Migraines affect eight per cent of Canadians, but that estimate may be low because people don’t necessarily report them. They may just wait out the headache or they may self-treat with a non-prescription pain reliever, believing that nothing can really be done for their migraine.
Headache itself is a common complaint, and sometimes it is a symptom of another condition such as a stroke, so it’s important to have any recurrent headache symptoms checked.
Headaches are classified according to their cause. Tension headaches account for about 90 per cent of headaches and are attributed to stress, tension, fatigue, noise, or even glare. Relieving the cause solves tension headaches. But, headaches that happen after a head injury or as a result of a sinus or dental infection should always be evaluated.
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Migraine headaches usually occur on one side and are associated with a dull, throbbing or pulsating pain. Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, light and sound sensitivity, and blurred vision are also common. They are considered a nervous system condition that results in the blood vessel symptoms of throbbing, pounding, pulsating.
About 20 per cent of people experience an aura or warning symptoms of the migraine about half an hour before the headache starts. The symptoms can include dizziness, ringing in the ears, light flashes, numbness, or tingling.
The acronym AUSTIN is a handy way to remember the characteristics of migraine headaches. It stands for: Aggravated by activity, Unilateral location, Sensitivity to light or sound, Throbbing, moderate or severe Intensity, and Nausea or vomiting. Obviously, if you experience the symptoms, you should have your headaches assessed.
You might think that pain relievers are the only remedies for migraines, but this is not so. The group of drugs known as triptans or serotonin (5-HT) receptor agonists are the drugs of choice for treating migraine headaches. They are thought to work by mimicking the effects of serotonin in the nervous system. This in turn reduces the vascular symptoms of pain. The idea is to take them as soon as you have symptoms to stop the migraine before it develops. Sumatriptan, zolmitriptan, rizatriptan, and naratriptan are examples, and if one triptan isn’t effective for you, switching to another often works.
For some people, taking medication on a daily basis can actually prevent migraine symptoms. These drugs are normally meant for other conditions, but their actions on either blood vessels or in the nervous system help reduce the number and severity of migraines. Some people seem to be helped by beta blockers like propranolol, used for cardiovascular conditions. Tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline and some of the newer antidepressants like venlafaxine are able to help others.
Ideally, you want to prevent migraines. To do that, recognizing and avoiding triggers is key, including activities or substances that increase your chances of experiencing a headache. Sometimes it’s skipping meals, changes in diet, changes in sleeping habits, not enough sleep, changes in weather, specific foods, odours like smoke or perfumes, stress, anxiety, or even flashing or strobe lights. A headache diary can help you identify your triggers.
Some people have an increased risk and if you seem to have more headaches, consider checking if they might be migraines. There is family tendency and women are three times more likely to experience migraines. While children may be affected, migraines usually first occur in your 20s and 30s and first-time sufferers are rarely older than 40. If you are overweight, weight loss can reduce both severity and frequency. And, some conditions such as depression, anxiety, seizures, and high blood pressure seem to increase the risk.
If you are a migraine sufferer, you have options for treatment, so don’t just take another pain reliever. While pain relievers like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or even codeine-containing medications will help stop the pain, you want to treat your migraine in order to carry on with your day-to-day life!
Marie Berry is a lawyer/pharmacist interested in health and education.
