How To Treat Migraine?

A migraine can be simply put as a bad headache that causes throbbing pain on one side of the head. It is important to be aware of the migraine symptoms to manage them efficiently!

Migraine is a type of neurological condition that can cause intense headaches mostly on one side of the head with other symptoms like vision distortions, sensitivity to light, noise and smell, nausea and vomiting. Usually, it lasts at least for 4 hours, but sometimes, it can last for days. However, a neurologist can help you manage migraines by relieving the symptoms. In this blog, we will discuss migraine, its symptoms, its types, how it is treated and when to see a neurologist. If you are looking for the best neurologist doctor in Hyderabad, then make an appointment with Dr. Sudhir Kumar, a well-known neurologist with 24 years of experience, who can help you with migraine management.

Types of Migraine

There are various types of migraines. The most ones include:

  • Migraine with aura (Classic Migraine)
  • Migraine without aura (Common Migraine)

Other types of migraines are:

  • Menstrual Migraine
  • Chronic Migraine
  • Abdominal Migraine (More common in children)
  • Silent Migraine (Migraine without headaches)
  • Hemiplegic Migraine)
  • Ocular Migraine (Retinal Migraine)
  • Status Migrainosus
  • Vestibular Migraine

Symptoms of Migraine

Migraine symptoms are listed based on its stages/phases, which include:

  1. Prodrome Symptoms: 

First phase that starts up to 24 hours before developing a migraine headache:

  • Changes in your mood
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Problem with your sleep
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Excessive hunger and thirst
  • Frequent urination
  1. Aura Symptoms:

During this phase, you can experience the sensory, motor or speech symptoms:

  • Muscle weakness
  • Vision distortions
  • Sensitivity to touch 
  • Numbness and tingling
  • Difficulty speaking or concentrating
  1. Headache Symptoms:

This phase can last from four hours to 72 hours:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Sensitivity to light, noise and smell
  1. Postdrome Symptoms:

You may feel confused or exhausted during this phase:

  • Fatigue
  • Stiff neck
  • Sensitivity to light and sound
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness

Causes of Migraine

Though it is unknown what exactly causes migraines, you may get them if it’s related to your genes. There are common triggers that can cause migraines, including:

  • Stress
  • Tiredness
  • Hormonal changes
  • Certain medications
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Not eating regularly or missing meals
  • Too much caffeine
  • Not getting enough exercise
  • Weather changes

Risk Factors

A migraine can affect both adults and children but usually occurs in women more than men. Other risk factors that may make you more likely to get a migraine include:

  • Family history of migraines
  • Other medical conditions, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, sleep disorders and epilepsy
  • Using tobacco products regularly

Migraine Treatment

Your doctor can help you manage migraine symptoms through different treatment options, including:

  1. Taking Medications: To treat migraines, your doctor may recommend you take medications. And, medications are categorised into two types, including:
  2. Pain-relieving Medications: These medications are recommended to be taken at the first sign of a migraine to relieve or reduce symptoms, like pain, nausea and sensitivity.
  3. Preventive Medications: Preventive medications are prescribed if you have severe symptoms that affect your daily routine or have recurrent migraine headaches. These medications are recommended to reduce severe migraine symptoms. 
  4. Over-the-counter (OTC) or Prescription Migraine Medications: These medications are usually effective for mild to moderate migraine symptoms. The main ingredients often found in pain-relieving medications are ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, acetaminophen and caffeine. However, excessive use can cause analgesic-rebound headaches or a dependency problem. So, consult with your doctor before taking these medicines. 
  5. Avoiding Migraine Triggers: Your doctor can help you find the triggers that can cause your migraines. You are asked to keep track of when a migraine developed, how you felt and how long it lasted. If you identify your migraine’s trigger, then it would be helpful to avoid it to treat a migraine when it develops.
  6. Using Alternative Migraine Remedies: By using alternative migraine remedies, you can manage migraine symptoms. These remedies include taking vitamins, minerals or herbs, yoga and meditation, acupuncture, and botox.

It is recommended to consult your healthcare provider before using any alternative migraine therapies.

When to See a Neurologist?

You should consider consulting the best neurologist if you experience: 

  • Migraine symptoms more than a few times in a month
  • Severe symptoms that affect your daily activities
  • Side effects from treatment
  • Any new neurological symptoms, such as balance problems, difficulty speaking and concentrating, vision distortions, confusion, seizures or numbing/tingling feelings.

If you are looking for the best neurologist doctor in Hyderabad, then make an appointment with Dr. Sudhir Kumar.

Final Words

Migraine is a neurological condition that can cause severe headaches, nausea or vomiting. Though there is no specific cure, medications and alternative remedies or therapies can help manage your migraines. If you experience severe headaches that are frequent and affect your daily life, then take the first step towards better neurology health with Apollo by booking a digital consultation or hospital visit with Dr. Sudhir Kumar, one of the best neurologist doctors in Hyderabad.