A migraine is a severe headache accompanied by other symptoms other than pain. Depending on the severity of migraines, you can experience an acute or chronic migraine. Dr. Risa Ravitz New York can help manage and treat migraines.
Migraines occur with symptoms like nausea or vomiting, vertigo, sensitivity to light or sound, and facial pressure.
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Causes
While the primary cause of migraines, experts point toward abnormal brain activity that affects the brain’s nerve cells and blood vessels. However, the following are the most common triggers of migraines:
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Lack of sufficient sleep
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Emotional triggers like stress or depression
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Dehydration
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Exhaustion or fatigue
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Having irregular meal times
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Low blood sugar
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Environmental factors like loud noises and bright lights
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Hormonal changes due to menstruation
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Medications like birth control or sleeping pills
Types
Although there are many different types of migraines, these severe headaches are generally classified into two:
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Migraines with aura
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Migraines without aura
Migraines with aura occur with a disturbance to your senses. The senses include visual, smell, and skin sensation. When you experience a migraine with aura, you will experience things like seeing flashing lights, having blind spots, having confusing thoughts, a feeling of pins and needles on your arms or legs, and difficulty walking and speaking.
Migraines without aura are migraines that will occur without disturbing your senses, and you will only experience the throbbing pain.
Who is at risk of getting migraines?
Although the first migraine can occur during adolescence, migraines will decrease with age. People below the age of 30 tend to get more migraines than patients who are 50 years and above. Women tend to experience migraines more than men.
Treatment
Treatment for migraines will vary from one patient to another. A chronic migraine sufferer will require more medical attention than someone who suffers an acute migraine. The frequency and severity of your migraine will also influence the kind of treatment your doctor will administer to you. You can use the following recommendations to get rid of your migraines.
Lifestyle changes
One of the best approaches to dealing with migraines is to avoid circumstances that might trigger a migraine episode. From getting adequate sleep and drinking enough water to having regular meals, a migraine patient can avoid episodic migraines.
Managing your stress levels and avoiding places that have loud noises or strong smells can also keep migraines at bay. If you experience a migraine in a bright room, it will help to dim the lights or draw your curtains to make the room dark.
Medications
There are two types of medications that can treat migraines; pain relievers and preventive medications. You can use pain killers when you have migraine pain. Doctors advise patients to use pain relievers during a migraine attack to relieve the pain. The most common painkillers are Advil and aspirin.
Preventive medications are used to prevent migraines, and they involve the use of drugs primarily used for other conditions. Preventive medications include Botox injections, anti-seizure drugs, and blood pressure drugs.
If you have migraine pain with or without aura, you should see a doctor. Call or book an appointment online for evaluation. Dr. Ravitz of Modern Migraine in New York can help you get your migraine pain under control.
