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Migraine treatments
What is a migraine?
Migraines are severe headaches that can feel more intense on one side of your head. Your vision can also be affected, where you see an ‘aura’ of patterns and lights. You may experience this without pain, known as a silent headache.
Left untreated, migraines can last anywhere from four hours to three days. Some people may only get them as rarely as once a year. But for others, it’s a weekly problem. Migraines usually start in early adulthood and affect around 1 in 5 women and 1 in 12 men. In most cases it takes a doctor to diagnose migraine.
What causes migraine?
While there’s no clear evidence, it’s thought that migraines are caused by temporary changes in brain chemicals, nerves and blood vessels.
Common triggers vary from person to person, but can include both physical and emotional stress, tiredness or missing a meal. The cause could be something you eat or drink, like caffeine, alcohol, or tyramine (a naturally occurring amino acid found in cured meats, some cheeses and yeast extracts). Bright lights, loud noises and changes in climate can also bring on a migraine.
Around half of those who get migraines have a close relative who does too, suggesting the condition could be genetic.
What are the symptoms?
Common symptoms of a migraine include a severe headache that’s often on one side of the head. There might also be vomiting or nausea, increased sensitivity to light, sound and smells and an aura, where you see flashing lights or opaque spots.
How to identify migraine triggers?
To help identify the triggers of your migraines, keep a diary of what you eat and drink. Something as minor as the smell of a particular food could be triggering the attacks.
If you have an attack, try to remember anything that’s been different or new in the 24 hours leading up to it. While it’s hard to identify triggers, understanding how to avoid them could mean fewer migraines.
How are migraines diagnosed?
If you’re getting migraines, speak to a doctor about the possible causes, and to get relief for the pain and other symptoms.
With a simple online consultation, we can help work out the right migraine treatment for your needs. Then we’ll deliver it discreetly to your home. Or you can pick it up from your nearest Well Pharmacy. We always use plain, unbranded packaging, so only you’ll know what’s inside.
