Don't learn to live with migraine
Migraine is a type of headache that comes in attacks (episodes). Attacks can last from 4 to 72 hours. The person feels completely normal between attacks, but is anxious about the next one. In migraine, besides the headache, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound can also occur.
Migraine is not a simple headache; it disrupts a person's daily activities, damages the quality of life of both the patient and their loved ones, and comes with other accompanying symptoms.
Although there have been advances in medical treatment, the drug therapies applied today are still at the symptomatic level. The goal of these treatments is to relieve pain rather than eliminate the actual cause of migraine. This creates a mistaken belief that one must learn to live with migraine. Today, migraine is a treatable disease.
Causes of migraine development:
Migraine is thought to develop due to changes in the blood vessels and neurotransmitters in the brain, but research on these changes is still ongoing. Some people are more prone to migraine. There is scientific evidence of a genetic predisposition to migraine. For example, migraine is seen more often in identical twins than in fraternal twins. Certain factors that trigger migraine attacks have been identified in susceptible individuals. There is a certain threshold level in people susceptible to migraine. A single trigger factor alone may not cause a migraine attack, but when two or three come together, they can trigger an attack. For example, a person with migraine might skip a meal without triggering an attack, but if the same person skips a meal after a long and stressful flight (hunger + stress + change in air pressure), these three factors together can trigger a migraine attack.
TRIGGER FACTORS IN MIGRAINE
Although trigger factors vary from person to person, the most common ones are listed below:
Dietary, hormonal, or systemic factors:
-Chocolate, citrus fruits, cheese, nitrites/nitrates, monosodium glutamate
-Alcohol, especially red wine
-Excessive caffeine consumption or caffeine withdrawal
-Menstruation (menstrual periods)
-High blood pressure
-Birth control pills
-Toothache or regional headaches (e.g., pain related to the eyes, sinuses, or neck)
Emotional stress:
-Anxiety
-Excessive sadness or excessive joy
-Depression
-Shock
-Relief from excessive excitement and stress
Physical stress:
-Travel
-Excessive exercise
-Physical or mental fatigue
-Bending forward (e.g., while doing garden work)
-Lifting weights
-A change in routine lifestyle (e.g., shift work or holidays)
-Too much or too little sleep
-Allergies
-Sexual arousal
-Smoking
-Hunger
External stimuli:
-Climate change
-High altitude
-Very hot showers
-Intense smells (such as perfume)
-Bright, dazzling lights
-Watching television for long periods and exposure to loud noise
In my next article, I will address the topic of "types of migraine and treatment with neural therapy."