Migraine is an insufferable headache; they can manifest in genetically predisposed people at any age, but are more diagnosed in women. Beside the disabling pain, others common symptoms can be, nausea, light and sound hypersensitivity, irritability, and agitation. In an interview with Bianca Cerqueira, a college student, she said “In crises moments I can do nothing in the bright light, I even skip classes, because the pain is too much and strong light or sounds just make it worst”.
How are they diagnosed?
As said by the neurologist Dr. Mário Fernando Peres, in an interview to Drauzio Varella on his blog, “Migraines are one of the many types of headaches, it is a neurologic disease […] In the serious cases, it is important to define the main causes, the triggering factors and the genetics predisposes”.
While thinking of a diagnostic, there can be identified different types of migraines. The two more apparent are: the Common Migraine and the Migraine with Aura. The former is consisted in pain crises with no warning and can be followed by nausea and vomit, the latter besides the pain is followed by tingles around the body and blinds spots on the eyesight. “[…] Aura is a visual symptom that precedes or follows the migraine, with average duration of 20, 30 minutes”, affirmed Dr. Mário Peres.
So, diagnosing migraines is not a simple process, as it is not enough to see the frequency of the pain, the patient must analyze some common symptoms, already mentioned. “When I realized that I was having migraines, I think I was fourteen years old, I felt light hypersensitivity, nausea and a lot of pain on the forehead and the back of the neck” sad Bianca.
Is there a treatment?
There is few scientific information about actual treatments of migraines, but later from the diagnostic comes the self-care and to seek for a helping treatment, although a special care not always work for everybody, “I did a follow-up with a neurologist, to assuage a little the migraines, but for me didn’t work at all. At the time I stopped taking contraceptives, I was having a lot of crises, and I felt that really helped me. But I didn’t seek for many treatments” affirmed Bianca.
It’s important to highlight that some habits can have a bad effect on migraines crises, for example consuming a lot of caffeine or taking some types of contraceptive drugs and smoke cigarette. But not only a treatment of habits changes can be made, as medications can be prescribed by a doctor. “In relation to drugs, it is need to select the more favorable combination […] the treatment can be stratified in order of the type of the disease and frequency of the crises. People with daily migraines need a more aggressive treatment”, quoted Dr. Peres on his interview to Drauzio’s blog.
How to cope with it on daily life?
Living with migraines is not an easy task, especially because of the irritability that the pain followed by the other symptoms can cause. “Normally I take medicines for the headache and anti-inflammatories, that help me a lot. But most of the time I end up having to take some time quiet, try to stay at home is the solution” explained our college student interviewed.
But headaches crises don’t have a programmed schedule, they can happen at any time of the day, and dealing with that on the routine can be very exhaustive, because not always you can choose to stay home. Doctor Peres quoted a tip about ways to avoid having unexpected pain crises and have a better daily lifestyle, “Physical exercise is fundamental, as it is to take good care of yourself. Any behavioral deviation (food excess, excess of work or sedentary lifestyle) and from the balance of the body is bad for migraines and must be adjusted”.
When dealing with migraines crises each person has they’re on ways to pass through it, that can be trying to stay in a quiet place or taking painkillers, but doctor Mário Peres advises “In fact the pain is a reflection of a disease. Take a step back to determine what is happening with that person can really help on crises control”, so even if you fell that a treatment is not actually working for you, maybe the best way to have a better lifestyle is trying to demystify your pain not cover it in medicines.
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The article above was edited by Marina Ponchio.
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