What Is Migraines ?
While we all have had our share of annoying headaches, they are far more severe than a regular headache should feel. One reason could be that it is potentially a migraine. Those who have experienced it know the symptoms well, but for those who haven’t and perhaps have just heard of it, we will break it down for you.
A migraine is a type of headache that consists of severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation in the head, which usually persists on just one side of the head. A migraine headache is followed by nausea and vomiting and can even cause a person to be extremely sensitive to sounds and lights. The pain is severe enough to intervene with daily activities. A migraine attack potentially lasts for a few hours to a few days at an end.
Some people experience warning symptoms like flashing lights, blind spots, visual interruptions and other sensory disturbances known as an aura that occurs before or with a migraine attack.
So, the question is, what can cause migraines? The exact cause is unknown, but they’re linked to changes in brain activity that affect neural signals and chemicals in the brain. A person’s genes can also play a role. A trigger can be mental, physical, hormonal, environmental, or of any other similar origin. Thus, the cause and symptoms of migraine headaches in adults can vary from person to person.
Here are 11 reasons why a migraines can be dangerous for your health
- You can suffer from a stroke
A stroke occurs when there is an interruption to the blood supply to the brain, which could be due to bleeding of the blood vessels or a blockage. This either obstructs or reduces the blood supply. Studies have shown a link between migraines and strokes, and those with a migraine aura are associated with a higher risk of a stroke.
- You can have an epileptic episode
Since both migraines and epilepsy include disturbances with your sensory activities, there is a link between the increased risk of having one of them if you have the other. In addition, some of the migraine causes are also common to epilepsy, and an attack may trigger a seizure as studies have found an association between the two.
- Heart related diseases
People with a history of migraine attacks are also at risk of developing heart conditions like heart attacks, blood pressure and diabetes. For example, a study showed that those prone to migraines are at double the risk of experiencing a heart attack than those who don’t.
- Digestive problems
Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is one of the prevalent conditions in those who experience migraine attacks. People can have diarrhoea or constipation and have the feeling that they need to go to the bathroom all the time. It also causes a change in mood.
- Bell’s Palsy
This association is relatively new, but they both seem to share a common link. Bell’s palsy is a temporary paralysis of the nerves of the face. Twitching, weakness and droopy eyelids are symptoms that occur only on one side of the face.
- Chronic migraines
Usually, a migraine attack can occur once or twice a month, but if the condition persists for more than that, it is likely a chronic migraine. Thus, even taking medication to alleviate the condition could seem futile as they wear off quicker than usual.
- It can trigger vertigo
Vertigo is more common for those with migraines with aura. It might also cause hearing problems and ringing sensations. In addition, a type of migraine called the basilar migraine can cause loss of hearing.
- Visual disturbances
It is estimated that about one in every four people who suffer from migraines might experience visual disturbances such as flashing lights, blind spots or wavy lines in the visual field. A retinal migraine can cause symptoms like blindness in one of the eyes during the headache or before it, but this problem is temporary. However, the more permanent side effects can cause permanent blindness in one of the eyes.
- Sleep-related issues
It is not just the excruciating pain that prevents any form of sleep; There has been seen, In addition, comorbidity in sleeping disorders and migraines. Thus, they share certain underlying links that risk the cause of either of these problems to arise with the prevalence of the other.
- Hypertension
We’re no strangers to blood pressure and how daily life stressors can impact and render its development. Migraine is no different. The exact reason for their linkage is not very clear, but it has been found that individuals experiencing migraine headaches are likely to be put at the risk of afflicting high blood pressure.
- Mental health
The constant fear of the pain and having to endure it when the next migraines attack arises can raise some anxiety. As a result, moods might experience frequent variations.
Thus, you mustn’t ignore the signs of a migraine headache and visit a doctor if the symptoms prevail if the pain becomes chronic. The more severe the symptoms, the more chances of risking a painful health condition that can be avoided if proper care and treatment are followed. Apart from that, a balanced diet, exercising, and a healthy lifestyle can significantly benefit. Migraine causes symptoms, and treatment is specific to an individual, and to identify the underlying cause can only be done by a doctor. You can visit us at Dr Good Deed and book a consultation online.
