Hi, I'm Dr. Amaal starling,
a neurologist at Mayo Clinic
specializing in headache disorders.
In this video, we will
cover the basics of Migraine.
What is it? Who gets it,
the symptoms, the diagnosis,
and most importantly, the treatment.
Whether you're looking for answers for
yourself or someone you love.
We are here to give you
the best information available.
There is a lot of stigma around migraine.
That it's just a headache
and that it's no big deal.
But migraine is a genetic neurologic disease.
It affects each person differently with
a wide range of disease severity.
Some have infrequent attacks,
but others may have
frequent disabling attacks.
Expecting someone to push through or just
take your mind off of it
is never good advice.
Migraine is very common,
affecting one in five women,
one in 16 men,
and even one in 11 children.
Migraine attacks are three
times more prevalent in women,
likely as a result of hormonal differences.
Certainly genetic and environmental factors
play a role in the development
of migraine disease.
And since it is genetic, it is hereditary.
Meaning if a parent has migraine,
there's about a 50 percent chance that
a child may develop migraine as well.
If you have migraine,
certain factors can trigger an attack.
However, this does not mean
that if you get a migraine attack,
that it's their fault,
that you should feel any guilt
or shame for your symptoms.
Hormonal changes,
specifically fluctuations and
estrogen that can
occur during menstrual periods,
pregnancy and perimenopause can
trigger a migraine attack.
Other known triggers
include certain medications,
drinking alcohol, especially red wine,
drinking too much caffeine, stress.
Sensory stimulation such as
bright lights or strong smells.
Sleep changes, whether changes
meals or even certain foods
like aged cheeses and processed foods.
The most common symptom of migraine is
the intense throbbing head pain.
This pain can be so severe
that it interferes with your
day-to-day activities.
It can also be accompanied
by nausea and vomiting,
as well as sensitivity to light and sound.
However, a migraine can look very
different from one person to another.
Some people may get prodrome symptoms,
the beginning of a migraine attack.
These can be subtle warnings such
as constipation, mood changes,
food cravings, neck stiffness,
increased urination, or even frequent yawning.
Sometimes people may not even realize that
these are warning signs of a migraine attack.
In about a third of
people living with migraine,
aura might occur before
or even during a migraine attack.
Aura is the term that we use for
these temporary
reversible neurologic symptoms.
They're usually visual, but they can include
other neurologic symptoms as well.
They typically built up over
several minutes and they
can last for up to an hour.
Examples of migraine aura include
visual phenomena such as seeing
geometric shapes or bright spots,
or flashing lights, or even loss of vision.
Some people may develop
numbness or a pins and
needles sensation on one side
of their face or body,
or even difficulty speaking.
At the end of a migraine attack,
you might feel drained,
confused, or washed out for up to a day.
This is called the post-drome phase.
Migraine is a clinical diagnosis.
That means the diagnosis is based
on the symptoms reported by the patient.
There is no lab test or
imaging study that can rule in or
rule out migraine. Based
on screening diagnostic criteria,
if you have the symptoms of headache
associated with sensitivity to light,
a decrease in function and nausea,
you likely have migraine.
Please see your healthcare professional for
the possible diagnosis of
migraine and migraine specific treatment.
Because there is such a wide spectrum
of disease severity with migraine,
there's also a wide spectrum
of management plans.
Some people need what we call an acute or a
rescue treatment for
infrequent migraine attacks.
Whereas other people need both an
acute and a preventive treatment plan.
Preventive treatment reduces the frequency
and severity of migraine attacks.
It might be a daily oral medication,
a monthly injection, or
even injections and infusions
that are delivered once every three months.
The right medications
combined with lifestyle changes
can be helpful to improve
the lives of those living with migraine.
There are ways to manage and minimize
the triggers of migraine
using the SEEDS method.
The S is for sleep.
Improve your sleep routine by
sticking to a specific schedule,
reducing screens and distractions at night.
E is for exercise. Start small,
even five minutes once a week and slowly
increase the duration and
frequency to make it a habit.
And stick to movement and
activities that you enjoy.
E is for eat healthy,
well-balanced meals at least three
times a day and stay hydrated.
The D is for diary.
Track your migraine days
and symptoms in a diary.
Use a calendar, an agenda, or an app.
Bring that diary with you to
your follow-up appointments with
your doctor to review.
The S is for stress management to
help manage
migraine attacks triggered by stress.
Consider therapy, mindfulness, biofeedback,
and other relaxation techniques
that work for you.
Migraine attacks can be disabling,
but there are ways to
manage the disease and to empower
yourself to get the care
and the support that you need.
First. We need to
end the stigma around migraine.
It is not just a headache,
it is a genetic neurologic disease.
Next, talk to your
healthcare professional about your symptoms.
Eradicate the words "I'm fine" from
your vocabulary and be
honest with your healthcare professional,
your employer, your loved ones,
about how you're feeling as well as
the kind of support that you need.
Make yourself a top
priority when you're having
a migraine attack and reduce
the likelihood of
attacks through lifestyle adjustments.
Have a consistent schedule,
get adequate sleep, and learn
strategies to cope with the stresses of life
using mindfulness and meditation.
Empower yourself to manage migraine with
lifestyle changes and
migraine specific treatment options.
Together you and your doctor
can manage the disease of migraine.
If you'd like to learn more about migraine,
watch or other related videos or
visit Mayo Clinic.org. We wish you well.