Is Migraine Doing Your Head In?

Senior Times

Migraine is a condition that has survived boldly down through the years. In fact, it is accurate to say that migraine is one of the oldest recorded illnesses on the planet, first showing its historical head over 9000 years ago.

Drilling holes in skulls and strapping pottery crocodiles to heads. Doctors swinging their patients around in circles in an effort to force blood away from their brains - all extreme migraine treatments practised by our ancestors. However, these are not the type of treatments you will witness being employed in the corridors of Beaumont Hospital nowadays, you will be glad to hear.

Migraine

Migraine is not selective. There are no specific qualifications or characteristics for those who can be affected. The young, the middle aged or the elderly- the good, the bad and the ugly. It can affect anybody, anywhere and at any age. One of our earliest accounts of a child being diagnosed with migraine was recorded when they were just three-years-old.

Throughout history and right up to present day, many famous and historical figures have learned to endure even the most painful of migraines. Napoleon planned attacks, Picasso painted masterpieces and Elvis Presley crooned the masses, while doing what all migraine sufferers must, learning to control their condition.

So what is a migraine, how are they caused and can they affect you? How can we treat migraine, ensuring that it has the least amount of impact possible on our day-to-day lives? Well, let’s find out:

Migraine is an often misunderstood and under-diagnosed neurological condition that affects between 10-15% of the Irish population. In total, around 400,000 Irish people have had experience of this seriously debilitating condition.

It is a neurological condition that occurs again and again. Whereas nobody can foresee the first time you will have a migraine attack, neither can they predict when they will end. It may be characterised by the following features:

  • A severe throbbing headache usually on one side of the head made worse by movement
  • Lasts for up to 72 hours
  • Nausea, sometimes vomiting, although as our bodies mature and we enter into old age, this stomach upset tends to alleviate
  • Sensitivity to bright lights, loud noise or strong smells
  • Onset of aura-changes in vision, dark spots, coloured spots, sparkles, stars and zig-zag lines
  • Numbness, tingling or weakness on one side of the body can occur.

Migraine seldom occurs for the first time in people once they pass the age of 60. Should it happen, a neurologist needs to be consulted as soon as possible. Ideally, migraine occurring in anyone over 50 for the first time should be investigated thoroughly, to rule out the possibility of more sinister developments.

As we mature, many people find that migraine attacks begin to become milder. They can become less frequent and more importantly, less severe. Older people are also less likely to experience the vomiting, nausea, light sensitivity and other symptoms associated with the young.

Causes of migraine can vary. There are a number of different things that you may be doing that can lead to the onset of migraine. Sometimes these trigger factors can be difficult to identify and here at the Migraine Association of Ireland, we produce a Migraine Diary to help migraine patients. The purpose of the diary is to keep a record of your day-to-day routine. By taking note of what you eat, changes in sleeping pattern or the introduction of any physical activities you wouldn’t normally do, your GP will be better able to make a more accurate diagnosis of your condition.

Headache as a symptom?

Whenever a patient presents with a more complex headache pattern, the doctor should do a careful history and examination to rule out the possibility that the headaches are related to some underlying disease. Suspicion is greater if the elderly individual has other symptoms suggestive of illness, such as fatigue or unexplained weight loss.

So how do we learn to control our migraine?

Although there has been no cure for migraine revealed, there are a number of different ways through which people have learned to control their migraine. The important thing to remember is that for every individual, suitable treatments will vary. From listening to different callers on our Helpline, we have been able to share their migraine experiences with other migraine sufferers. The following advice has worked for different people at different times in the past:

  • When you wake up with migraine, it can be put down to you having low blood sugar levels. This can be as a result of early evening eating and then having nothing until breakfast some 12-14 hours later. To remedy this, a snack such as a bowl of cereal before bedtime can help.
  • Sleeping position or the type of pillows you use can also affect your migraine. There are certain products on the market specifically designed for migraine sufferers, including a migraine pillow. Irregular sleeping patterns are a common trigger factor and sufferers should try to keep their sleeping habits consistent. Older people need less sleep than younger people.
  • Migraine can be exacerbated by neck problems. People who have been prescribed neck exercises should carry them out at least three times a day and always before bed to eliminate any stiffness or tension before sleep.
  • Complementary treatments such as yoga, acupuncture, osteopathy or physiotherapy can be helpful as relaxation techniques and for those with neck and muscular problems.
    Dehydration is another common trigger and migraine sufferers should ensure that they drink plenty of water.
  • Alcohol is a well-recognised migraine trigger and should be avoided by those susceptible to it.

Do not try all treatments at the one time. Experiment with each to find out which one is most suitable for you. And remember, most importantly that help is always available. For an in-depth guide to migraine medication and how to order our quarterly magazine, Brainstorm, contact our offices at the number below.

For further information, including how to become a member of the Migraine Association of Ireland, call us on our confidential Helpline at 1850 200 378 or visit out website at www.migraine.ie.

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