What is Migraine & when to get medical advice？

1.What is migraine?

A migraine is usually a moderate or severe headache felt as a throbbing pain on unilateral head. Many people also have symptoms such as feeling sick, being sick and increased sensitivity to light or sound.

Migraine is a common health condition, affecting around 1 in every 5 women and around 1 in every 15 men. They usually begin in early adulthood.

There are several types of migraine, including:

● migraine with aura – where there are specific warning signs just before the migraine begins, such as seeing flashing lights，feeling topical numbness, accounts for nearly 15% overall.

● migraine without aura – the most common type, where the migraine happens without the specific warning signs

● migraine aura without headache, also known as silent migraine – where an aura or other migraine symptoms are experienced, but a headache does not develop.

Some people have migraines frequently, up to several times a week. Other people only have a migraine occasionally. It’s possible for years to pass between migraine attacks.

2.When to get medical advice？

You should see a doctor if you have frequent or severe migraine symptoms. Simple painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, can be effective for migraine. Try not to use the maximum dosage of painkillers on a regular or frequent basis as this could make it harder to treat headaches over time.

You should also make an appointment to see a doctor if you have frequent migraines (on more than 5 days a month), even if they can be controlled with medicines, as you may benefit from preventative treatment.

You should call emergency number for an ambulance immediately if you or someone you’re with experiences:

● paralysis or weakness in 1 or both arms or 1 side of the face

● slurred or garbled speech

● a sudden agonising headache resulting in a severe pain unlike anything experienced before

● headache along with a high temperature (fever), stiff neck, mental confusion, seizures, double vision and a rash

These symptoms may be a sign of a more serious condition, such as a stroke or meningitis, and should be assessed by a doctor as soon as possible.

3.Causes of migraines

The exact cause of migraines is unknown, although they’re thought to be the result of temporary changes in the chemicals, nerves and blood vessels in the brain.

Around half of all people who experience migraines also have a close relative with the condition, suggesting that genes may play a role.

Some people find migraine attacks are associated with certain triggers, which can include:

● starting their period

● stress

● tiredness

● certain foods or drinks，such as alcohol, coffee, cheese, Nitrites

● sleep disorder

4.Acute treatment of migraine

There’s no cure for migraines, but a number of treatments are available to help reduce the symptoms.

These include:

● painkillers – including over-the-counter medicines like paracetamol and ibuprofen

● triptans – medicines that can help reverse the changes in the brain that may cause migraines

● anti-emetics – medicines often used to help relieve people’s feeling of sickness (nausea) or being sick

During an attack, many people find that sleeping or lying in a darkened room can also help.

5. Preventive treatment

Avoid triggers – If you suspect a specific trigger is causing your migraines, such as stress or a certain type of food, avoiding this trigger may help reduce your risk of experiencing migraines.

A healthy lifestyle – It may also help to maintain a generally healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, sleep and meals, as well as ensuring you stay well hydrated and limiting your intake of caffeine and alcohol.

Headache diary — People who have frequent or severe headaches may benefit from keeping a “headache diary” over the course of one month. In a diary, you keep track of your headaches, and record information about how long each lasts, the location and intensity, what you did and ate before it came on, and whether it responded to treatment. This can be used to determine what triggers the migraines and what makes them better.

Preventive therapy – If your migraines are severe or you have tried avoiding possible triggers and are still experiencing symptoms, your health provider may prescribe medicines to help prevent further attacks.

Medicines used to prevent migraines include the anti-seizure medicine topiramate and a medicine called propranolol that’s usually used to treat high blood pressure. It may take several weeks to months before your migraine symptoms begin to improve.

6. What if I want to get pregnant?
If you want to get pregnant, talk to your doctor or nurse before you start trying. Some medicines used to treat and prevent migraines are not safe during pregnancy, so you might need to switch medicines before you get pregnant.

Some people notice that their migraines actually get better during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This is related to hormonal changes in the body.

All our FM physicians have undergone specialty training and obtained certificates from domestic or international professional committees. We are proficient in managing common medical problems in the community, particularly long-term conditions. We can also provide individualized and evidence-based preventive health care advices for healthy people. We hope to become a professional friend of our patients, so as to achieve our long-term goal of promoting health and empowering self-care of the population.

General Practitioner

Attending Physician

Junyan YANG

Dr. Yang graduated from West China University of Medical Sciences in 2002, and owns bachelor degree of clinical medicine. Following his internship at West China Hospital, he began residency-training program at Taizhou College Hospital. After completing his program, he served as attending neurologist there. Since 2008, Dr. Yang started his practice in family medicine in many international medical institutions and foreign-funded hospitals at Beijing.

With over 20 years’ clinical practice, he obtained of BLS and ACLS held by AHA, as well as standard prevention and treatment for stroke. Dr. Yang has proven understanding of family medicine and skills in communication, respect multi-culture healthcare. Hold principle of evidence-based medicine, he is experienced in wide spectrum of health problems in all age residents, including ENT, skin, eye, mental health, etc. As a senior neurologist, he is proficiency in common neurological diseases as well, such as headache, vertigo, cerebral vascular disease, sleep disorders.

Dr. Yang masters Mandarin and English.

Source：

www.nhs.uk/conditions/migraine/

Edit：

General Practitioner

Attending Physician