What Is Migraine?
Migraine is a primary headache disease that runs its course with recurrent headache attacks and, in some patients, nausea, light-sound sensitivity or neurological symptoms. Migraine is not a simple vascular disease due merely to the widening of blood vessels; it is associated with the complex interaction of the nervous system and the trigeminovascular system.
Migraine Symptoms
A migraine attack can differ from person to person. Common features are as follows:
- Moderate or severe headache
- Pain that may be one-sided, but does not always have to be one-sided
- Throbbing or pulsating pain
- Increase in pain with physical activity
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light and sound
What Is Migraine with Aura?
In some people, temporary neurological symptoms may occur before or during the headache. This is called aura. Visual symptoms are most common; there may be flashes of light, zigzag lines or temporary losses in the visual field. In some patients, numbness or difficulty speaking may also be seen.
Neurological symptoms that occur for the first time, differ from the usual, or are long-lasting should not be accepted as migraine alone; medical assessment should be carried out to rule out stroke and other causes.
What Can Trigger Migraine?
Triggers differ from person to person. Lack of sleep or too much sleep, skipping meals, stress, hormonal changes, certain smells, alcohol and certain individual-specific foods can be associated with attacks. Not every migraine patient needs to avoid the same triggers; a personal headache diary can be useful.
How Is Migraine Diagnosed?
Migraine is mostly diagnosed through a detailed history and neurological examination. A brain MRI or CT does not need to be done in every migraine patient. If the headache is of new onset, its character has changed, there is an abnormality on the neurological examination or there are other alarm findings, imaging and additional tests may be planned.
Migraine Treatment
Treatment is individualized according to the frequency and severity of the attacks, accompanying diseases and other medications used. Treatments used during an attack aim to reduce the pain and accompanying symptoms. In attacks that are frequent, long-lasting or markedly affect daily life, preventive treatments can be considered.
The decision for preventive treatment is not made solely according to the monthly number of attacks. The duration and severity of the attacks, loss of function, the frequency of acute medication use and the person’s preferences are assessed together. In appropriate patients, oral preventive medications, certain injection treatments or neuromodulation options can be considered.
Since very frequent use of painkillers or migraine attack medications can lead to medication-overuse headache, the frequency of use should be monitored.
Information about headache and alarm symptoms
Practice and contact information
This content has been prepared for general informational purposes; it does not replace personal diagnosis or treatment advice.
