If you have suffered from migraines for a period of your life, or know that your family has a history of dealing with migraine headaches, then you may want to see your doctor to find out whether he can diagnose your condition. Dealing with a migraine headache diagnosis does not need to be complex or worrying. However, it can be useful to understand your symptoms and learn more about the various treatments that could potentially benefit you.
The Process of a Migraine
Migraine headaches generally begin in childhood, early adulthood or adolescence, and is possible for them to develop in four stages, known as the prodrome, aura, headache and postdrome. The prodome takes place shortly before a migraine, presenting in the form of depression, neck stiffness, constipation, hyperactivity, food cravings and irritability. Following this is the aura, which takes place either before or during a migraine, usually affecting your vision. Most people will have their migraine headaches without the aura. The headache itself provides pain on both sides of your head, sensitivity to light, nausea and blurred vision. The postdrome, after the migraine attack, generally leaves the individual feeling drained.
Treating Migraines
The first thing you will learn after your migraine headache diagnosis is that migraines cannot be cured. However, it is possible for doctors to work alongside you in helping you to manage your pain. Varieties of medications are available to help treat the symptoms of a migraine, and other drugs can also be used to prevent migraines from happening in the first place. There are two main medications a doctor will turn to following a migraine headache diagnosis, including pain-relieving medications designed to stop symptoms that are already present, and preventive medications taken regularly to avoid and reduce the severity of migraines.
How you choose to manage your migraines will be very much dependent on how often you have your headaches, and how severe the symptoms are, and how disabling the headaches are for you, and other medical conditions. Some medications will not be recommended for use if you are breast-feeding or pregnant, and some medications will not be given to children. Generally, your doctor should be able to help you find the right solution for you.
Pain-Relieving Migraine Medication
For the most effective results, doctors usually recommend that individuals take pain-relieving drugs as soon as they begin to experience the symptoms of a migraine. Some people find that it is helpful to rest or sleep in a darkened room immediately after taking the pills. Pain relievers such as aspirin, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and Advil can be used to help relieve milder migraines.
Preventive Migraine Medications
Your doctor may recommend that you start preventive therapy if you have more than four damaging attacks on a monthly basis, if your attacks last for more than twelve hours, if your migraine symptoms include a prolonged period of aura or weakness, or if your pain-relief medications do not help. Preventive medications can be used to reduce the severity, frequency and length of your migraines, as well as increase the effectiveness of medicines used to relieve symptoms during attacks.
