Although migraines are common – affecting about 12 percent of the U.S. population – the neurological disorder is often misdiagnosed and misunderstood, with people sometimes confusing headaches with migraine attacks or underestimating the actual extent of migraine damage.
Historically, migraine has been “overlooked as one of the most disabling diseases on the planet,” according to the American Migraine Foundation.
Although migraines are three times more common in women than men and tend to occur in families, migraines can affect anyone, including children. Understanding what triggers them and the best ways to treat them can make all the difference.
Here, experts talk about the misconceptions people have about migraines.
Migraine attacks are different from headaches
Migraine attacks are more than a simple headache, experts say. “Migraine is much more complex,” said Lauren Green, a neurologist at Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California.
Dr. Kiran Rajneesh, a neurologist specializing in headaches, migraines and pain medicine in the Department of Neurology at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, said migraines can be “debilitating” and are caused by an “electrochemical imbalance” in the brain. caused by an “electrochemical imbalance” in the brain.
“They are associated with nausea, light and sound sensitivity, and many other related symptoms,” Green said. She adds, “Often non-migraineurs don’t realize how debilitating untreated migraines can be. The pain can be severe and the associated symptoms can be terrible, preventing a person from performing normal daily functions.”
Not all migraine attacks are the same
Migraine symptoms are not universal and vary from person to person. “One person may suffer from migraines whose aura includes flickering lights or zigzagging lines, while another person may not experience this,” Green notes. “Some people have severe nausea, while others suffer more from light sensitivity or dizziness. The way migraines present varies from person to person, and treatment plans are very individualized.”
Rajneesh explains that the electrochemical imbalance that causes migraine attacks can start in different parts of the brain. “Depending on where it starts, your symptoms may vary,” he says. However, Rajneesh notes that in most cases, this imbalance occurs in the occipital lobe, which is located in the back of the brain and contains the visual cortex, which helps people interpret what they see. It also helps explain why some migraineurs see auras that occur in the occipital lobe and may manifest as “spots, zigzags [and] flashes.”
Niu Shen Zhang, PhD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Neurology and Neuroscience at Stanford School of Medicine, also noted that there are many classifications of migraine. “For example, the frequency of migraine attacks determines whether a person has episodic or chronic migraine,” Zhang says. “An episodic migraine sufferer has headaches less than 15 days a month. Chronic migraine is when someone has headaches more than 15 days a month, [more than] eight of which are moderate to severe with associated migraine symptoms, for more than three days a month.”
Food is not the number one cause of migraine attacks
While certain foods and alcohol, such as red wine, chocolate and cheese, are known to cause migraine attacks in some people, the No. 1 cause of migraines is actually stress. “It’s a very big trigger,” Rajneesh says. According to the American Migraine Foundation, stress is the trigger for nearly 70 percent of people with neurological disorders.
Managing stress by practicing stress management techniques – especially positive meditation, which includes methods of inducing calm breathing or guided images to relax the mind and body, according to the Mayo Clinic – can help. Prioritizing sleep Rajneesh notes that regular exercise, including yoga, can also help with stress management.
Over-the-counter painkillers don’t always relieve pain
If you’ve ever suffered a painful migraine attack and over-the-counter painkillers haven’t helped, you’re not alone. While some migraine sufferers respond to over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen and caffeine, “many others do need prescription medications to prevent the onset of migraine or to treat migraine acutely,” Greene says.
When patients don’t respond to over-the-counter painkillers, Greene notes that there are “many” different prescriptions available – including tretinoin – to treat pain, and you can ask your doctor or neurologist. s doctor or neurologist. “Each patient is unique in terms of which medication works for them,” Chang says. “It’s helpful for patients to talk with their physicians about what works for them.”
The timing of taking pain medication is more important than you think
When it comes to treating migraine attacks, it’s important to get the timing right. Experts say it’s important to take your medication as soon as you feel the first signs of a migraine attack. “Migraine medications should be taken immediately when a migraine attack occurs,” Green says. “If not taken in this manner, the migraine will continue to get worse and the medication will be less effective.”
Painkillers are not the only way to treat migraine attacks
Migraine medications are only part of the treatment plan. As Rajneesh says, for migraine attacks, “lifestyle changes are just as important as taking prescription medications.
These lifestyle changes include figuring out what your personal migraine triggers are – which may include stress, certain foods, smells like perfume and even weather changes – and avoiding them or minimizing exposure to them whenever possible. But Rajneesh says it’s equally important to eat a healthy, balanced diet – “not just to avoid triggers” – and to prioritize sleep. That’s because studies have shown that sleep deprivation can increase the severity and frequency of migraine attacks.
So while medications can certainly be a lifesaver for migraineurs, Rajneesh says, “I can’t overemphasize the importance of lifestyle changes.”
Chang agrees, saying the “foundation” of migraine management is lifestyle change. “Having a regular, predictable daily schedule for diet, sleep and aerobic exercise can be very helpful in reducing the frequency and severity of migraines,” she says.