Migraine
- Article
- 2020-06-15
The pain from migraine headaches is often described as an intense throbbing or throbbing pain in a part of the head. However, it is much more; The International Headache Society diagnoses migraine by pain and the number of attacks (at least 5, lasting 4-72 hours if untreated) and additional symptoms such as nausea and / or vomiting, or sensitivity to both light and sound. Migraines are three times more common in women than men and affect more than 10 percent of people worldwide. About one third of affected individuals can predict the onset of a migraine because it is preceded by an "aura", visual disturbances that appear as flashing lights, zigzag lines, or a temporary loss of vision. People with migraines tend to have recurring attacks caused by a number of different factors, including stress, anxiety, hormonal changes, bright or flashing lights, lack of food or sleep, and nutritional substances. Migraines in some women can be related to changes in hormones and hormonal levels during their menstrual cycle. For years, scientists believed that migraines were linked to the widening and narrowing of blood vessels in the head. Researchers now believe that migraines have a genetic cause.
Therapy
There is no absolute cure for migraines, as its pathophysiology is not yet fully understood. There are two ways to approach the treatment of migraine headaches with drugs: to prevent the attacks or to relieve the symptoms during the attacks. Prevention involves the use of drugs and behavioral changes. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved erenumab (Aimovig) to prevent migraines in adults. The drug works by blocking the activity of calcitonin gene-related peptide, a molecule involved in migraine attacks. The FDA has also approved lasmiditan (Reyvow) for short-term treatment of migraines with or without aura. The FDA has also approved ubrogepant tablets (Ubrelvy) for the immediate treatment of migraines with or without aura. Drugs originally developed for epilepsy, depression, or high blood pressure to prevent future seizures have been shown to be extremely effective in treating migraines. Botulinum toxin A has been shown to be effective in the prevention of chronic migraines. Behavioral stress management strategies such as exercise, relaxation techniques, biofeedback mechanisms, and other therapies designed to limit daily discomfort can reduce the number and severity of migraine attacks. Making a log of personal migraine triggers can also provide useful information for avoiding lifestyle changes, including dietary considerations, eating regularly scheduled meals with adequate hydration, stopping certain medications, and establishing a consistent sleep schedule. Hormone therapy can help some women whose migraines seem to be related to their menstrual cycle.
Relief of symptoms or acute treatments during attacks consists of sumatriptan, ergotamine drugs and analgesics such as ibuprofen and aspirin. The sooner these treatments are performed, the more effective they are.
Prognosis
Responsive migraine prevention and treatment is incredibly important. There is some evidence that after each consecutive attack there is an increased sensitivity, which eventually leads to chronic daily migraines in some people. With the right combination of drugs for the prevention and treatment of migraine attacks, most people can overcome many of the discomfort of this debilitating condition. Women whose migraine attacks occur in conjunction with their menstrual cycle are likely to have fewer attacks and milder symptoms after menopause.
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