A migraine is more than just a headache. An attack is normally accompanied by symptoms of nausea or vomiting, as well as oversensitivity to light, noise, movement or smell. It typically lasts for hours or even days.
Migraine headaches can be “severely debilitating and distressing for sufferers”, Dr Nitin Shori, medical director of the Pharmacy2U Online Doctor service, tells HuffPost UK.
Here, we spoke to experts about what causes migraines and, most importantly, how to get rid of them.
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Colin Hawkins via Getty Images
What causes them?
“The exact causes of a migraine aren’t clear but it is thought that they occur as a result of temporary chemical changes in the nerves and blood vessels within the brain,” says Dr Shori.
“Triggers are thought to include certain food and drink, tiredness and stress.
“Women starting their period can also be more susceptible to migraines.”
One in five females will suffer from a migraine attack compared to one in 15 males. It is thought this is due to hormonal changes.
According to The National Migraine Centre, people who are prone to attacks should try to avoid eating irregular meals or skipping them entirely.
“People with migraine should take a fibre-containing breakfast within an hour of getting up, before leaving home for work or school,” they advise.
“Try to have a regular body clock, with the same or similar time for sleep and for getting up every day. Avoid shift work, or try to stay on the same shift all the time.”
Caffeine, alcohol and mild dehydration can also trigger migraines.
It is thought that keeping fit can make you more resistant to attacks, however for some, vigorous exercise can also trigger them.
Symptoms of migraine
With an acute migraine attack, there are usually four stages - however not all patients will go through each and every stage.
The first stage is called ‘prodrome’. This is where the patient’s mood changes hours or days before the headache begins.
The next stage, called ‘aura’, usually happens just before the headache. Each aura symptom lasts up to an hour and will typically affect vision. It can also cause numbness, dizziness, paralysis, speech difficulty, memory loss or collapse.
According to The National Migraine Centre, visual aura normally begins off-centre, asymmetrically in both eyes and gradually enlarges with blackness, zigzags, lights or patterns which can affect half or all of a person’s vision.
The third stage of acute migraine is head pain or a thumping, pulsing pressure. This pain can affect any part of the head, including the face or neck, and can last for hours or days at a time.
During the final stage, called ‘recovery’, you will feel generally unwell. This can last for a day or two.
“There is no cure for migraine but there are over-the-counter treatments available that can help alleviate symptoms,” says Dr Shori.
“These include common painkillers including paracetamol and ibuprofen.
“Some sufferers also find it helpful to use anti-emetic treatments which can help to reduce nausea and vomiting, while drugs called triptans can help by tackling the chemical changes thought to trigger migraines.”
If you suffer with migraine attacks, it can sometimes help to lie in a quiet and darkened room until the symptoms have passed.
Dr Shori also advises avoiding foods that have previously triggered an attack.
“If you suffer very frequent migraines, your doctor may consider preventative treatments such as beta blockers,” he adds.
The National Migraine Centre recommends trying either magnesium, riboflavin or coenzyme Q10 supplements. However they note that research into whether these natural remedies work is limited.
10 Migraine Triggers
Sleeping In(01 of10)
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It may not be surprising that skimping on shut-eye can cause a migraine -- but so can binging on sleep on your days off."The migraine brain likes things to be as normal and reliable and routine as possible," Buse says. And that includes your sleep schedule -- getting too much or too little sleep, or experiencing jet lag, can trigger a migraine attack. "We always advise people to try to wake up at the same time every day, even on Saturday and Sunday," she says.It sounds tough, but it's worth it -- not only can you stave off headaches by keeping your weekend bedtime and wake-time within an hour or so of your weekday schedule, but it also will help your sleep. Shifting your body clock several hours at the end of every week forces the body into a so-called social jet lag, or stationary jet lag, that can cause sleep and health problems down the line. (credit:Getty Images)
The Letdown After Stress(02 of10)
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It makes sense that stress is a migraine trigger for many people -- but, turns out, so is the period of relaxation right after. The body's stress response increases levels of various chemicals that then drop off once we calm down. That chemical change could be what causes the so-called "letdown" or "weekend" migraines. This explains why an attack might strike on the first day of vacation, the day after you quit a stressful job or the beginning of your honeymoon, Buse says. In fact, according to research she presented at the 2011 American Neurological Association's annual meeting, people have a 20 percent increased likelihood of having a migraine in the 12 to 24 hours after their mood shifts from "sad" or "nervous" to "happy" or "relaxed."This underscores the importance of managing stress effectively as it's happening, Buse says: "It's really tough to do, but incredibly important." (credit:Getty Images)
Rain(03 of10)
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While there hasn't yet been any definitive research linking migraines with the weather, anecdotally speaking, patients often report getting more migraines on rainy days, Silberstein says.While you can't control the weather, you can take extra care to avoid other triggers on rainy days. (credit:Getty Images)
Oestrogen Fluctuations(04 of10)
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Fluctuations in oestrogen -- whether that be menstruation, coming off birth control pills, pregnancy, the time right after delivering a baby, menopause or taking oral contraceptives with changing doses throughout the month -- can trigger migraines. What's more, they can also lower your migraine threshold, meaning you're more susceptible to other triggers. If you find you're getting migraines between ovulation and menses, you might want to talk to your doctor about taking an extended oral contraceptive, Buse suggests, which can eliminate 75 percent of these hormonal periods. (credit:Getty Images)
Food(05 of10)
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The jury is still out on many of the foods people report triggering migraines. But while the science isn't conclusive, Buse says foods containing tyramine (including red wine, aged cheeses, certain processed meats and pork, to name a few) and tannins (including red wine, tea, coffee and apple juice), may cause an attack. Other food additives, including MSG, aspartame and nitrites, could be headache culprits, though, again, much of the data is anecdotal and not scientific at this point. In people with celiac disease or an allergy, gluten can also cause migraines.Keeping a diary can help you to pinpoint what foods you think could be setting off headaches for you. "One person will have one food be a problem and another person will say that doesn't happen with them," Buse says. But while avoiding a suspected trigger food might be helpful, she advises speaking to your doctor before making any extreme diet changes in the name of migraines. (credit:Getty Images)
Your Co-Worker's Perfume(06 of10)
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That strong scent is more than annoying -- for some migraine sufferers, it's enough to set off an attack. Sensory stimuli like bright lights (including the sun, computer screen or movie theater screen glare), strong smells (like perfume or cigarette smoke) and loud noises can all be headache culprits, Buse says.Some stimuli you can't do much about, but she suggests wearing sunglasses outdoors year-round if light is a problem and asking friends and co-workers to go easy on the perfume, if possible. (credit:Shutterstock)
Drinking Coffee (And Not Drinking Coffee)(07 of10)
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This one works both ways: Too much caffeine can trigger a headache and, for heavy drinkers, not getting your fix can also set off your migraines. This might also be the culprit for your weekend headaches if you're guzzling coffee all week at the office and skipping it at home (or sleeping past your morning jolt), Silberstein says.To avoid caffeine-related migraines, Buse recommends people cap their daily intake at 200 mg (about the amount in a cup of coffee). Drinking more than that now? Taper off slowly to avoid withdrawal headaches. (credit:Shutterstock)
Happy Hour(08 of10)
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The body metabolizes alcohol into acetate, which might cause a migraine, Silberstein says. To avoid the morning-after pain, he suggests drinking only in moderation, taking an an Aleve or Motrin before you drink and consuming food with your alcohol.While all alcohol can trigger migraines, Buse says dark-colored liquors, such as tequila and bourbon, and red wine anecdotally seem to be worse -- though there isn't hard data to back that up. (credit:Shutterstock)
Sex(09 of10)
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According to Buse, physical exertion -- including sex -- can trigger a headache. While the exact cause of exercise-induced migraines isn't totally understood, it could be a chemical change in the brain, especially among those who are out of shape, or it could be that the very early stages of the attack have already begun, meaning the nervous system might be extra sensitive, she explains.The good news is that regularly breaking a sweat can often be a successful way to reduce the number of migraine attacks you experience. "If you exercise on a regular basis, the body makes its own painkillers," Silberstein says. (Even better, one study published earlier this year found that sex can relieve migraine pain for some people.)If the impact that comes with some exercise seems to be the problem, Buse suggests trying swimming, biking or yoga instead. (credit:Getty Images)
Skipping Lunch(10 of10)
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Again, routine is key for migraine sufferers. Skipping a meal or fasting can set off a headache, Silberstein says. We don't know exactly why, he explains, but it might have something to do with low glucose levels. Either way, it's important to eat regularly when possible to avoid an attack. (credit:Getty Images)