Skip to content
  • About
    • Our story
    • Our science
    • Hormona App
  • Hormones
    • About hormones
    • Hair Loss
    • Irregular cycles
    • PCOS
    • Infertility
  • Hormona Library
  • For business
    • Employers
    • Partnerships
    • Hormona Ambassadors
Menu
  • About
    • Our story
    • Our science
    • Hormona App
  • Hormones
    • About hormones
    • Hair Loss
    • Irregular cycles
    • PCOS
    • Infertility
  • Hormona Library
  • For business
    • Employers
    • Partnerships
    • Hormona Ambassadors
  • En
Menu
  • En
Get the app
  • Self care

Migraines- what are the symptoms and how to treat it

Written by: The Hormona Team

Migraines are a very personal issue for me, as I have suffered from them since I was a teenager. At their best, if I catch the migraine attack early enough and take some very strong painkillers, I will just have a very bed headache. If I don’t I am probably going to have to write the rest of the day off and even tomorrow too.

My symptoms can be anything from sensitivity to light, so I have to lie down in a darkened room, I can either feel very hot or very cold, I can’t move without being in agony, and they can also make me physically sick. After the attack has gone, and I am no longer in pain, I am exhausted. I feel so wiped out that it can take me a couple of days to feel back to “normal”. Thankfully, I don’t have migraine attacks that often now, but it did get me thinking about them and what causes them.

So what are the symptoms of a Migraine?

A migraine attack and the symptoms vary in different people, and are usually more common in women. The pain is usually felt on one side of the head. They sometimes start as a dull headache and slowly progress worse. Some of the symptoms of a migraine attack are;

  • Sensitivity to light – this is a common symptom of a migraine attack, and most people want to lie in dark room.
  • Sensitivity to noise – any loud noises can make your migraine feel ten times worse.
  • Feeling sick – the pain can be so intense it makes you feel really nauseous.
  • Being physically sick – The pain is so bad it actually makes you vomit.
  • Dizziness – Most people have to lie down when they are in the grip of a migraine attack, as it can make you feel dizzy and off balance.
  • Feeling hot or cold – Or both, it can help to have a cool compress on your forehead, and for some people a warm compress to the back of then neck also helps ease symptoms.
  • Visual issues – some people may see flashes or patterns.

Please always see a doctor if you are concerned with any of these symptoms.

Migraine Triggers

The triggers of a migraine attack are varied. It can be anything from a cup of coffee, stress and bright lights. Of course emotional triggers like depression, stress, tension and anxiety may seem obvious. But certain foods can also trigger migraine attacks. A lots of people tend to steer clear of caffeine, but certain foods can trigger an attack, like cheese. Also missing meals and dehydration are among the triggers. A woman’s menstrual cycle can also cause a migraine attack! As if we don’t have enough to deal with.

If you suffer from migraines fairly often, I find that it helps to keep a diary of what you did that day, what you had to eat and drink, make a note of any medications you are taking, the dates of your menstrual cycle. This will help you find out what could possibly be causing your migraine attacks. Is it something you are eating, or are you drinking too much tea or coffee. It is hard to know when a migraine attack is going to strike, but keeping a diary might help you see a pattern. It’s definitely worth trying. Even a change in your sleep pattern could cause a migraine attack.

There isn’t an actual test you can have to diagnose migraines. But doctors usually go off your symptoms, asking questions, family history and rule other things out before confirming migraines. There is also no cure for them. You just have to deal with the symptoms when they happen.

Types of migraine

Then there are many different kinds of migraine, from the common migraine to a migraine with aura.

These are just a few of the types of migraine;

  • Common migraine – This is the most typical migraine that most people suffer from. This migraine will make you sensitive to light & noise, you can feel and even be sick, and have the unbearable throbbing headache.
  • Migraine with Aura – You will probably get all the symptoms of a Common migraine along with issues with your vision. This can include flashes, spots, blind spots, tunnel vision, stars or sparkles. You can feel dizzy, and even your hearing and your speech can be affected.
  • Chronic migraine – All of the symptoms of the Common migraine, but with a lot more frequency, it’s defined as having more than 15 headache days per month and more than 8 are graminaceous.
  • Menstrual migraine – Usually occurs 2 days up to the start of your period, and the first 3 days of your period. It has been linked to a drop on oestrogen. This is one to keep track of with your diary.
  • Optical Migraine – Or an eye migraine, can cause temporary vision problems, blind spots, flashes and partial sight loss.

There are other sub-types of migraine but these are the one most people suffer from, with varying degrees of pain. Most migraines are debilitating. So what can you do to treat them?

Treating migraines

Most people will reach for the extra strong painkillers and go to bed with the curtains closed for the day, and just wait for it to be over. Sadly there is no cure for migraines, but if yours are severe enough you doctor may prescribe you medication called Triptan, which is a painkiller specifically for migraines. A beta- blocker called Propranolol may also be prescribed as a preventative treatment. But always make sure to seek medical advice if you are or think you are suffering from Migraines.

To try and keep migraines at bay, try to get a good nights sleep, keep well hydrated. Reduce stress and learn some relaxation techniques. Do try and keep a journal or diary, it really does help when your trying to figure out what is causing your migraines, you will struggle to remember what you have for lunch or a snack a few days ago, and it’s good to look back to see what you consumed if you though you were starting with a migraine, what had you eaten a day or two beforehand.

If you suffer from migraines you really do have my sympathies, they can be hideous, debilitating things, and can impact your life badly if you get them frequently enough. I hope this article has helped any sufferers and hopefully one day there might be a cure to stop them completely, I can only live in hope.

 

Written by: The Hormona Team

Articles by the Hormona team are written by the amazing people that are, or have been, involved in Hormona and who all stand behind the cause and purpose of educating and empowering women to live better and healthier lives. It’s all of our goal to share personal stories, helpful information, tips, tricks and experiences to help other women in our community in their daily lives and on their hormonal health journey.
  • July 19, 2020
  • Self care

More stories

woman holding her baby bump

Progesterone Dominance: What You Need to Know

woman holding her tummy

Period Bloating Remedies: How To Beat the Bloats

kvinna som tittar bort från spegel

ADHD and Hormones: What You Need to Know

RELATED POSTS

woman leaning her head back

Thyroids and Irregular Periods: What’s The Connection?

According to the American Thyroid Association, “More than 12% of the U.S. population will develop a thyroid condition

Read More »
woman holding her baby bump

Progesterone Dominance: What You Need to Know

Estrogen, Estrogen, Estrogen. Everybody loves to talk about Estrogen. Well, today we’re not talking about Estrogen for once.

Read More »
woman holding her tummy

Period Bloating Remedies: How To Beat the Bloats

Bloat. The word sounds just like it feels, doesn’t it? You feel extra fluffy and full. Your clothes

Read More »
  • Our story
  • Our science
  • Hormona Library
  • Our story
  • Our science
  • Hormona Library
  • Partnerships
  • Contact
  • Career
  • Contact us
  • Partnerships
  • Contact
  • Career
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Sign up to our newsletter

Follow us
Instagram Facebook Linkedin Twitter

© Wlness Science Ltd 2023

Language
  • En
  • En
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can always opt-out if you wish. Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT