Migrane & Headache

Best Migraine Headache Treatment in Hyderabad

CARE Hospitals is on a mission to help patients to fight against headaches and migraine. A migraine is defined as a headache that may cause a pulsing sensation or throbbing pain, generally on a single side of your head. And, it is often accompanied by vomiting, nausea, and sound/light sensitivity. This headache comes as an attack that may last for a few hours or even days. The patients report severe pain that may hamper daily activities. 

In extreme cases, aura comes as a warning symptom before or even along with the headache. This aura might occur with visual disturbances like blind spots or flashes of light and related disturbances. It is accompanied by tingling on one side of the arm, leg, or face and even you can face difficulty in speaking. 

Medicines help prevent some migraines and transform them as less painful. The correct medications along with lifestyle changes and self-help remedies proved to be helpful. 

Symptoms of migraine differ in every one. This headache occurs in varied stages. The stages may include:-

Prodrome

Days or hours before a headache around 60% of people notice migraine symptoms like:

• Bloating

• Severe thirst 

• Diarrhea or constipation 

• Mood swings 

• Fatigue 

• Lack of appetite or food cravings 

• Being sensitive to smell, sound, or light

Aura 

Symptoms of the aura are from the nervous system and usually include vision. These often start at a gradual pace and last around 5-20 minutes. A patient may feel:

• Tunnel vision 

• See wavy lines, black dots, light flashes, and sometimes hallucinations (things that are not present in real)

• Feeling of numbness and tingling on one body side

• Inability to see 

• Not clarity in speech 

• Feeling of heaviness in legs or arms 

• Ringing feeling in the ears 

• Changes in taste, touch, or smell 

Attack 

A migraine headache usually starts as a dull pain and it begins to grow with throbbing pain. This generally begins to worsen at the time of physical activity. The pain also moves from one direction of the head to another. You may first feel it in front of the head and then it affects the entire head. During migraine, around 80% of patients report nausea along with headaches and some of them also vomit. There are some who faint or look clammy and pale. 

Postdrome 

After a headache, this stage may last for a day. Symptoms might include;

• Weakness or muscle pain 

• Feeling cranky and tired

• Lack of appetite or food cravings

• The feeling of happiness or refreshed

Stress - When a person is stressed, his brain starts releasing chemicals that prove to be responsible for triggering blood vessel changes and it leads to migraine. 
Hormonal changes - Many women report headaches when their periods are around or when they are pregnant or at the time of ovulation. Some symptoms are due to birth control pills or menopause that use hormone replacement therapy. 
Foods - It is no surprise that some drinks or foods such as alcohol, cheese, or additives like monosodium and nitrates might be responsible for triggering in some people. 
Caffeine intake - If you get too much caffeine or you do not get that much you are used to may cause headaches. If used properly, caffeine is also used as a treatment for acute migraine attacks. 
Senses - Bright lights, loud noises, and powerful smells may trigger migraine.
Weather changes - Barometric pressure change, storm fronts, strong winds, etc may also be responsible for a migraine attack. 
Sleep changes - If you start sleeping too much or less sleep, then it is also a factor to have migraine headaches. 

Different types of migraine

There are different types of migraines that may trigger headaches. The most common are migraine without aura or migraine with aura. Other headaches include:

• Silent migraine - There are aura symptoms without having a headache. 
• Menstrual migraine - When headache is associated with women's period. 
• Abdominal migraine - It comes with nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting. 
• Vestibular migraine - This is triggered with problems in vertigo, balance, or vomiting and nausea with or without headache. 
• Ophthalmic migraine - This migraine headache is associated with total loss of vision or partial vision in one or both eyes. 

Treatment of headaches and migraine

There is no total cure for migraines but yes, we help our patients to stop or prevent it with medications. It also helps you lessen the symptoms and stop getting them worse. Especially, our therapies keep a check on migraine headaches by suggesting some lifestyle changes, relaxation therapies, easing stress, and promoting good sleep patterns. Our specialists also suggest nausea medications according to ease. Lasmiditan medicines are prescribed to reduce nausea, pain, and sound or light sensitivity. 

Diagnosis of migraine conducted by CARE Hospitals 

Our doctors ask you questions to trace your health history according to the symptoms. They can also ask you to maintain a diary of symptoms that you notice frequently. It is good to write them down like:

• Prime symptoms and how these hurt you

• Frequency of these symptoms 

• Total lasting time like hours, a day or more than one day

• History of migraine in the family 

• Over the counter medicines you take or any other supplement you are consuming

• Medicines that have been taken in the past

After these symptoms noting, our experts also order tests to find out the cause of symptoms, like:

• ECG (Electroencephalogram 

• Imaging tests such as CT scans or MRI 

• Blood tests

How are migraines treated?

Migraine headaches are a chronic condition that lacks a cure, but effective management and potential improvement are possible. There are two primary medication-based treatment approaches: abortive and preventive.

• Abortive medications are most successful when taken at the earliest signs of a migraine, ideally when the pain is mild. These medications aim to halt or diminish the migraine process, providing relief from symptoms like pain, nausea, and light sensitivity. Some abortive medications work by narrowing blood vessels, returning them to their normal state and alleviating the pulsating pain.

• Preventive (prophylactic) medications may be recommended when migraines are severe, occurring more than four times a month, and significantly disrupting daily activities. These medications aim to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines. They are typically taken regularly on a daily basis to help prevent the onset of migraines.

What medications are used to relieve migraine pain?

There are several medications that can be used to relieve migraine pain. The choice of medication depends on the severity of the migraine, individual preferences, and any underlying health conditions. Here are some common types of medications used to treat migraine pain:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) Pain Relievers: Non-prescription pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin can help alleviate mild to moderate migraine pain. These are typically the first-line treatment for many people.
• Triptans: Triptans are a class of prescription medications specifically designed to treat migraines. They work by narrowing blood vessels and reducing inflammation in the brain. Some common triptans include sumatriptan (Imitrex), rizatriptan (Maxalt), and eletriptan (Relpax).
• Ergotamines: Ergotamines are another class of prescription medications that can be used for migraines. They are less commonly prescribed than triptans and are usually considered when other treatments have been ineffective.
• Anti-Nausea Medications: Migraines often cause nausea and vomiting. Medications like ondansetron (Zofran) or metoclopramide (Reglan) can help relieve nausea and improve the tolerability of other migraine treatments.
• Combination Medications: Some medications combine a pain reliever with caffeine or other ingredients to enhance their effectiveness. An example is Excedrin Migraine, which includes aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine.

CARE Hospitals are the best to be contacted for the best treatment for migraine in India, including headaches and migraine solutions. Our specialists offer the best ways to check and avoid migraine triggers. Along with medications, we also suggest stress management techniques such as mindful breathing, yoga, meditation, and moderate exercises. Get ample rest and drink plenty of fluids. Manage eating habits and have foods in short and regular intervals. Contact us today!

FAQs

1. What is the difference between a migraine and a headache?

Headaches are a general term for any pain in the head, while migraines are a specific type of headache characterized by severe throbbing pain, often on one side of the head, and additional symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.

2. What are common migraine triggers?

Migraine triggers can vary from person to person but may include stress, hormonal changes, certain foods (like aged cheese, caffeine, and processed meats), dehydration, lack of sleep, and environmental factors.

3. When should I seek medical help for a headache or migraine?

You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience a severe or sudden headache that is unlike any you've had before, if you have neurological symptoms like weakness or confusion along with a headache, or if your headache is associated with a head injury.