10 Facts About Migraine That May Surprise You
Introduction
You’ve probably heard about migraines, but did you know that there are two types of migraine? Also, did you know that people with migraine tend to have changes in mood, behavior and eating habits? We’ve put together 10 facts about this condition that may surprise you:
These are among the most severe types of headaches
You may be surprised to learn that migraines are the most severe type of headache. This is because a migraine can cause more than just pain. There are many other symptoms that go along with migraines, such as:
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue (tiredness) or drowsiness
Migraine is a chronic condition that can also be triggered by stress.
It’s a common misconception that migraines are caused by caffeine withdrawal and sugar. While these can make you feel worse, they don’t cause migraines themselves.
Most migraine sufferers experience at least one attack per month, but it’s possible to have more than 15 headaches each month. Migraines tend to be chronic (they last for days or weeks), which means that over time you may develop long-term coping strategies to help manage your condition. However, there are many steps you can take today to reduce the frequency and severity of your symptoms—for example, keeping a diary of what foods trigger your migraines or avoiding triggers if possible.
Migraines may be prevented or managed.
If you are one of the estimated 27 million Americans who suffer from the most common types of migraines, then you know how debilitating they can be. But, here’s some good news: migraine prevention and management strategies are available.
Migraine medications are usually a combination of two or more drugs that work best together to relieve symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe medication if you have frequent attacks or symptoms that interfere with your daily life. If over-the-counter medications don’t work for you, ask your doctor about prescription options such as triptans (drugs used to relieve moderate to severe headaches).
Dietary changes may help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines if they’re triggered by certain foods or beverages—and these aren’t just limited to foods high in sugar and simple carbs. For example, dairy products can lead to more severe headaches after eating them because lactose intolerance is one possible cause for these head pains among some people experiencing them regularly; other common triggers include aspartame; monosodium glutamate (MSG); nitrates found in processed meats like bacon and hot dogs; caffeine withdrawal; alcohol withdrawal from heavy drinkers who consume alcohol regularly; dehydration caused by vomiting due to drinking too much alcohol without rehydrating first
People who have migraine attacks can have changes in mood, behavior and eating habits.
- People who have migraine attacks can have changes in mood, behavior and eating habits.
- Migraine sufferers often experience depression during the worst of their attacks, but this emotional state may not be attributed solely to migraine itself.
- Many migraine patients are sensitive to smells and light during an attack, which can lead them to avoid activities that require being around these stimuli (such as going out or attending social events).
25% of people with migraine develop frequent migraine attacks.
One of the most surprising facts about migraine is that 25% of people with migraine develop frequent migraine attacks.
Frequent migraine attacks are defined as migraines that occur more than 14 days per month, and this type of chronic headache is more common in women than men.
Most people get about one migraine per month.
Most people get about one migraine per month.
Many people who experience migraine headaches have them episodically, meaning they have more than one headache in a year but not every day. Others experience chronic migraines, which involve frequent headaches (15 or more per month) that sometimes last several days. Some people get chronic migraines without ever having had an episodic one. Many of these people don’t respond well to standard treatments for episodic migraine.
10% of people with migraines develop comorbid conditions.
A comorbid condition is a disease or disorder that occurs together with another disease. For example, depression is often comorbid with migraines. Some studies have shown that about 10% of people with migraines develop other conditions along the way.
The most common comorbid conditions are depression and anxiety, but some people also experience panic attacks, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
It’s important to note that having one of these conditions does not mean you will definitely get another one—and vice versa—but it’s still worth discussing your history with your doctor when you’re trying to manage or treat migraines because they may need special attention in order to reduce their severity or duration as well as improve overall health outcomes.
Women are more likely to experience a migraine aura with visual and/or sensory symptoms than men are.
Migraine is a disorder of the brain, and nearly all migraine sufferers experience some level of pain. However, women are more likely to experience a migraine aura with visual and/or sensory symptoms than men are. A migraine aura is a disturbance in vision or other senses that occurs before or during a migraine attack. It may also be an indicator that you have another condition, such as stroke or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).
It’s important to learn as much as you can about your condition and options for treatment in order to make the best choices for yourself
Here are some of the most important things to know about your migraines:
- Learn about migraine triggers. While there’s no way to completely avoid the things that trigger your migraines, understanding them can help you understand what might be happening in your body when you get them and may lead you to make changes that could reduce their frequency or severity. For example, if certain foods seem to set off a migraine for you, then eliminating those foods from your diet can make a big difference in how often they occur. Likewise, learning which activities trigger migraines can alert you to situations where it might not be safe for you to participate (for example, if walking outside is known as one of the top ten migraine triggers).
- Learn about each type of migraine treatment option so that when it comes time for treatment decisions about medications vs other options (such as massage therapy), etc., then you will be able to make an informed decision based on all available information instead of just relying on anecdotal evidence from friends who have tried different options without knowing exactly why they worked or didn’t work because they never really thought through what was going inside their body during those periods either…
Conclusion
To sum up, migraines are a very common condition. In fact, they are the most common type of primary headache. While there is no cure for migraine, your doctor can prescribe medications to help manage attacks and reduce their frequency. In addition, many people find that taking preventative measures such as avoiding triggers like stress or bright lights can help them avoid future episodes altogether.
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