It’s not always possible to identify a trigger, but the following things may cause migrainous headaches in some people: Dietary factors- cheese, chocolate, red wine, citrus fruits, and foods containing an additive called tyramine. Excessive dieting. Psychological factors- stress/anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances. Environmental triggers- bright lights, loud noises or strong smells. Medications- for example [...]
Aside from avoiding triggers, sufferers may get relief from medications such as painkillers and triptans. However, if attacks are happening several times a month, a daily preventive medication may be recommended by your doctor.
Yes, there are various types, which have typical symptoms: Migraine without aura- ‘common migraine’ The most common type consists of a severe throbbing one-sided headache. There may be associated symptoms of nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity and blurred vision. Migraine with aura- also called ‘classical migraine’ Similar to a common Migraine but the headache is accompanied [...]
Sensitivity to light (photophobia) Nausea or vomiting Sensitivity to sounds (phonophobia) Aura - this is a group of symptoms that may happen before a migrainous headache/attack. Common aura symptoms may include: Visual disturbances such as zig zag lines, flashing lights, shimmering or flickering spots, or even blind spots. Sensory disturbances such as olfactory hallucinations (experiencing [...]
An attack may consist of defined phases: A warning or prodromal phase may occur - there may be sensations or signs that a migraine is about to happen. Changes in mood and appetite may occur, as well as nausea, fatigue, yawning, difficulty finding words, diarrhoea or constipation. About 20-30% of people may experience an aura. [...]
Migrainous headaches are usually severe and throbbing. They tend to involve one side of the head (though not always) and last between 4 and 72 hours. They are often worsened by movement or routine physical activity.
Using pain relief or triptans too often may cause medication overuse headache. If you take pain relief or triptans on most days, this may be a factor in your headaches and you should see your doctor for further assessment.
The contraceptive pill is a reliable form of birth control if it's used correctly. However, with typical use, women tend to miss pills from time to time, which reduces the overall reliability. Around 0.3% of women who use the pill perfectly will become pregnant each year Around 9% of women will become pregnant if they [...]
The pill should not be taken in the following circumstances ( there's quite a lot of information here, but it's important!) Increased clotting risk: obesity with body mass index (BMI) more than 35 a history of blood clots in your legs (also known as DVT/deep vein thrombosis), in your lungs (pulmonary embolism) or in your [...]
The contraceptive pill increases your risk of getting a blood clot, as compared to a woman who is not on the pill. We know that women who use the pill for birth control have a higher risk of developing blood clots Some forms of the contraceptive pill cause a higher risk of clots than others-depending [...]
