PRODROME
Few hours to days
Variety of physical and mental changes (such as tiredness, mood swings, food cravings)
ABOUT
MIGRAINE
Learn about the impact of migraine
Understanding migraine can help you and your healthcare provider determine the appropriate treatment for you.
Explore our Migraine Center and learn more about the causes and symptoms that can accompany migraine attacks.
WHAT IS MIGRAINE?
For many, migraine is more than just a headache. Migraine can be a disabling chronic disease, with recurrent attacks. While the type of migraine can vary, common symptoms of migraine include nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.
Migraine can be a progressive disease that may worsen over time for some, especially if not diagnosed properly. If migraine progresses, it can lead to more headache days per month; as well as longer, more severe attacks and greater disability resulting in a lower quality of life.
TYPES OF MIGRAINE
Migraine is a neurological disease with different types of classifications
MIGRAINE WITHOUT AURA
Migraine without aura is common and may be associated with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound
VS
MIGRAINE WITH AURA
Aura is a series of sensory changes, such as flashing lights or tingling and numbness, that may be a sign of a migraine attack
EPISODIC MIGRAINE
Episodic migraine is characterized by 14 or fewer headache days a month, at least 5 of which are migraine days
VS
CHRONIC MIGRAINE
Chronic migraine is characterized by 15 or more headache days a month, at least 8 of which are migraine days
Some people with migraine can experience both migraine with or without aura, or can vary in the number of headache or migraine days they experience from month to month. Talk to your provider to better understand your migraine.
WHAT CAUSES MIGRAINE
What causes migraine isn't fully understood, but genetics and environmental factors appear to play a role. CGRP is a protein naturally produced in your body and, when elevated, is believed to play a major role in migraine attacks, causing pain and inflammation.
What triggers a migraine attack is unique to each person. Not everyone with migraine can identify a trigger, while others may have multiple triggers.
COMMON MIGRAINE TRIGGERS INCLUDE:
Nutrition
Drinks, such as alcohol and too much caffeine
Foods, such as salty and processed foods
Food additives
Sensory
Changes in the weather
Bright lights and sun glare
Strong smells
Lifestyle
Stress level
Menstruation & hormonal changes
Changes in or irregular sleep patterns
Medications
Frequent use of certain types of medications
Ingredients in certain medications
Hormonal medications
PHASES OF A MIGRAINE ATTACK
AURA
5 to 60 minutes
A sense of random, slow-moving waves that affects a person’s ability to focus and can include visual disturbances like seeing bright or flashing lights or zigzag lines, or temporary vision loss
Up to 33% of people can experience aura
HEADACHE
4 to 72 hours
Head pain that is typically throbbing
Additionally, people are sensitive to light and sound and may experience nausea
POSTDROME
24 to 48 hours
Often described as a “migraine hangover”
Symptoms mirror the prodrome phase and could last from hours to a couple of days
TREATING MIGRAINE ATTACKS
There are two main approaches to treating migraine:
ACUTE MEDICATIONS
These are used to stop migraine attacks when they occur
PREVENTIVE MEDICATIONS
These are taken proactively to prevent or reduce the frequency, severity, and duration of migraine attacks
HOW MIGRAINE MAY AFFECT YOU
Clinical research has shown that migraine attacks may affect the brain and body in many ways.
THE EFFECTS OF MIGRAINE CAN IMPACT:
ABILITY TO FOCUS
VISION
ABILITY TO MOVE
BALANCE
PERCEPTION OF PAIN
QUALITY OF LIFE
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