Migraine is a type of strong headache. A migraine episode can last for a few hours to days and often comes with vomiting, nausea, vomiting, etc. The symptoms of migraine can differ for everyone. This headache appears in stages. Some people face all the migraine stages whereas some people may not experience the prodrome stage.
Prodrome
About 60% of people face the prodrome stage. It usually appears hours or days before the headache. Common symptoms of the prodrome stage are:
- Sensitivity to light or smell
- Mood changes
- Food craving or lack of appetite
- Bloating
- Severe thirst
Aura
This stage is related to the nervous system and often affects vision. Most people experience aura for about 5 to 20 minutes. Common symptoms of the aura are:
- Seeing black dot, flashes of lights
- Unable to see anything
- Having tunnel vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Unable to speak clearly
- Changes in taste, smell, or touch
- Tingling or numbing sensation
Attack
After the aura stage, people experience migraine headaches. The headache usually starts with a dull ache and then grows into throbbing pain. The pain of headaches increases if a person is doing any physical activity. The migraine pain can move from one side to another. Sometimes it can occur on the first side or sometimes it may affect your whole head. Most people also have nausea or vomiting during the attack. This phase can last for about 4 hours but sometimes it may last for 2-3 days. If you are getting lots of migraine attacks then you should get migraines treatment Pennsylvania.
Postdrome
This stage occurs after the attack stage. Common symptoms of the postdrome stage are:
- Feeling tired or wiped out
- Muscle pain
- Food craving or lack of appetite
- Feeling confused
Common causes and risk factors for migraine
There is no exact known cause behind migraine. Some research shows that migraine can occur due to changes in brain chemistry. Migraine can also be genetic; parents can pass down the migraine triggers to their kids.
Some risk factors for migraine are:
Gender: Women face more migraine cases than men
Age: Migraine appears mostly between the age of 10 to 40. In women, migraine usually gets better after the age of 50
Other medical conditions: Certain medical conditions like depression, anxiety, sleep disorder, bipolar disorder, etc can become a risk factor for migraine.
Best ways to reduce migraine naturally
Drink more water
Your migraine headache can trigger if your body is dehydrated. Along with migraine, various other headaches can occur due to dehydration. To prevent migraine attacks, you should drink lots of water. Try to make a habit of drinking at least 3-4 liters of water every day. It will keep the body hydrated and reduce headaches and stress. If you have a migraine and the body is dehydrated, your symptoms may get worse. To prevent this, drink enough water every day. If you can’t drink water, try to eat rich water-content foods.
Avoid certain foods
If you have a migraine, you need to take care of your diet. Certain food items can trigger your migraine. Common food that can become the trigger is:
- Food with nitrates
- Alcohol
- Pickled foods
- Dried fruits
- Cheese
- MSG containing food
- Beans
- Cultured dairy products
Taking a small amount of caffeine can help in reducing migraines. People often drink a cup of coffee to reduce migraine pain. But taking too much caffeine can worsen the condition. You should add magnesium to your diet. It acts as a pain-reliever for headache and also reduces migraine triggers.
Apply lavender or peppermint oil
Your migraine pain can be reduced by inhaling lavender oil. It can be inhaled directly or can be mixed with something. Try applying small amounts in your temples as it can reduce the frequency of headaches. The aroma of lavender oil is very strong. Try applying a very small amount of oil as sometimes it may worsen the condition. You can also try applying lavender oil. It contains chemical menthol that provides a refreshing sensation. Applying peppermint oil during a migraine attack can reduce the pain.
Try Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves injecting thin needles into some body parts, The main focus of acupuncture is to stimulate relief. It is a type of natural medication and very popular in Asian countries. Don’t try acupuncture at home. You should only get this therapy from a professional acupuncturist.
Do regular exercise and Yoga
Daily exercise can be very helpful in preventing migraine and other headaches. When they do exercises, many parts of the body start functioning well that help in preventing migraine episodes. You should try meditation to reduce stress in your mind. When you meditate, you feel fresh and can perform better. Some Yoga poses are very helpful in reducing migraine pain.