There's nothing worse than a migraine. That throbbing pain that makes lifting your head off the pillow a struggle and reduces you to sitting curled up in a dark room.
So how can you tell when the strength of your pain is more than a headache or a reminder of the cocktail menu sampled the night before?
Migraines can be an extremely debilitating and painful problem. About two-thirds of migraine sufferers cannot function at a normal level when they get a migraine attack. So what are the tell-tale signs to recognise of a migraine attack?
Symptoms of a migraine: What to look out for:
The most common symptoms of migraines are:
- Intense throbbing headache, usually on one side of the head, worsened by movement and lasting from 4-72 hours
- Nausea, sometimes vomiting
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to noise
- Sensitivity to smells
- Stiffness of the neck and shoulders
- Blurred vision
Experiencing two or more of these symptoms, and if they prevent you from continuing with normal daily activities, are all signs you could be suffering from migraines.
For a small number of people, there can be additional signs to watch out for. Although these are a lot less common, visual disturbances can be a warning sign that your throbbing head needs some TLC. These include:
- Blind spots
- Flashing lights
- Zig-zag patterns
As with all health concerns, consult a doctor if you are concerned about the intensity, frequency or occurrence of your migraine. It's also time to book yourself in for a check-up if symptoms persist after a few hours or appear to get worse.
How do I treat a migraine?
There are a number of steps to take when combatting a migraine. Be sure to rest in a dark room, as lights can aggravate the severity of a migraine for those suffering. It is also important to try maintain a regular sleep schedule. Changes in sleep patterns, changing work schedules and jet lag can affect the quality of sleep cycles and trigger migraines.
If taking over-the-counter painkillers, ask the pharmacist for an anti-inflammatory drug that will help ease the strength of the pain. The most traditional anti-inflammatory painkiller is aspirin. If you suffer from a sickly stomach, anti-nausea medication can also be used in combination with painkillers to treat migraine.
If symptoms persist beyond a few hours, or you suffer regularly from migraines, check in with your doctor to see if you're suitable for prescription medication to help ease the effects of an attack.
Keeping track of your migraines
Keeping a migraine diary for a period of time may establish some patterns to your headaches, helping you to manage the effects or take action to prevent them from occurring in the first place. A migraine diary can also help you to feel more in control of the throbbing pain and reduce the frequency of attacks.
Doctors also sugget that you keep a diary of the foods consumed, the medication taken and the strength of the pain (1-10, with 10 being the strongest) to keep a record of your patterns. This will help a doctor make the most accurate decision for you regarding treatment, as they will have a full picture of the severity of your recent migraine attacks.
