Many people in Alexandria, Virginia struggle with stubborn migraines. A migraine is a severe headache that affects the side of the head. This headache has a throbbing character and is associated with other symptoms like vomiting. The severity of migraines varies among people. Some people also get warning symptoms of an impending migraine. Some of the warning symptoms include visual problems, like flashes of light.

When you visit a doctor with symptoms of a migraine, the doctor would probably take a thorough Patient History Taking to find out whether the headache is a result of an underlying medical condition. They will then do a physical examination of your body systems to look for other signs of disease. A neurological examination helps the migraine specialist in Alexandria to check if your brain is functioning properly. Treatment for migraines can involve medications and lifestyle modifications to cope with the condition.

What Are the Symptoms of Migraines?

Migraines occur in four stages: prodrome, aura, migraine, and postdrome. A person can have one or only a few of these stages. The symptoms of the prodrome phase include neck stiffness, mood swings, excess thirst, hunger, yawning, constipation, and food cravings. These symptoms warn you that you are about to get a migraine.

Not everyone who gets migraines goes through the aura stage. However, in people who get an aura, they experience neurological symptoms like loss of vision, stinging sensations on the extremities, sensitivity to noise, flashes of light, numbness on one side of the body, and abnormalities of speech. These symptoms are reversible and last for about an hour.

The migraine attack presents with a severe headache on one side of the head which can last for up to three days. This pain is pulsating and can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. You may also become very sensitive to smells, touch, and noise. These symptoms can recur several times in one month. The postdrome presents with fatigue and confusion.

What Triggers Migraines?

The exact cause of migraines is unknown but it is reported that a migraine develops when there is a disruption in the course of the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal nerve supplies the muscles of the face. Changes in the amount of the serotonin neurotransmitter in the brain, having a genetic predisposition to migraines, and exposure to environmental toxins are other possible causes of migraines.

Other triggers of migraines include:

• Stress
• Hormonal changes that occur during menstruation, pregnancy, menopause and in women who are on oral contraceptive pills
• Drinking too much alcohol or caffeine
• Sleep deprivation
• Change of climate
• Excessive fatigue
• Exposure to loud noise, strong smells, and bright light
• Some medications like vasodilators
• Fasting or eating processed foods with aged cheese or excess salt
• Migraines are more common in young women than men

Migraines are intense headaches that occur on one side of the head and they present with pulsating pain. The stages of a migraine include a prodrome that presents with excessive thirst and hunger, mood swings and neck stiffness, an aura which has neurological symptoms, and a migraine attack with a severe headache. Some of the triggers of migraines include loud noise and bright light, hormonal changes, drinking a lot of alcohol, and change of climate.