A person suffering from a migraine knows the pain during migraine is much more than an ordinary headache. The migraine headaches occur frequently and without warning and sometimes led by warning symptoms and triggers, which includes
- Hormonal changes
- Throbbing pain on one side of the head
- Stress and tension
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sensitivity to light and sound
Generally, when a person gets a migraine then it lasts from four hours to three days and sometimes the migraine can be longer. Preventive and pain relieving medications can help a migraine headaches attacks.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), a migraine is the 8th most disabling illness in the world. The WHO says that migraines are globally under-diagnosed, undertreated and poorly managed ailments. Remarkably, over 12 percent of the population including children suffer from a migraine which is more than diabetes and asthma combined.
A migraine is a very debilitating condition, it is not easy to understand that why and how a migraine occurs as there are so many different theories available that rises to many myths and facts about migraines. So, half the problem is getting the right facts about migraines. Below are some facts about migraines which makes the migraine sufferers even more painful to tackle a migraine associated with a headache.
1. A severe headache is the only symptom of a migraine
Fact: This is not true. A migraine is a neurological disorder and the migraine pain is much worse than a headache. People with migraine experience head pain and a variety of unpleasant symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, smells, dizziness etc. consequently, having a severe headache does not mean to have a migraine. There may be some other reasons causing headache to the people.
2. Migraine affects only women
Fact: Men and women both experience migraines and are not linked to gender. While 18 percent of women suffer from migraines and about 6 to 8 percent of men also suffer from migraines.
3. Migraineurs have no alternative available to comfort their condition
Fact: There is no guaranteed treatment available for a migraine, but there are many ways by which the migraine symptoms can be controlled. Medications can help to reduce the severity and frequency of migraines. If a person receives the diagnosis, they may still have to devote a lot of time trying out different medications to check which one works for them.
There is no single treatment for migraines but many people can find relief with one or the other effective methods to cope with their migraines. But, taking the right medicines, combined with self-help, lifestyle changes and other remedies may make a big difference.
4. All migraine sufferers experience the same set of symptoms
Fact: No, people who suffer from migraines experience and exhibit a wide range of symptoms which differ from person to person. Due to this in some cases, it will be difficult to diagnose the migraines and especially if a person’s doctor is not aware of the full list of migraine symptoms.
5. A migraine is common and has no life threatening consequence
Fact: Migraine can be serious as any other dangerous condition. It is factual that it does not directly result in death, but, it may lead to certain conditions indirectly which may prove to be serious. For example, it may lead to fatal stroke if proper care is not taken.
6. Migraines last for only short period of time
Fact: Generally, when a person gets a migraine it may last for few hours to three days and some type of migraine attacks may stay even longer time. If a migraine continues for more than three days then the person should immediately consult the doctor.
7. Only adults have a migraine
Fact: People of all ages have migraines, even children do suffer from migraine pain. Some children have migraines while very young, before even old enough to tell anyone what’s wrong. To analyze the migraines in children, proper diagnosis is to be done by reviewing family medical history and observing the child’s behaviour. The migraines can also continue to any age i.e. from childhood to old age.
8. Any doctor will recognize and properly treat a migraine
Fact: Migraine is one of the most misdiagnosed, mistreated and least understood ailment. The fact is that many doctors don’t take a migraine headache seriously, and this is very unfortunate and disability to the migraine sufferer. Many people who suffer from migraine pain have never been given a specific diagnosis and often it leads to lack of proper treatment. Many leading doctors in the field of neurology and head pain have themselves stated that this disease is exceptionally misunderstood and misdiagnosed.
9. Caffeine cannot help to relieve a migraine
Fact: For some migraine sufferers, caffeine stops a migraine and for some others it is a trigger. Caffeine is found naturally as an additive in coffee, tea, chocolate, and certain soft drinks and in some pain relieving and acute migraine medications. Keeping a migraine headache diary can help to determine whether caffeine helps or cause you a migraine.
10. All migraines are same
Fact: There are several types of migraines. The two most common types are Migraine with aura and Migraine without aura. Then there are subtypes of a migraine with aura: a migraine with brainstem aura, sporadic and familial hemiplegic migraine, and there are also retinal migraine, abdominal migraine and much more. One person’s migraine can be different from another person migraine.
11. Migraines do not run in families
Fact: The fact is that migraines can be hereditary if one parent has a migraine then the child has a 50 percent chance of having migraines. If both parents have migraines then there is a 75 percent chance of having a migraine and even if a distant relative has migraines then there is a 20 percent chance to experience migraines.
12. Painkillers can be used for migraine prevention
Fact: There are medications that are prescribed to prevent migraines. The migraine headaches are the result of many interrelating factors and there is no simple answer. Medication is habitually a necessary part of headache treatment but it is not the complete solution. The painkillers are aimed at preventing a migraine rather than trying to treat a migraine. Some medications, when used too regularly, can actually cause headaches.