What is migraine?--
It is a syndrome of episodic headache, often involving only one half of the head,& is associated with nausea, vomiting.

What are the types?--

• Migraine with aura
• Migraine without aura

Symptoms--
The entire symptom complex can be divided into various phases that gradually unfold over time.

Prodrome--
These are subtle mental or psychological symptoms that occur several hours before the actual headache. they are--

1. Mood changes-especially depression.
2. Sluggishness
3. fatigued feeling
4. Food cravings
5. Chilled feeling
6. Constipation/diarrhea

The aura-- 
Most common symptom are the visual symptoms. There may be flashes of light, blind spots, intolerance to light. Some others may have vertigo, dreamy states.

The headache-- 
Most distressing symptom. It is commonly unilateral(affecting only one half of the head),but not always necessarily so. It is often accompanied by nausea,vomiting.Head pain is often increased by movement of the head. Many patients do get relief after lying down in dark /sleeping.

Postdrome--
There may be a drained, exhausted feeling even after the headache is over.

What is the cause of migraine?--
The exact cause of migraine is not known.
The vascular hypothesis says that it occurs due to vascular constriction.
The most accepted explanation today is that migraine occurs due to some disturbance in metabolism of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain.

Treatement--
Control of trigger factors-- Here is a list of various trigger factors for migraine. Identify if any of them do apply for you & avoid them.

1. Food items--- Cheese, dairy products, chocolates, onions, seafoods.
2. Food additives.
3. Alcohol-- especially red wine, beer.
4. Menstruation
5. Any medicines
6. Excessive exercise
7. bright light, glare.
8. Loud noise
9. Certain odors
10. too much/too little sleep
11. Sudden jarring of the head.

Treatment of the acute attack--

Mild attack--- Simple analgesics like ibuprofen, aspirin .

Mild to severe attack-- Drug of choice is ergotamine. caffeine does help.

The latest drug for migraine is Sumatriptan.

Sumatriptan does work wonders when the pain is not responding to other drugs.

Preventive treatment--For those who have recurrent attacks of migraine.

Do contact your physician for the exact personalised treatment.

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