Migraines & headaches
Migraines
Migraines are a form of severe headache thought to have a genetic and hormonal element.
They are a recognised medical condition affecting up to 20% of adults globally (mostly aged 35-45 years), with women twice as likely as men to experience a migraine.
Migraines can occur with or without an aura (classic migraine) or with all the symptoms except for head pain (silent or acephalgic migraine).
Headaches
Headaches are one of the most common conditions that people experience.
An estimated 50-75% of adults globally (aged 18-65 years), experience a headache each year.
Headaches may start as a feeling of tension or tightness around your head, which can develop into a dull ache, throbbing sensation, or stabbing pain.
Headaches can be caused by medication, changes in caffeine consumption, stress, jaw problems, eye, nose, throat and ear disorders and more.
Types of migraines
There are several types of migraine. These include:
Migraine with aura or classic migraine
In this type of migraine “aura symptoms” occur before the headache itself. These symptoms can include blurry vision, light sensitivity, numbness, confusion, dizziness, and/or diarrhoea.
Migraine aura without headache
Sufferers experience symptoms of aura but without the associated head pain. Though there is no associated headache, this can still be a very challenging experience, as it’s difficult to treat aura (for example, some medications take longer to act than the duration of the symptoms).
Chronic migraine
When a person has 15 or more headache days a month, and 8 of those are migraine headaches, they can be diagnosed with chronic migraine.
Intractable migraine
These last more than 72 hours and can require hospital treatment, due to severe and prolonged pain, nausea and vomiting.
Menstrual or hormonal migraine
Due to hormonal changes, the start of puberty, menstruation and menopause can be linked with migraines.
Symptoms
Symptoms of migraine include:
Painful, throbbing headache
Nausea and vomiting
Sensitivity to light and sound
Blurred vision, flashing lights
Numbness and tingling
Treatments
How can I treat my migraine?
Medications can help but they aren’t the only treatment option available. A holistic plan (one that combines lifestyle and other treatments) can help.
Everyone is different, so talk your Pharmacist through your symptoms to get the best advice for you. They may talk to you about:
Keeping a record
Note down your symptoms, triggers and treatments (including whether they worked or not). This will help inform your plan of attack.
Sleep
If you can sleep off a migraine, that’s often a great help. In the meantime, establish good sleep habits to limit the chance of fatigue contributing to migraine attacks.
Water
Dehydration is no friend to migraines. Alongside water, consider drinking oral rehydration drinks, powders, tablets and ice-blocks to help replenish electrolytes and fluids.
Pain relievers
Over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatories can be used as directed.
Timing
Some medications, such as those in the drug class triptans, can work effectively but need to be taken early, not when your migraine has gotten bad.
Combinations
Some medications can be taken together but others cannot. Ask your Pharmacist what you can safely combine.
Food
Cravings at the start of a migraine attack are unlikely to be triggered. Instead, the idea is to work backwards to identify what you ate.
Remember, an elimination diet can help determine triggers but is not a healthy long-term eating plan to avoid migraines.
Exercise
Depending on the person, exercise can be a trigger or a preventative measure. (This is where your symptom diary can help you find connections!)
Stress relief
Gentle movement, deep breathing, meditation, social connections and not expecting too much of yourself throughout the day can help manage your stress levels regularly.
Sensory deprivation
Try lying down in a dark, quiet place. Use blackout curtains, an eye mask, ear plugs and headphones to block out stimuli.
Hot and cold
Hot showers, ice packs, heat packs, sucking an ice cube or putting your feet in a warm bath or ice bath. Different sensations work for different people. Some people like to combine them
It’s also a good idea to keep a migraine diary to identify your triggers and make plans to avoid them where possible.
Types of headaches
Primary headaches
Also known as headache disorders as the headache itself is the condition. These include tension headaches, cluster headaches, and migraines, among others.
Secondary headaches
These headaches are a symptom of another condition such as a medical condition, infection, dehydration, or an injury. Treatment for secondary headaches is usually based on the cause of the headache.
Symptoms
Tension headache
This most common headache type causes mild to moderate pain that is usually unaccompanied by other symptoms
Cluster headache
Intense pain near or behind an eye, always on one side of the head; this throbbing and/or constant pain tends to come in clusters; sufferers become agitated and restless, unable to sit or rest through the pain
Sinus headache
Deep pain in the forehead, cheekbones or bridge of the nose due to inflammation of the sinuses
Medication overuse headache
Can be caused by using pain medication more than three times a week; to avoid, follow your doctor or Pharmacist’s recommendations on medication type, dosage and frequency
If you have a headache that is unusual for you, is unusually severe, steadily becomes worse or causes you worry for any reason, talk to your doctor.
Treatments
How can I treat my headache?
Treatment depends on the cause of your headache. Acting as soon as you start to feel symptoms, especially if they are familiar to you, is usually more effective than letting them worsen. You may try:
Over-the-counter pain relief for infrequent headaches
Prescribed medications in the case of more frequent pain
Resting in a darkened, quiet room
Sleep
Applying a warm or cool compress to your forehead or neck
Walking outdoors
Avoiding triggers (these may be caffeine, stress, too little sleep, non-ergonomic workspaces)
Treatment for underlying conditions (such as neck problems, stress, sinus infection)
Using pain medication more than three times a week can lead to “medication overuse headache”. To avoid this, follow your doctor or Pharmacist’s recommendations on medication type, dosage and frequency.
It’s also a good idea to keep a headache diary to identify your triggers and make plans to avoid them where possible.