How Long Do Ocular Migraines Last

Photo Courtesy: Columbia University Irving Medical Center/YouTube

If y'all've ever had a migraine headache, you know but how debilitating the condition is — and just how much information technology upends your solar day. That's because a migraine is much more painful and much more difficult to treat than a typical tension headache. While migraines tin can be occasional, some people feel them on a regular basis. In both cases, the symptoms associated with this status tin be astringent and exhausting, to say the least. But cheers to essential research into the factors that cause migraine headaches, several new and effective treatments have recently get available.

People describe migraines equally a throbbing pain or pulsing sensation, typically on 1 side of the head. These symptoms are sometimes preceded by an aura, which tin can include flashing lights, blurry vision and other visual changes. Unlike the more mutual tension headaches, migraines are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and farthermost sensitivity to light and sound.

Additionally, migraines can last for several hours and, in severe cases, sometimes days. The pain tin be so severe that it gets in the way of daily activities. The Global Brunt of Disease Survey published in The Lancet reported that migraines upshot in a substantially reduced quality of life.

Typically, migraines progress through four phases, although y'all may not become through every phase each fourth dimension 1 comes on. The first stage is known as the migraine prodrome. The prodrome may include early on symptoms such every bit unusual food cravings, fluid retention and mood changes and tin begin as early as 24 hours before the onset of headache hurting and nausea. The next stage is the aura, which typically involves visual disturbances such every bit flashing or vivid lights. This is followed by the attack stage, which often begins with mild pain that becomes more astringent over time. The postdrome is the period after the headache pain has resolved. You may experience exhausted and experience generalized weakness and confusion that can terminal an entire mean solar day.

Looking at the Causes

Information technology is non yet clear exactly what causes migraines. Several theories be, including disorders of the cardinal nervous organization, chemical imbalances in the encephalon and one or more genetic factors. Known risk factors for developing migraines include age, biological sexual activity (or assigned sexual activity) and family unit history.

Factors that can cause migraines in people who are susceptible to them include stress, feet, as well much or not enough sleep, hormonal fluctuations or overexertion. Migraines can be triggered by prescription drugs, including birth command pills, and as well past food, especially alcohol, caffeine, salty and candy foods, and some artificial sweeteners. Specific health conditions that accept been associated with migraines include heart disease and stroke, fibromyalgia, depression and postal service-traumatic stress disorder. For these reasons, it is ever important to discuss your migraines with your physician.

Episodic and Chronic Migraines

There are several different types of migraines but the most mutual are episodic and chronic migraines. Episodic migraines occur sporadically on as many as xiv days in a unmarried month. Co-ordinate to the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention Study, 17% of American women and vi% of American men experience episodic migraines. Information technology's important to annotation that episodic migraines do not have an aura.

Photo Courtesy: Columbia Academy Irving Medical Center/YouTube

Chronic migraines occur on 15 or more days per calendar month over a period of three months or more. While chronic migraines may be triggered by a central nervous system disorder, they are oftentimes the result from overuse of migraine medications. People with chronic migraines are probable to take more severe headaches, other forms of chronic hurting, depression and/or previous head or neck injuries.

Migraine Treatments

While some people tin command migraines with over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, others respond effectively to a class of drugs known as triptans. The US Nutrient and Drug Administration (FDA) recently canonical several new medications that target the encephalon protein calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Three of these new drugs — erenumab, fremanezumab and galcanezumab — are monoclonal antibodies that block the deportment of CGRP. In addition to preventing migraines, these drugs can help reduce migraines' frequency, intensity and duration.

Other new drugs include rimegepant and lasmiditan, which are medications that can exist taken in pill course to cake an astute attack. Another new treatment that may exist helpful for migraines is non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation therapy. This type of handling allows headache patients to administer electric stimulation using a specialized device.

Natural Treatments for Migraines

Some patients have establish success with more holistic approaches to migraines. These treatments include meditation and mindfulness training, acupuncture and essential oils. Some other popular technique is acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which helps one accept the fact that they may have migraine hurting, all while helping them focus on other important goals.

Other natural treatments that accept been used to prevent migraines include vitamin B2, coenzyme Q10, melatonin and butterbur-based remedies. Additionally, magnesium supplementation might be helpful for those with low magnesium levels. As always, you should hash out whatever new therapies with your physician before starting treatment.

Making Lifestyle Changes

In addition to these new medical and natural treatments for migraines, your doc may advise making lifestyle changes. Losing weight and managing stress and anxiety through exercise and relaxation techniques may help to reduce the number and severity of migraines.

Moreover, results from a recent paper published in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases revealed that a low-fat diet might upshot in fewer migraines. You might consider eliminating some of the more common triggers for migraines from your nutrition, including processed foods, booze, chocolate and caffeinated beverages. Migraines can too be caused by aridity. If yous think that y'all might non be taking in enough water, ready an alarm to remind yourself to drink water throughout the day.

If possible, keep a log of potential migraine triggers, including not getting enough sleep, eating certain foods, and/or taking different medicines. Do your best to establish a regular sleeping pattern and consistent nutrition, as fluctuations may influence the frequency and intensity of your migraines. For quick relief, use ice packs or cold compresses on your forehead, scalp or neck. If environmental factors are worsening your feel, sitting in a dark, quiet room tin help to convalesce some of the hurting. As e'er, it is important to consult with your dr. when developing a programme to monitor and treat your migraines.

Resources Links:

"Understanding Research: What is the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention (AMPP) Written report and What Nosotros Have Learned From It?" via American Migraine Foundation (https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/ampp/)
"Are the new migraine medications working?" via Harvard Wellness Publishing (https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-weather condition/are-the-new-migraine-medications-working)
Ferrara LA, Pacioni D, Di Fronzo V, Russo BF, Speranza East, Carlino V, Gargiulo F, Ferrara F. "Depression-lipid diet reduces frequency and severity of acute migraine attacks" Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2015;25(4):370-5
Vos T, Flaxzman Advertizing, Naghavi M, Lozano R, Michaud C, Ezzati M et al. "Years lived with disability (YLDs) for 1160 sequelae of 289 diseases and injuries 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Affliction Study 2010" Lancet. 2012;380(9859):2163-2196