What's Going on Inside Your Head During a Migraine

Understanding Migraine Symptoms and Causes

Migraines involve moderate to severe head pain combined with physical disruption lasting hours to days. They often include nausea, vomiting, dizziness and sensitivity to light, sound, smell and touch. Migraines impact over 37 million Americans with symptoms, frequency and intensity varying between individuals.

The Migraine Brain

A key aspect differentiating migraines from typical headaches is they stem from brain abnormalities not scalp or head tissues. Research identifies possible causes as:

• Fluctuating serotonin levels
• Swelling and widening of brain blood vessels
• Cortical spreading depression disrupting systems
• Trigeminal nerve system sensitization

Genetics likely play a predisposing role regarding migraines developing from these neurophysiological shifts.

Common Triggers Causing Attacks

While migraines frequently develop independently, particular triggers are known to spur symptom onset in those prone to attacks including:

• Stress, anxiety, excitement
• Hormone changes
• Sleep disturbances
• Dehydration, skipped meals, fasting
• Sensory overload like bright lights or loud noise
• Weather changes
• Caffeine and/or alcohol consumption changes

Trigger management assists in lessening migraine frequency for some patients.

Identifying Migraine Phases

Migraines typically unfold through distinct symptom phases requiring different responses:

• Prodrome - Early warning signs like mood swings and food cravings preceding head pain.
• Aura - Visual, sensory or language symptoms marking start of attack.
• Headache Phase - Throbbing head pain with other migraine symptoms arising.
• Postdrome - Receding pain yet ongoing fatigue and haziness.

Catching a migraine early allows preparedness in managing effects during escalation.

Migraine Symptom Impacts

Debilitating Head Pain

The most common migraine struggle is painfully intense head discomfort described as:

• Throbbing, pulsating pain
• Tightening, pressing sensation
• Stabbing irritation
• Hypersensitivity worsened by movement

Discomfort often begins mildly before intensifying, switching sides and settling around eyes, temples or back of head.

Light and Sound Sensitivity

Physical hypersensitivity involving enhanced responsiveness to sensory stimuli is characteristic during attacks, including:

• Photophobia - Extreme light sensitivity
• Phonophobia - Increased hearing sensitivity where sounds feel painful
• Osmophobia - Smell sensitivity making scents unpleasant
• Allodynia - Usually non-painful touch feels painful

Dull environments bring relief until sensitivities abate as migraine runs its course.

Neurological Disruption and Impairment

Spurred by brain irregularities during migraine, numerous areas of function get impacted:

• Cognition - Trouble thinking clearly and confusion
• Mood - Depression, euphoria, irritability or anxiety
• Speech - Difficulty speaking normally
• Vision - Auras, spots, blurred vision, tunnel vision
• Coordination - Dizziness, vertigo, loss of balance

Symptoms even resemble a stroke, underscoring migraines as much more than just a bad headache.

Identifying Migraine Types and Subtypes

Migraine variation classifications help direct suitable treatments based on distinctions in frequency, symptoms and identifiable triggers between patients.

Common Migraine (Without Aura)

Most migraines, nearly 80%, manifest without distinct warning signs beforehand, including:

• Gradual escalating head pain on one side
• Throbbing discomfort lasting 4 to 72 hours
• Associated sensitivity to stimuli
• Nausea and possible vomiting

Attack timing is unpredictable in those prone to common migraine manifestation.

Classic Migraine (With Aura)

Roughly 20% struggling with migraines experience neurological symptoms signaling oncoming attacks within an hour including:

• Visual auras - Bright flashing lights, spots, vision loss sections
• Sensory auras - Numbness, tingling, vertigo feelings
• Verbal auras - Difficulty speaking normally
• Following aura, typical migraine pain sets in

Recognizing auras allows preparatory steps for headache phase symptom relief.

Additional Migraine Categories

Less common migraine types involving atypical or frequent symptom manifestation include:

• Vestibular - Head pain accompanied by dizziness, vertigo, imbalance
• Abdominal - Stomach cramps, pain, diarrhea episodes
• Retinal - Vision loss, partial blindness, occular disturbances
• Chronic - Fifteen or more headache days per month

Identifying unique migraine variations leads to customized management strategies.

Seeking Migraine Diagnosis and Treatment

Getting diagnosed involves tracking symptoms, identifying triggers, examining family history and assessing reaction to potential treatments. No singular test definitively confirms migraines.

Multifaceted Medication Management

Working closely with doctors to discover suitable medications and usage strategies makes the most difference managing migraine frequency, including:

• Abortive medications stopping attacks once started
• Preventative medications taken daily to reduce occurrence
• Rescue medications for symptom relief during attacks
• Addressing medication overuse contributing headaches

Finding effective solutions takes perseverance yet transforms ability to function.

Lifestyle Changes and Home Remedies

Beyond medication, numerous lifestyle measures alleviate migraine struggles:

• Identifying and limiting individual triggers
• Keeping consistent sleep, meal and exercise routines
• Relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, massage
• Heat or cold compresses applied to head/neck
• OTC pain relief medication at attack onset

Integrative treatment strategies enhance quality of life the most for migraine patients.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.