FEBRUARY 1^ST, 2022. 

Migraines are much more than a bad headache. It is a debilitating, pulsing pain that can affect your daily life. If you ever experienced being distressed for the whole day after the headache you had in the morning, you better read this. 

What is a migraine? 

A migraine is a headache that cause severe pulsing pain, usually on one side of the head, but also affects both sides sometimes. Most likely accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and loud noises, migraine attacks can last for hours to days, and the pain can be so severe that might affect your daily activities. 

What triggers a migraine? 

A variety of factors can trigger a migraine: 

• Emotional stress: being overtired or overexited 
• Not eating on time, dieting 
• Caffeine: too much or too little 
• Flashing lights (from TV, computer or sun)  

• Loud noises 

What are the symptoms? 

The primary symptom is a headache: it begins as a dull ache that develops into pulsing pain which can be mild, moderate or severe. 

Other symptoms might include: 

• Sensitivity to light, noises or odors 

• Sweating or chills 
• Dizziness or blurred vision 
• Loss of appetite 
• Pale skin color 

What are the stages of a migraine attack? 

Migraines usually go through 4 stages: 

Stage 1 or “prodrome”: it happens a couple of days before the migraine and the symptoms usually include mood changes, increased urination, neck stifness. 

Stage 2 or “aura”: It may or not happen. Symptoms include blurred vision or vision of lights, shapes, spots, tingling sensation on arms or legs, numbing of face or side of the body. 

Stage 3 or “attack”: It usually last between 4-72 hours, and it occurs on one side of the head, bot sometimes also on both sides. Symptoms include pulsing pain on the temples, sensitivity to light, loud noises or smells, nausea or vomiting. 

Stage 4 or “post-drome”: after the attack you feel exhausted, drained and messed-up for the rest of the day. 

What are the risk factors? 

The causes of migraines are not really clear till now, however studies show that people with these risk factors are more prone to develop migraine attacks: 

• Genetics: 80% of the people with relative affected by migraine will experience the same. 

• Gender: statistically, women aged 15-55 are more likely to have migraines in respect to men, mostly because of the hormones involved. 
• Stress level: high-stress situations trigger specific nerves to send pain signals to our brain. 
• Smoking 

Here what to do: 

• Take note of the attacks, how you felt and how you managed. This will help the doctor to prescribe the best treatment. 
• Seek a doctor to discuss pain management. There are different options, depending on the gravity of the situation: it can be solved with Botox injections in the temporal area or with specific medications, whether to prevent the attack or to manage the pain. 
• Go to the Hospital (ER) in case you experience any of the below: 

• headache with fever, stiff neck, confusion, seizures, double vision, numbness or weakness in any part of the body, which could be a sign of a stroke 
• Headache after a head injury 

• A chronic headache that is worse after coughing, exertion, straining or a sudden movement 

Who can I ask for advice:  

For further information connect with Dr. Maen at Florentia Clinic: 

Tel: +971 43422000 

Mob: +971 568737444