Decoding Migraines

Migraines are more than just headaches—they’re a full-body experience that can throw your life off balance. If you’ve ever been side-lined by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness or nausea, you’re not alone. 

Migraines and headaches, while often conflated, are distinct conditions with different characteristics. Headaches, which can be classified as primary or secondary, are generally limited to pain in the head or neck area.

Primary Headaches, such as tension headaches, cluster headaches and migraines, are standalone medical issues.

Secondary Headaches result from underlying medical conditions like sinus infections, concussions or severe head injuries.

Most of us have experienced the discomfort of a headache, whether it’s sharp, localized pain, throbbing or a dull ache. Unfortunately, some of us know the severity of a migraine.

Migraine is a neurological disease that goes beyond head pain. Migraines can last 4 to 72 hours and include severe pain, sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness, nausea and more.  

Migraines result from complex interactions between blood vessels, nerves, neurochemicals and musculature. The causes, triggers and symptoms of migraines can be as varied as the internal systems involved.

Causes: Genetics, hormonal changes and head trauma can contribute to migraines, but often, there is no apparent cause.  

Triggers: Common migraine triggers can include weather changes, sleep quality, certain foods, smells and bright lights.  

Symptoms: Migraines typically unfold in stages:

Prodrome: Occurs hours or even days before an attack, with symptoms such as mood changes, food cravings, neck stiffness and increased thirst or urination.

Aura: Typically lasts 20-60 minutes and includes visual disturbances like flashing lights, blind spots or zigzag patterns, and sometimes sensory, speech or motor symptoms.

Attack: The main phase of the migraine, often characterized by intense head pain, nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light, sound and sometimes smell.

Postdrome: Following the attack, this “migraine hangover” can last up to a day and involve fatigue, confusion, moodiness, dizziness and continued sensory sensitivity.

Chronic migraine sufferers experience 15 or more headache days a month, while episodic migraine sufferers have fewer.

Solutions: Managing Your Migraine

First and foremost, your migraines are not your fault. They are not the result of anything you’re doing or not doing.” Many triggers are beyond an individual’s control. The key is to develop strategies to manage environmental factors, reducing susceptibility to or impact of biological or unpreventable ones.

General recommendations include:

Hydration: Drink plenty of water.

Diet: Increase intake of fruits and vegetables, minimize refined sugars and fatty foods and avoid caffeine entirely.

Exercise: Engage in purposeful movement.

Sleep: Ensure adequate rest.