The majority of us experience a headache at some point (or at many points) during our lives. And in most cases, we drink some water, take a couple of pain relievers, and go about our day. But for some, frequent and debilitating headaches make it extremely difficult to do anything but lie down in a dark room and wait for the pain to pass.
More than 37 million people in the U.S. suffer from migraines, with some studies estimating that 13% of Americans experience migraine headaches. Roughly 2-3 million people experience chronic migraines, meaning that these individuals have migraines 15 or more days each month. But what does it really mean to have a migraine headache? If you’re wondering about what causes migraines, what migraine sufferers typically experience, or how you might go about treating your own migraine headaches, read on.
What Causes Migraines?
Despite the fact that migraines are actually the third most prevalent and sixth most disabling illness worldwide, we don’t know a lot about these headaches. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, migraine is a disease that disproportionately affects women. In fact, 85% of chronic migraine sufferers are women. And yet, more than half of migraine sufferers are ever officially diagnosed, with the majority of migraine sufferers never seeking out medical care for their pain.
Making matters more complicated, we don’t exactly know what causes migraines. Previously, experts thought that the constriction and dilation of the blood vessels in the head were thought to be behind migraines. Now, researchers believe that this is a neurological disorder that involves brain chemicals and nerve pathways. There is often a genetic component to migraines, but environmental factors can also come into play. A variety of triggers may lead to migraine headache development, as well. Extreme weather or temperature changes, hormonal fluctuations, dehydration, bright lights, loud noises, excessive stress, physical activity, sleep pattern changes, consumption of specific foods, skipped meals, alcohol or tobacco use, strange odors, travel, brain chemical imbalances, and medications are all known triggers for migraine sufferers. For dehydration, some patients try treatments such as IV therapy from services that provide IV therapy in Willoughby Hills, OH. Even TMJD, which affects between 5% and 12% of the population, has been known to exacerbate migraines. But not every migraine sufferer has the same triggers, which can make migraines difficult to predict from person to person.
What Are the Symptoms of Migraine Headaches?
Triggers differ between migraine sufferers, but so do symptoms. Migraines are typically characterized by a throbbing or pulsating pain in the head, often located in the temples or on one side. But migraines can also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to light and sound, neck stiffness, aura (which can involve problems with vision, movement, sensation, and even speech), and more. One person might experience migraine attacks the same way each time, while someone else might experience only the occasional migraine with aura. There are even silent migraines, during which an individual experiences an aura with no other obvious symptoms.
How Are Migraines Treated?
There are a variety of treatments for migraines which have varying degrees of success from person to person. Some migraine sufferers, for example, may swear by caffeine or medications that contain it. Ironically, caffeine can be a trigger for some people, but it can be a cure for others. Although drug discovery is a multi-billion dollar industry, many Americans still swear by popular over-the-counter medication Excedrin for migraine relief. Given that two of these products have been temporarily discontinued, migraine sufferers may have to find other treatment methods to ease their pain.
Lifestyle adjustments (like changes to diet or other routines) may help some people reduce the number of migraine headaches they experience, while preventative medications can produce positive results for others. Alternative medicines are also growing in popularity for migraine treatment, including herbal supplements and acupuncture (which is a treatment 14 million Americans use or have used in the past). Relaxation techniques and cognitive behavioral therapy are also popular treatment options, as are Botox injections like Botox in Bellaire, TX and hormone therapy like this hormone replacement therapy in Spring Hill, FL. It’s important to talk to your doctor and go to a medical clinic like Text2MD and receive a definitive diagnosis for migraine before determining the best course of treatment for your headaches.
Migraines can be completely debilitating — and can leave many of us feeling like we’re at the mercy of conditions we can’t necessarily control. Now that you understand a bit more about migraines, you may feel better equipped to help a loved one, identify your own triggers, or suggest possible treatments to provide some much-needed relief.
