Everything You Should Know About Migraine: Causes, Symptoms, & Cures

• Written by Nidhi Goyal

  Reviewed by Akhil Pillai

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What is a Migraine?

Migraines are a brain and nervous system disorder whose symptoms almost always include intense headaches. Headache is just one symptom of migraine, causing throbbing pain on one side of the head that feels worse with movement. Other symptoms include nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and vomiting. One episode usually lasts from 4 to 72 hours.

What Causes Migraines?

Health experts describe migraines as intense, debilitating, and throbbing pain in the head. There is no definitive cause associated with it, but there are conditions that can trigger a migraine.

In many cases, migraines have triggered epileptic seizures, mental disorders, and stroke in patients. The best migraine treatment involves a combination of strategies, requiring financial preparation. Insuring yourself with a Mediclaim policy is the cost-effective solution. It will provide you with financial coverage for migraine treatment, such as hospital bills, medication, doctor’s visits, etc.

What are the Symptoms of Migraine​? 

Often, migraine patients report a steady pain in their temples or forehead. The pain could also be on one side of the head. Some people get warning symptoms before a migraine attack. Other symptoms include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Sensitivity to light/sound/ smell
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Dizziness
• Vision problems

Sometimes, the symptoms of a severe headache and migraine might seem similar.It's easy for someone to mistake a migraine for a severe headache, and this could be problematic. Therefore, understanding migraines, their symptoms, and appropriate healthcare is crucial. Timely diagnosis and treatment are vital to prevent potential complications. 

What Triggers Migraine?

It is imperative to know what can trigger migraines so as not to indulge in such activities. Take a look at the following to understand what you should avoid-

• Mental stress
• Certain foods/ drinks
• Caffeine
• Lack of sleep
• Weather conditions
• Hormonal changes
• Certain medications

Besides the factors mentioned above, other factors such as age, family medical history, and gender can increase the risk of developing migraines in individuals. For instance, the chances of women being prone to migraines increase after puberty.

What Are the Types of Migraines?

Here are the different types of migraines:

• Migraine with aura: It involves visual disturbances, such as lights that look like stars, blind spots, temporary vision loss. It can also affect senses, speech, and movement. 
• Migraine without aura: All typical migraine symptoms occur, with sweet cravings, thirst, and sleepiness sometimes acting as warning signs. 
• Migraine with brainstem aura: Earlier called basilar migraine, patients also experience hearing loss, tinnitus, double vision, slurred vision, lethargy and diminished coordination, along with other typical aura symptoms.
• Hemiplegic migraine: It includes motor weakness as a symptom. Severe episodes may also include confusion, agitation, seizures, delusions, drowsiness, etc.
• Retinal migraine: It only affects one eye, creating temporary partial or full vision loss; white, black or shaded areas in your field of vision. 
• Silent migraine: A typical aura with headache typically lasts no longer than an hour. 
• Chronic vs episodic migraine: Experiencing headaches for more than 15 days a month for three consecutive months.

What Causes Migraines in Females?

Studies have shown that females have three times higher chances of getting migraines than males. Fluctuations in the Estrogen level can be a major reason for migraines in females. The variations can be due to pregnancy, menopause, and even around a woman’s menstrual cycle. In these cases, a woman may experience throbbing headaches. The symptoms of migraine may appear suddenly. So, getting proper medical attention and taking preventive medicines is essential.

Besides, there are general factors such as stress, changes in sleep pattern, changes in weather, specific kinds of foods, family history, etc., which may cause migraine symptoms in females. Furthermore, the consumption of hormonal medicines like oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy also triggers migraines in females.

Also Read: What is a Headache?

Foods that Trigger Migraines

We list the foods that cause migraines and thus must be avoided.

• Caffeine: Excess caffeine intake can lead to migraines, and caffeine withdrawal seems to have the same effect. Tea and coffee are foods that trigger migraines because they contain caffeine and must be avoided.
• Salty Foods: Foods containing excess salt (sodium) harm health. They are known to increase blood pressure and can trigger migraines.
• Fermented, pickled, and processed foods: Cheese is one example of the foods that trigger migraines, as it has high amounts of tyramine, which can lead to migraines.
• Frozen foods: Food items like ice cream can be a reason for migraines.
• Alcohol: Consumption of alcohol is not just detrimental to liver health, but also to the occurrence of migraines. Alcohol intake results in dehydration and headaches.

Tests for Migraines

Severe headaches must not be ignored, as they could be signs of a severe disease. If a person’s condition is unusual and the pain becomes severe suddenly, then it is better to get migraine tests to check the real cause of the pain. 

• MRI Scan: Migraine tests include an MRI Scan, which uses a powerful magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of the brain and blood vessels.
• CT Scan: This test uses a series of X-rays to create in-depth cross-sectional brain images. It helps rule out any tumour, infection, damage, or bleeding in the brain.
• Sinus X-ray: If a person shows symptoms that hint at a sinus problem, this test helps clear up the picture.
• Electroencephalogram: Sometimes, doctors may recommend this test to check if the patient seems to have seizures.
• Eye Examination: This is among the migraine tests. An ophthalmologist performs an eye pressure test on the patient to determine whether glaucoma or pressure on the optic nerve is causing the headache.
• Blood Test: Blood chemistry tests are done to check for hidden ailments such as diabetes and thyroid problems, which may be causing headaches.

Neurological tests are useful in detecting problems related to the brain or nerves. Migraine tests give direction to the right medical treatment, which depends on the severity and frequency of the headache.

What is the Best Treatment for Migraine?

How to get rid of a migraine​? The old adage ‘prevention is better than a cure’ is relevant here. The best treatment for migraines is usually preventive methods to curb the trigger factors. This includes dietary changes, avoiding caffeine, reducing stress, exercising, etc. Also, taking preventive medications like antidepressants, anti-seizure pills, and medicines to lower blood pressure proves to be beneficial.

With the advancement in health care facilities in India, there are also surgical procedures for treating chronic migraine. Since migraine is a neurological condition, it requires timely detection, cure, and expert medical care.

The expenses for the treatment may include doctors’ fees, tests, and hospital bills. These may burn a hole in the pocket and add to the stress factor. Opting for a Mediclaim is one way to safeguard your finances.

With so many health insurance plans in the market, it might seem confusing to pick the one best suited for your health condition. As a rule, consider your age, medical history, and health care needs before opting for a policy. Buying an online health insurance plan allows you to review the policy features and make digital premium payments without any hassle.

The best mediclaim policy is the one that helps you in availing the best cure for your health condition by offering a wide range of coverage. Rely on Care Health Insurance for the right policy and easy claim settlement.

>> Also Read: How to Protect your Savings during Paralysis Treatment

Disclaimer: All plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.