WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Migraine headaches typically affect one side of the head.
They can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Some people
have them weekly, others have fewer than one a year. Migraines
usually begin sometime between the teen years and the age of 40, and
can be classified as either ""classic'' or ""common.''
Causes
At the onset of a migraine, the blood vessels in your head
first shrink, then swell, causing pain.
Tension, bright lights, loud noises, strong smells, weather
changes, fatigue, missed meals, and emotional upset all may trigger
a migraine. The headaches may also be brought on by many common
foods and beverages, including lunch meat, hot dogs, alcohol, beans,
coffee or tea, cheese, chocolate, nuts, pickles, raisins, and canned
soup. Artificial sweeteners can trigger a migraine. Many women get
the headaches before or during their monthly period.
Signs/Symptoms
You may know you are going to have a migraine before the
headache starts. Warning signs include nausea, vomiting, and
sensitivity to noise, light, or smells.
Classic migraines begin with warning signs such as
flashing lights or colors. You may feel as though you are looking
through a tunnel. One side of your body may feel prickly, hot, or
weak. These warning signs last about 15 to 30 minutes and are
followed by pain in your head.
Common migraines do not have the same warning signs.
However, you may feel tired, depressed, restless, or talkative for 2
or 3 days before the headache starts.
Care
There are a number of prescription medications for migraine.
They tend to work better if you take the medicine as soon as your
headache starts. Discuss these and other methods of preventing
migraines with your doctor.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
- If your doctor prescribed
medicine to treat or prevent your headaches, take it exactly as
directed.
- At the first sign of a headache:
- Apply cold compresses or ice
packs to your head, or splash cold water on your face.
- Lie down in a quiet, dark room
for several hours. You may sleep, meditate, or listen to music.
Do not read. Rest during the attack.
- To help prevent migraines:
- Keep a record of what you ate
before each headache. Avoid foods, such as chocolate, cheese,
and red wine, that seem to cause an attack. Don't skip or delay
meals.
- Try to keep your life as free
of stress as possible. Learn to pace yourself. Yoga,
biofeedback, or relaxation therapy may be helpful.
- If the headaches first
appeared after you began taking birth control pills, you may
want to talk to your doctor about changing to a different method
of birth control.
Call Your Doctor If...
- You have any problems that may
be related to the medicine you are taking.
Seek Care Immediately If...
- You have a headache that gets
worse or lasts more than 24 hours despite treatment.
- You develop a high temperature.
- You faint or develop weakness,
numbness, double vision, difficulty with speech, or neck pain or
stiffness.
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