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Migraines & headaches

Migraines

  • Migraines are a form of severe headache thought to have a genetic and hormonal element.
  • They are a recognised medical condition affecting up to 20% of adults globally (mostly aged 35-45 years), with women twice as likely as men to experience a migraine.1
  • Migraines can occur with or without an aura (classic migraine) or with all the symptoms except for head pain (silent or acephalgic migraine).

Headaches

  • Headaches are one of the most common conditions that people experience.
  • An estimated 50-75% of adults globally (aged 18-65 years), experience a headache each year.
  • Headaches may start as a feeling of tension or tightness around your head, which can develop into a dull ache, throbbing sensation, or stabbing pain.
  • Headaches can be caused by medication, changes in caffeine consumption, stress, jaw problems, eye, nose, throat and ear disorders and more.

Headaches

  • Headaches are one of the most common conditions that people experience.
  • An estimated 50-75% of adults globally (aged 18-65 years), experience a headache each year.
  • Headaches may start as a feeling of tension or tightness around your head, which can develop into a dull ache, throbbing sensation, or stabbing pain.
  • Headaches can be caused by medication, changes in caffeine consumption, stress, jaw problems, eye, nose, throat and ear disorders and more.

Migraines

  • Migraines are a form of severe headache thought to have a genetic and hormonal element.
  • They are a recognised medical condition affecting up to 20% of adults globally (mostly aged 35-45 years), with women twice as likely as men to experience a migraine.1
  • Migraines can occur with or without an aura (classic migraine) or with all the symptoms except for head pain (silent or acephalgic migraine).

Types of migraines

There are several types of migraine. These include:4

Migraine with aura or classic migraine

In this type of migraine “aura symptoms” occur before the headache itself. These symptoms can include blurry vision, light sensitivity, numbness, confusion, dizziness, and/or diarrhoea.

Migraine aura without headache 

Sufferers experience symptoms of aura but without the associated head pain. Though there is no associated headache, this can still be a very challenging experience, as it’s difficult to treat aura (for example, some medications take longer to act than the duration of the symptoms).

Chronic migraine

When a person has 15 or more headache days a month, and 8 of those are migraine headaches, they can be diagnosed with chronic migraine.

Intractable migraine

These last more than 72 hours and can require hospital treatment, due to severe and prolonged pain, nausea and vomiting.

Menstrual or hormonal migraine

Due to hormonal changes, the start of puberty, menstruation and menopause can be linked with migraines.

Migraines

Symptoms

Symptoms of migraine include:

  • Painful, throbbing headache
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Sensitivity to light and sound
  • Blurred vision, flashing lights
  • Numbness and tingling

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Treatments

How can I treat my migraine?

Medications can help but they aren’t the only treatment option available. A holistic plan (one that combines lifestyle and other treatments) can help.

Everyone is different, so talk your Pharmacist through your symptoms to get the best advice for you. They may talk to you about:1

‎ Migraine treatment

Keeping a record

Note down your symptoms, triggers and treatments (including whether they worked or not). This will help inform your plan of attack.

Sleep

If you can sleep off a migraine, that’s often a great help. In the meantime, establish good sleep habits to limit the chance of fatigue contributing to migraine attacks.

Water

Dehydration is no friend to migraines. Alongside water, consider drinking oral rehydration drinks, powders, tablets and ice-blocks to help replenish electrolytes and fluids.

Pain relievers

Over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatories can be used as directed.

Timing

Some medications, such as those in the drug class triptans, can work effectively but need to be taken early, not when your migraine has gotten bad.

Combinations

Some medications can be taken together but others cannot. Ask your Pharmacist what you can safely combine.

Food

Cravings at the start of a migraine attack are unlikely to be triggered. Instead, the idea is to work backwards to identify what you ate.

Remember, an elimination diet can help determine triggers but is not a healthy long-term eating plan to avoid migraines.

Exercise

Depending on the person, exercise can be a trigger or a preventative measure. (This is where your symptom diary can help you find connections!)

Stress relief

Gentle movement, deep breathing, meditation, social connections and not expecting too much of yourself throughout the day can help manage your stress levels regularly.

Sensory deprivation

Try lying down in a dark, quiet place. Use blackout curtains, an eye mask, ear plugs and headphones to block out stimuli.

Hot and cold

Hot showers, ice packs, heat packs, sucking an ice cube or putting your feet in a warm bath or ice bath. Different sensations work for different people. Some people like to combine them

It’s also a good idea to keep a migraine diary to identify your triggers and make plans to avoid them where possible. Download a free migraine diary HERE

Types of headaches

Primary headaches

Also known as headache disorders as the headache itself is the condition. These include tension headaches, cluster headaches, and migraines, among others.

Secondary headaches

These headaches are a symptom of another condition such as a medical condition, infection, dehydration, or an injury. Treatment for secondary headaches is usually based on the cause of the headache.

Symptoms

Tension headache

This most common headache type causes mild to moderate pain that is usually unaccompanied by other symptoms

Cluster headache

Intense pain near or behind an eye, always on one side of the head; this throbbing and/or constant pain tends to come in clusters; sufferers become agitated and restless, unable to sit or rest through the pain

Sinus headache

Deep pain in the forehead, cheekbones or bridge of the nose due to inflammation of the sinuses

Medication overuse headache

Can be caused by using pain medication more than three times a week; to avoid, follow your doctor or Pharmacist’s recommendations on medication type, dosage and frequency

If you have a headache that is unusual for you, is unusually severe, steadily becomes worse or causes you worry for any reason, talk to your doctor.

Treatments

How can I treat my headache?

Treatment depends on the cause of your headache. Acting as soon as you start to feel symptoms, especially if they are familiar to you, is usually more effective than letting them worsen. You may try:

  • Over-the-counter pain relief for infrequent headaches
  • Prescribed medications in the case of more frequent pain
  • Resting in a darkened, quiet room
  • Sleep
  • Applying a warm or cool compress to your forehead or neck
  • Walking outdoors
  • Avoiding triggers (these may be caffeine, stress, too little sleep, non-ergonomic workspaces)
  • Treatment for underlying conditions (such as neck problems, stress, sinus infection) 

Using pain medication more than three times a week can lead to “medication overuse headache”. To avoid this, follow your doctor or Pharmacist’s recommendations on medication type, dosage and frequency.

It’s also a good idea to keep a headache diary to identify your triggers and make plans to avoid them where possible. Download a free headache diary HERE

Sources
1https://www.migraine.org.au/about_migraine
General sources
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/headaches#headache-vs-migraine
https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/headache-when-to-worry-what-to-do