A migraine is considered to be one of the worst headaches of all. It causes excruciating pain along with a range of other symptoms. Notably, a migraine pain is very different in nature compared to general headache. A migraine pain is mostly felt on any one side of the brain. Since a migraine is difficult to diagnose, here is a list of 5 signs that will help you to understand, if your headache qualifies as a migraine:

Vision splotches: It is very common among migraine patients to experience blind spots and a sudden flash of light. While this might appear to be a little unusual, it is pretty normal for migraine patients. The visual cortex of the brain is responsible for incidences like these. They often pace up and slow down to cause such unnatural feelings. For cases like this, the nerve gets activated by the optical lobe and crashes immediately resulting in such sensations. These visible auras are felt by both the eyes.
A spinning sensation: A migraine patient often gets a swirling sensation. This requires them to immediately lie down. This is accompanied with nausea and throwing up. Certain migraine-induced changes caused in the brain causes hearing imbalance which is very similar to vertigo. These auras often serve as the onset of a migraine and can last for over one hour before the actual migraine cycle starts. If a person is suffering from these symptoms, it is a clear indication that he is suffering from a migraine.
Light sensitivity: Migraine patients often becomes oversensitive to sound and light. This is perhaps the reason why most migraine sufferers like to spend more time in dark and solicitude. Studies have shown that sudden exposure to light activates the optic nerve fiber which in turn activates the pain receptors in the brain. A study conducted by the Nature Neuroscience journal conducted in the year 2010 showed that even blind person (with a migraine) suffers from a sudden glow of light.
Touch sensitivity: Sensory auras often cause sharp pain from tiniest of touches. This is a condition known as the allodynia. This is a condition by which the spine and the brain get super excited by the inflamed blood vessels. This condition should be reported to a doctor since the most common medicine of a migraine does not work well if a patient is suffering from allodynia.
Funny Face: Aura of the tongue, face and lips are known as cheiro-oral. There is a type of aura that makes even speaking and eating difficult. At time sufferers feel that they are suffering from serious diseases such as brain tumor. If this condition prevails, it makes sense to contact your doctor at the earliest and start medication.

5 Signs You Are Suffering From Migraine

Migraine, the extreme headache that comes back to haunt its victims every chance it gets, can actually be managed with a controlled diet. Of course, medication is the solution, and so is surgery with botulinum toxin in extreme chronic cases. But let s try lifestyle changes before going for any of that.

Symptoms of Migraine:

Pain on the sides of the head is the characteristic symptoms of migraine, but there are others:

A throbbing sensation in the head.

Nausea from constant pain.

Photosensitivity.

More than the usual aversion to loud noises.

Sweating, stomachache, and diarrhea rarely come with the more common symptoms of migraines, as stated above.

Causes of Migraine:

Migraine is often genetic. Pain triggers include:

Hormonal changes, as in during menstruation or pregnancy or puberty.

Emotional disturbances like anxiety, depression, shock, or even excitement.

Poor posture that puts stress on the neck or head.

Tiredness or lack of sleep.

Side-effects of medication such as sleeping pills, some contraceptive pills, and medication for hormone replacement therapy.

External triggers like second-hand smoke, loud noises, very bright lights, lack of oxygen in a poorly ventilated room, dust, any strong smell.

Food Triggers

Foods that trigger migraines include:

Aged cheese with high tyramine: Blue cheese, cheddar, feta, mozzarella, brie, parmesan, gorgonzola, English stilton, Swiss cheese,

Alcohol: Red wine, scotch, champagne, beer, and vodka trigger migraine by dehydrating the body and/or due to the sulfite preservative in them.

Food preservatives: Nitrite or nitrate compounds in preserved foods like ham, sausages, hotdogs, bacon, pepperoni, and deli meat.

MSG: Monosodium glutamate in soy sauce or anything labeled  hydrolyzed  is a trigger.

Sourdough: Baked yeast products like bread, rolls, donuts, and cakes.

Nuts: Peanuts, peanut butter, dried fruits, and some seeds and nuts trigger migraine in not all but some people.

Smoked or Dried Fish

Tomatoes

Onions

Citrus Fruits: Like lemon, orange, grapefruit, Greek citron, etc.

Beans: Like lima, fava, pinto, snow peas, lentils, pole, and broad beans.

Caffeine: Anything more than 200mg of caffeine can trigger migraines.

Artificial sweeteners: Due to aspartame or sucralose content.

Chocolate: Due to beta-phenylethylamine

Avoiding these food items can alleviate symptoms of migraine. This is why one should avoid these foods in their diet. However, it is advisable to consult a Dietician or Nutritionist before avoiding or taking any food item.

Food Which Help to Cure Migraine

The elimination of diet tactics is not enough to manage migraines. There are foods that must be included in the diet. They are:

Salmon: For the vitamins, and omega 3 fatty acids that reduce inflammation and blood pressure.

Dark chocolate: Due to the magnesium content.

Fresh figs: Due to potassium and electrolytes. Avoid dried figs as they contain tyramine.

Shrimp: Due to astaxanthin and vitamins and minerals to help with inflammation.

Carrots: Beta-carotene helps.

Sweet potatoes: Vitamin C, niacin, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, Vitamin B group, manganese, copper, and potassium to the rescue.

Collard Greens

Kale

Quinoa

Ginger

Fresh fruits: Like bananas and apples.

Herbs: Like feverfew, butterbur.

Conclusion

Avoiding trigger foods, having migraines relieving foods, and having plenty of water along with enough sleep and some exercise can manage migraines well enough to not need medication.

All The Foods That Trigger Or Alleviate Migraine!

Anger is a normal emotion. Children are as susceptible to anger as are adults. However, children may not understand how to deal with their anger properly. This can result in tantrums and violent behaviour. Telling a child not to get angry is not the solution to this problem. Instead, a child must be taught how to channelize his or her anger. Here are 5 tips that could help deal with aggressive behaviour.

Do not use physical punishments as a form of discipline: Children inculcate actions they see at home. While you may hit your child out of frustration when he or she does something wrong, the child may see this as an acceptable form of venting anger. Thus, hitting your child can indirectly reinforce a child s aggressive behaviour. Just as you do not expect your child to go about hitting other people, do not hit him yourself.
Develop a feeling vocabulary: A child s aggressive behaviour is usually the result of frustration at not being able to explain what he or she may be experiencing. Thus, encourage your child to develop a vocabulary to speak his mind. Teach them to use words like angry, frustrated, irritated and anxious. When your child says that he or she is angry, do not ignore him but encourage him to talk it out. You could also encourage them to find other creative outlets for their anger such as drawing and painting.
Praise good behaviour: All children seek appreciation. When your child deals with anger is a good way, praise him and reinforce the behaviour. This lets your child know that his behaviour is being noticed. Tell your child it is ok to be angry as long as it is dealt with in the right way.
Set firm limits: Children need limits to know what sort of behaviour is acceptable and what isn t. These limits should be kept very clear and consistent. The child s teachers and other caregivers should also be made aware of these rules along with the response to be given if the child breaks a rule. When a child does cross the limits set by you, they should be immediately reprimanded so that they understand their mistake.
Let your child cool off: It is no use trying to explain why something the child has done is wrong when they are in a state of anger. Instead, give them time to cool down by telling them to go to their room or sit down someplace. Once the child has cooled off, explain why his or her behaviour was wrong and discuss ways he or she could have dealt with the situation better. 

Aggressive Behaviour In Children - 5 Ways It Can Be Managed!

A migraine is one of the worst form of headache. It is reported that over 90 percent of people who suffers from a migraine are unable to work. The intense pain totally makes them vulnerable. A mammoth 113 million workdays are wasted globally due to this problem. This being said, if the pain is slowly starting to set in, it is possible to manage it at the workspace.

Here is a convenient guide to do just that:

1. Pain Medication: If you are a migraine patient, it is likely that you have your migraine medication with you. The first step is to try the medication. If on the other hand, the medication is not available basic painkillers can be given a shot to manage the pain. Basic pain medications, such as ibuprofen are easily available over the counter and are capable of providing temporary relief.

2. Educate co-workers: Despite awareness about migraine pain, many organisations continue to turn a deaf ear about the problem. Instead of fighting with the whole organisations, it makes sense to educate your immediate colleague about a migraine. All you require is 1-2 people who have your back.

3. Control the environment: With the onset of the pain, it becomes more and more difficult to resume work. Few environmental changes such as adjusting the monitor to the eye level, using a sachet of odour neutralizer and switching off the nearest light will help you to manage the pain for few hours.

4. Staying hydrated: Migraine tends to increase multifold if the body is not hydrated. It is, therefore, essential to drink as much water as you can. Apart from the water, a few other drinks such as lime juice and green tea can be of great assistance to hold the pain back for quite some time. The best time to drink green tea is in the morning as it helps in improving mental alertness.



5. Small snacks: Although eating during a migraine can be tough because of the buzzing pain it is a good idea to have small snacks throughout the working hours. An empty stomach creates acidity and further aggravates the pain. Small time snacks such cookies and chocolate bar can come really handy at this time.

6. Get enough air: A centralized workplace can be claustrophobic and intensify the pain for many. Get out of the workspace to get some fresh air. A sudden gush of oxygen can be a welcome relief from the monotonous and crowded office floor.

7. Apply water on the skull: While this might sound like a crazy idea, applying a small amount of water in the middle of the skull can give temporary relief from the throbbing effect of a migraine. If ice is available in the office pantry, make no hesitation in applying it on the migraine side of the forehead. Ice is capable of spreading a cooling effect throughout the forehead and the skull. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a doctor and ask a free question.

Migraine - 7 Ways You Can Deal With at Workplace

Migraine vs. Headache: know the difference

How to differentiate between a migraine and headache?

When you feel pain or pressure in your head, it may become difficult for you to assess whether you are experiencing a common headache or a migraine. Let's understand how different they are from each other.

A typical headache usually affects both sides of your head and varies from a mild to moderate pain. It can last from 30 minutes to up to a period of one week.

Some specific areas which get affected by a headache are:

  temples

  forehead

  back of your neck

Factors that trigger this headache type are a muscle strain, stress or anxiety. 

A migraine, on the other hand, is also a type of a headache which results in an acute throbbing sensation in one part of your head. Usually, migraine headaches are highly painful. Migraine pain makes it difficult for a person to carry out his/her daily tasks. Symptoms or signs associated with migraine attacks are:

  vomiting

  nausea 

  sensitivity to sound or light

  pain in the temples

  temporary loss of vision

  pain behind your ear or eye

What are the common causes of a migraine?

  hormonal imbalances in women - fluctuations in oestrogen, especially during menopause or pregnancy seem to trigger a migraine

  drinks like wine and extremely caffeinated beverages 

  foods such as salty foods, aged cheese as well as processed foods can trigger the migraine attack.

  medications - vasodilators such as nitroglycerine and oral contraceptives can intensify migraine pain.

How to treat a headache?

Fortunately, you can get rid of stress-induced headaches through over-the-counter treatments, which include:

  aspirin

  acetaminophen

  ibuprofen

How to treat a migraine?

If you experience migraine attacks less frequently, these medicines may give you quick relief:

  triptans, such as rizatriptan (Maxalt) or almotriptan (Axert)

  antinausea medicines, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), promethazine (Phenergan) or prochlorperazine (Compazine)

  non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as acetaminophen, naproxen sodium, aspirin or ibuprofen

Some preventive tips:

  make changes in your diet such as avoid such foods, including caffeine and alcohol which are believed to trigger headaches.

  you can also try muscle relaxation exercises, yoga or meditation to ease the migraine attack. 

If you would like to consult with me privately, please click on 'consult'.
Related Tip: 8 Common Migraine Triggers You Must Stay Away From

Migraine Vs. Headache: Know the Difference

One of the most debilitating conditions that anyone can experience is migraine. They can severely limit you by affecting your personal and professional life as you are in constant pain. Migraine can manifest in a type of headache with intense pain, an acute sensitivity to light, vomiting and nausea. Often described as a severe throbbing pain in the head, it may stop you from completing regular daily tasks and may delay or postpone your work.

How can migraines be treated?
The exact cause for these debilitating migraine pain hasn't been pointed out yet, but certain triggers such as stress, hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle, sun exposure, bright or flashing lights, among many others have been identified. The first line of defense for you would be to understand and identify what your triggers are. Once that is done, you can try and avoid them. If these still trigger a migraine or are about to trigger one, you can immediately take medications or steps to control it or at least lessen the pain to go through your day. Some of the options you can employ to this effect are mentioned below.

Medications to prevent a migraine attack: The medications mentioned here are specialized treatments and can only be taken after a consultation with a doctor. If you are deemed as a candidate for preventative medication for migraines, then either one or a combination of drugs from the following may be prescribed to you.
Valproate and Topiramate are anti-seizure medications which can be used to prevent migraines.
Propranolol, a type of beta blocker and used for cardio vascular problems, has proven to be very effective in preventing migraines.
Onabotulinumtoxin A or a type of Botox, has shown a lot of promise in preventing migraines and is being slowly rolled out as a proper drug as a treatment option.
Certain antidepressants have also shown to be quite effective in reducing the symptoms of migraines as well.
Medications to relieve pain: Some of the go to medications that help relieve your pain from migraine are mentioned below. Although some of them are OTC (over the counter) drugs, it is best advised that you consult with your doctor for medications which suit you better. The side effects of these medications can be bad and thus, it is not advised to continue them in the long run and to find other means to control pain from migraines. Some of the medications to relieve pain temporarily are:
Triptan is a drug used to treat severe migraines
Caffeine along with Ergotamine can also help dull the pain and deal with it.
Ibuprofen and aspirin and Acetaminophen are common pain killers that you can use
Codeine, which contains opioids are also used to treat this problem.
Metoclopramide and chlorpromazine are two examples of anti-nausea medications as vomiting along with nausea may frequently accompany your migraine.
Always remember that these medications can have strong side effects if not taken properly, therefore do not just pop a pill, consult your physician first and know which one should you take and how frequently. 

Severe Headache - Can it Be Migraine?

Don't wait any longer, manage your Migraine Prophylaxis online with a Lybrate doctor today

Consult for Migraine Prophylaxis - Online and Easy!

FilterClear All

COMMON SPECIALITIES

COMMON ISSUES