If you get frequent, repeated, identical headaches, that is usually on one side of the head and pulsates like a clock from hell you most likely have a migraine headache. These are sometimes blamed on ‘my sinuses’. A migraine headache is made worse by exposure to bright light and loud noise. People with a migraine headache
might have nausea and the headache is made worse by physical exertion. It is, therefore, usual for people with a migraine headache to look for a dark, quiet place to lay down when they have a migraine headache. Just before a migraine, some have a nonspecific food craving or change in mood.
Others have more specific signs called aura. These may include visual disturbances like light flashes, tingling of the lips, lower face or hand. Most aura symptoms completely resolve in less than an hour.
Migraine headaches are more common than you think and tend to attack women more. It also runs in families and more in the Caucasian race.
In Children with Migraine, it may be different.
Children with a migraine (usually a child of a parent who has migraine headaches) may not have headaches. Rather, they present with vague abdominal pain +/- nausea and vomiting. The abdominal pain may last up to 72 hours. Typically, children who have an abdominal migraine would grow up to develop migraine headaches.
How to Prevent Migraine Attacks.
Foods to Avoid.
Citrus fruit
Caffeine
Chocolate
Aspartame (in diet soda, gum)
Aged cheese
Alcohol (red wine, beer)
Foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG)
Nitrates. These are found in processed foods, hot dogs
Avoid Hunger. This is a well-known migraine trigger
Other factors causing migraine
Change in weather, time zone changes may trigger migraine headaches in some people. So does stress and exertion.
Lack of sleep is a known trigger and so is glaring at contrasting patterns/designs
Some women get migraine headaches days before their menses.
Finally, perfumes are a known trigger. You might want to stop wearing one and see if your headaches get better.
Treating a Migraine Headache
Nutritional supplements like Magnesium, low- fat, high omega-3 fatty acids, olive oil and Riboflavin are known to help and some have benefited from acupuncture. Relaxation techniques are also of some value.
Other Non-pharmacologic treatments include using cold compresses and relaxation.
Pharmacologic Treatment
Taking coffee at the beginning of a migraine attack helps. Yes, coffee can trigger the attack and should be avoided, but once you have a migraine headache, taking coffee especially with an analgesic is a good idea.
Simple Paracetamol or Tylenol may be effective in people who rarely get a migraine but this is not advised for people who require frequent medication as they may get rebound headaches.
NSAIDs are very effective for acute migraine headaches. Examples are Voltaren, Brufen, Naproxen, Aspirin. If a particular type of NSAID does not cure your migraine, consider trying another type of NSAID before moving on to a different class of drug.
Combining Analgesics. This is the next reasonable step if you don’t get relief. A combination of Tylenol/Paracetamol with Aspirin and Caffeine is a good example.
See a Doctor
Your doctor may prescribe Triptans for you if NSAIDs did not work. Triptans are considered specific for acute migraine headaches. They came as oral tablets and nasal sprays.
Migraine Prevention
This may be necessary if your migraines are severe and frequent. Your doctor would probably place you on a beta-blocker like Propranolol daily but other options like Amitriptyline, Fluoxetine, Verapamil or Phenytoin are available.
Best of luck
