Treatment of migraines

All symptoms of migraine occur during an attack that has four stages of development, although not all can be fully understood. In between seizures, most people with migraines feel good. The phase of the migraine precursors (prodrom) appears earlier than all other symptoms of the attack and in no more than half of the patients. If you have a prodrom, you can feel irritable, depressed, or tired in a few hours or even a couple of days before the headache develops. On the contrary, some may observe an unusual increase in activity. Some people may have an increased appetite, some people «just know» that they will develop an attack. Aura, if it exists, is the next phase. Only a third of patients with migraines have ever had an aura, and it may not develop in every attack. An aura is a reflection of a certain process (transient and non-unhealthy) occurring in the brain associated with the mechanism of a migraine attack. It lasts 10-30 minutes, but it can be longer. It’s usually a visual aura. You can «see» blind spots, flashes of light or a multicolored zigzag line spreading from the center of the visual field to the periphery. Less commonly, sensitive symptoms occur - the tingling or numbness that occurs at the fingertips on one side, propagates upwards to the shoulder, sometimes switching to the cheek or tongue on the same side. Sensitive symptoms are almost always accompanied by visual disturbances. In addition, during auras, it is difficult to speak or to find words. The headache phase is the most severe for most people, lasting from a few hours to two to three days. Migraine headaches are usually very severe, often occurring in one half of the head, but can take over the whole head. Most pain occurs in the frontal or temporal region, although it can be localized to any part of the head. It is usually a pulsating or disassembling pain, which is amplified by movement and exercise. Nausea and even vomiting often occur, which improves the headache subjectively. During an attack, the light and sounds can be unpleasant, and most patients prefer to remain alone in a quiet and darkened room. The headache is followed by the resolution phase. During this period you can again feel tired, irritable or depressed, you have difficulty concentrating. These symptoms can persist for 24 hours before you feel completely healthy.