Causes, Symptoms and Treatments for Migraines

Headaches and migraines are common. In fact, Selena Nicholas-Bublick, MD, MHS, a neurologist with ProMedica Physicians Neurology - Toledo, shares that they are the most common complaint seen in her neurology clinic.

According to Dr. Nicholas-Bublick, headaches affect approximately three billion people worldwide, and one billion people worldwide suffer from migraines. Women are three times more likely to experience this taxing headache disorder. This is thought to be related to fluctuations in ovarian hormones.

What’s the difference between a headache and a migraine?

Headaches and migraines cause pain and discomfort, but there are a few characteristics that set them apart.

Common Symptoms of Migraines

Migraines are a type of reoccurring headache disorder. “Patients will typically experience worse pain on one side of the head than the other. They will describe pain as pulsating or throbbing,” Dr. Nicholas-Bublick shares.

Common symptoms of migraines include:

• Recurring headaches that last from four to 72 hours.
• Pulsating or throbbing head pain. It may be worse on one side of the head than on the other.
• Headache that gets worse with routine physical activity.
• Light and sound sensitivity.
• Spotty, blurry or tunnel vision, also called aura. Although rare, an aura can involve weakness, numbness or tingling.

What causes migraines?

Migraines are a disorder of sensory processing. Basically, there is a flaw in the way the body processes sensory information and regulates itself.

Migraines are also often an inherited condition. Patients who have migraines tend to have other family members who have similar types of headaches.

Beyond these two factors, the causes of migraines are still unknown.

Can migraines be treated?

Thankfully, migraines can be managed with the right treatment plan. In fact, Dr. Nicholas-Bublick shares that treating migraines is more important than you may think. “Untreated or poorly managed migraines can lead to greater disability and transform into something called chronic migraines over time.”

Chronic Migraines

Chronic migraines are headaches that occur on 15 or more days in a month. And of those 15 days, eight of them meet the above-stated criteria for migraines. When this occurs for three months in a row, they are classified as chronic migraines.

Migraine Treatment Options

Treatment of migraines looks different for everyone. There are a range of treatments and therapies that a neurologist may use to address your condition.

Non-Medicinal Treatments

Non-medicinal treatments include:

• Resting in a dark, quiet space.
• Staying hydrated.
• Using ice packs.
• Deep breathing.
• Guided meditation, gentle yoga or biofeedback.

Over-the-Counter Medications

If non-medicinal treatments are not working, patients can try over-the-counter medications. Patients may have luck with acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen. These medications can be helpful in treating mild to moderate migraine attacks.

Prescription Medications

If these non-medicinal and over-the-counter medications do not help, your doctor may prescribe migraine-specific medications. Medications such as triptans or CGRP inhibitors can be taken when you begin to have an acute migraine. However, overuse of these medications can lead to unwanted side effects such as stomach upset or more serious cardiovascular issues.

Preventive Therapies 

Preventive therapies can play an important role in helping you avoid migraines before they happen. Just like the treatment options listed above, there's not a single preventive therapy that is best for all patients.

Preventive therapies include:

• Oral and prescription preventive medications.
• Monthly injections.
• BOTOX® therapy (given every three months).

You Don't Have To Live With Pain

“Patients often suffer through migraines because they aren’t aware of the treatments available,” Dr. Nicholas-Bublick explains. However, your quality of life can improve with treatment.

Talk to your primary care provider about your migraines. Tell them about your symptoms and see what they recommend as next steps.