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Headache that ruins life: causes, dangers, symptoms and treatment of migraine
Headaches are unbearable, and any neurologist will tell you that. Even if you have a mild headache, it is recommended to take painkillers. In addition, you cannot tolerate severe pain, and if the pain persists for a long time, it may be a migraine, so it is recommended to consult a specialist.
The cause of migraines is still unclear, the neurologist noted. However, the main cause of headaches is considered to be dysfunction of the trigeminal nerve. This is the most important nerve and the largest of the 12 cranial nerves. It begins near the ears and branches out to the eye area, upper and lower jaws, covering almost the entire face.
When the trigeminal nerve stops functioning, its fibers release substances that promote expansion of the dura mater and swelling of the inflamed area, the doctor said.
In most cases, severe migraines occur on one side of the head. This may be the temporal lobe area, the eye area. The pain may be so severe that it physically prevents you from working or performing daily activities.
One third of migraine sufferers experience so-called auras (visual and sensory disturbances). Auras not only accompany headaches, but can also be a precursor to migraines.
The doctor said that depending on the type of metamorphosis, visual disturbances occur. This is a distorted perception of the shape, color and size of objects. For example, a person may not notice the outline of an object.
Paresthesia may feel like tingling or numbness in the extremities.
Sometimes migraines are accompanied by nausea. In people with epilepsy, this may signal an epileptic seizure.
Migraine attacks can last from 4 to 72 hours. During this time, a person switches on the so-called "crystal vase mode", in which he begins to react sharply to all sounds, light stimuli and even smells.
Who is most likely to suffer from migraines?
In most cases, migraine occurs in childhood and adolescence, between the ages of 10 and 20. Women suffer from migraine four times more often than men. This may be due to the metabolism of sex hormones, says Maxim Vainerdukhov. Sometimes migraine can be inherited.
After 50 years, the disease often loses its severity, especially in women. But sometimes it happens the other way around. At this age, migraines are just beginning. This may indicate the presence of another pathology.
Some diseases can disguise themselves as migraines. Therefore, it is very important to see a doctor and undergo tests not only to start treating migraines, but also to rule out (or detect) other diseases. These may include cerebrovascular diseases, brain tumors, glaucoma, and cerebrovasculitis.
Taking simple painkillers and enduring the pain is a very bad strategy for fighting migraine. The neurologist emphasized the need to see a specialist to treat this syndrome.
For mild cramps, the doctor may prescribe painkillers. However, in severe cases, specific serotonin receptor blockers are prescribed. There are also newer drugs.
Sometimes a special method is used to treat headaches: Botox injections into specific areas of the muscles of the face, head or neck. How can such injections help?
Botulinum toxin treatment is effective when headaches are caused by dysfunction of the pericranial muscles (neck, occipital, frontal, temporal and masseter muscles). This is called tension headache, and it occurs when stress or other causes put too much strain on the muscles, blocking blood flow to the brain.
Botulinum toxin injections help to relax tense, overly tense muscles and restore blood flow. These areas of tension can be detected by palpating the head and neck. However, we know that this treatment is suitable for this particular type of headache.
Take care of your health and never ignore symptoms such as regular headaches or other painful sensations. The sooner you seek professional help, the easier it will be to cure the disease without consequences or reduce its impact and influence on your life.