triptans help reverse the changes in your brain caused by migraines, giving you relief from your intense migraine symptoms.
You can buy Sumatriptan Tablets, Zolmitriptan Tablets, and Rizatriptan Tablets online in the UK from Pharmacy Planet, a pharmacy you can trust.
Authored By
HARMINDER ‘HARMY’ KAUR
BSc(hons) Pharmacy
GPhC Number: 2061107
Reviewed By
GURDEV SEHMI
BSc Pharm, MRPharmS, Independent Prescriber, Superintendent Pharmacist, Clinical Lead
GPhC Number: 2050925