Migraine, severe headache
Written by:13% of the Spanish population suffers from migraine and 2% suffer it chronically, according to the latest data from the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN). That is, almost one million people have migraine attacks more than 15 days a month.
It is more frequent in the female sex, in fact up to 18% of women suffer from this disease and 5% chronically. Among the main triggers of migraine are stress, in 60% of cases and the menstrual cycle in 51% of women. Changes in sleep hours and prolonged fasting are also among the most common.
What is migraine?
It is a very intense and throbbing headache that usually affects only one side of the head. Migraine attacks start suddenly and may be accompanied by sensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting.
It can appear at any age although, generally, it starts between 10 and 30 years. Crises with menstruation and taking oral contraceptives are more frequent and intense. And, in many cases, it disappears with the arrival of menopause.
Symptoms of migraine
Migraine, besides being an intense headache, presents other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and hypersensitivity to light. Alterations in vision (aura) affect both eyes and can cause blurred vision, eye pain or a point of temporary blindness.
There is no research that has confirmed it, but there are many people who have shown certain signs of warning that a future migraine attack will appear. Yawning, difficulty concentrating and blurred vision appear before the throbbing headache. It can also be preceded by dizziness, dizziness and irritability.
As the headache increases, more symptoms appear, such as chills, sweating, fatigue and tingling or numbness.
Causes of migraine
The exact chain that produces these crises is still unknown, but there are numerous factors that have been shown that can generate it. Most migraine attacks are caused by stress, anxiety, certain smells, lights or loud noises, in addition to alcohol and tobacco. And there are many patients who highlight having migraine with abrupt temperature changes, computer screens and sleeping a few hours.
In the cases of people who drink coffee daily, the fact of refraining from caffeine one day can generate a crisis. And there are several foods that can also trigger migraine, such as dairy products, red wine, smoked fish, nuts and cured cheese.
However, the exact trigger causes have not yet been identified because they are different in each person. Each individual reacts differently. Therefore, specialists recommend that each person suffering from migraine avoid what has been identified as a generator of crisis.
