Migraines are a specific type of headache caused by abnormal pain signaling and the release of pain chemicals in the brain, and they consist of four phases: pre-drome, aura, headache, and post-drome.
Migraines are a common but often underestimated health issue, costing the UK economy billions of pounds.
Deep dives
Understanding Migraines: Causes and Phases
Migraines are a specific type of headache caused by abnormal pain signaling and the release of pain chemicals in the brain. They consist of four phases: pre-drome, aura, headache, and post-drome. Pre-drome may include food cravings, while the aura phase involves abnormal electrical activity in specific brain areas, such as the visual cortex, resulting in visual symptoms. The headache phase is characterized by significant pain lasting from 4 to 72 hours, along with other symptoms like light intolerance and nausea. The post-drome phase can cause cognitive fog and fatigue.
Differentiating Migraines from Headaches
Migraines are a specific type of headache with distinct diagnostic criteria. While tension-type headaches are milder and often present as a band of pain around the head, migraines exhibit more severe symptoms like light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, and nausea. Around 70% of migraine sufferers do not experience aura, contrary to popular belief. While both migraines and regular headaches involve the trigeminal pain system, migraines are characterized by abnormal pain signaling and chemical release in the brain.
Factors Influencing Migraine Occurrence
Migraines are more prevalent in women, and the likelihood of experiencing migraines decreases with age. Hormones play a significant role, with many women experiencing migraines associated with their menstrual cycles. Other risk factors include genetic predisposition, anxiety, depression, obesity, and excessive painkiller use, which can lead to chronic daily headaches. Migraines are a common but often underestimated health issue, costing the UK economy billions of pounds.
Treatment Options for Migraines
Migraine treatment focuses on both acute attacks and prevention. Acute treatment often involves triptans, which act on serotonin receptors and can be combined with anti-inflammatory medications and anti-sickness medications. Preventive medications, such as CGRP inhibitors, can be prescribed for patients with recurrent migraines. Lifestyle factors like maintaining a regular sleep schedule, managing stress, and staying hydrated can also help reduce migraine frequency and severity.
1 in 7 people live with migraines around the world, and the condition costs the UK economy billions each year. Attacks can be debilitating and all-consuming, but a new treatment recently approved by NICE might even help the most stubborn cases find some relief.
James Gallagher is joined by neurologist Alex Sinclair from the University of Birmingham, GP Richard Wood from Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, and physiotherapist Anne-Marie Logan from St George’s University Hospitals to answer your questions on migraine and headache; from understanding why migraines exist in the first place, to if foods like takeaways could be triggers, and what these new treatments mean for the future of migraine management.
Presenter: James Gallagher
Producer: Julia Ravey
Editor: Erika Wright
Production Co-ordinator: Jonathan Harris
Technical Producers: Sue Malliot and Donald Macdonald
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