How Is Abdominal Migraine Treated
Once a child is diagnosed with abdominal migraine, treatment generally falls into two categories: relieving symptoms during an episode and preventing future episodes.
While there are few studies on the treatment and management of abdominal migraine, doctors may prescribe the following medications, based on their usefulness in treating migraines:
- NSAIDs or acetaminophen to relieve the pain.
- Triptans. This family of drugs is commonly used to treat migraine headaches and, if taken as soon as a migraine starts, can prevent symptoms from progressing.
- Anti-nausea medication. Anti-nausea drugs act by blocking chemicals in the brain that trigger vomiting.
Some studies have shown evidence to support the use of the following medications in preventing abdominal migraine:
- Pizotifen, a benzocycloheptene-based drug.
Find A Quiet Dark Place To Relax
Sensitivity to light and sound is one of the most common migraine symptoms. Get away from these things if you can. This can help you find relief from your pain and can alleviate stress.
Lie down and pay attention to your breathing. Try taking slow, deep breaths from your diaphragm. Feel your stomach rise with the inhale and fall with the exhale. This can help you relax.
Dehydration can cause headaches and even migraine, but new research shows hydration can reduce and possibly even prevent headache pain. In the study, people who drank their recommended daily water intake had headaches that were:
- less frequent
- less severe
- shorter in duration
If you dont regularly drink enough water, increasing your intake may both help reduce your migraine pain and prevent repeat attacks.
What Tests Are Used To Find Out If I Have Migraine
If you think you get migraine headaches, talk with your doctor. Before your appointment, write down:
Your doctor may also do an exam and ask more questions about your health history. This could include past head injury and sinus or dental problems. Your doctor may be able to diagnose migraine just from the information you provide.
You may get a blood test or other tests, such as CT scan or MRI, if your doctor thinks that something else is causing your headaches. Work with your doctor to decide on the best tests for you.
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What Are Some Ways I Can Prevent Migraine
The best way to prevent migraine is to find out what triggers your attacks and avoid or limit these triggers. Since migraine headaches are more common during times of stress, finding healthy ways to cut down on and cope with stress might help. Talk with your doctor about starting a fitness program or taking a class to learn relaxation skills.
Talk with your doctor if you need to take your pain-relief medicine more than twice a week. Doing so can lead to rebound headaches. If your doctor has prescribed medicine for you to help prevent migraine, take them exactly as prescribed. Ask what you should do if you miss a dose and how long you should take the medicine. Talk with your doctor if the amount of medicine you are prescribed is not helping your headaches.
What Drugs Are Good For Migraines
If you have migraine attacks, try one of the drugs listed below. They all work best if you use them when the migraine is just beginning.
If you have migraines often, or if they are very severe, ask your doctor about drugs to prevent headaches.
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If My Headache Isn’t Going Away Should I Get Tested For Coronavirus
Headache is one of the symptoms of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . A February 2020 report of the WHO-China Joint Mission on COVID-19, from early in the pandemic, found that of 55,924 people confirmed to have the disease, 13.6 percent had a headache.
Theres no treatment for COVID-19, but the same OTC pain relievers that help with other types of headaches may alleviate headaches caused by this disease. does not recommend against the use of ibuprofen for people with COVID-19.)
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and want to get tested, the CDC recommends calling your state or local health department or a medical provider. Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and are able to recover at home, the CDC notes.
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What Are The Four Stages Or Phases Of A Migraine Whats The Timeline
The four stages in chronological order are the prodrome , aura, headache and postdrome. About 30% of people experience symptoms before their headache starts.
The phases are:
It can take about eight to 72 hours to go through the four stages.
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Headache And Migraine Remedies That Are Safe During Pregnancy
Most women deal with headaches at some point in their lives. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that one in five women had a severe acute headache or migraine in the previous three months. Additionally, migraines are more common in women than men approximately 18 percent of women have them compared to 6.5 percent of men.
Because headaches and migraines are so common, its probably no surprise that many women deal with them during pregnancy. For the majority of pregnant women, occasional headaches or migraines are no cause for alarm, and most standard treatments are safe. However, suffering a severe headache at key times during or after pregnancy can indicate a serious medical emergency.
Diagnosis And Patient Assessment
Migraine has well-established diagnostic criteria4 . Good evidence supports the use of the POUND mnemonic for migraine diagnosis6 . Assessment aims to confirm diagnostic criteria, evaluate for alternative explanations, identify comorbidities that could complicate management ,8 and document the baseline pattern and severity of episodes. A variety of conditions can present as headache, most of which can be identified by the history and physical examination .6 The only indications for ancillary testing are to identify causes of secondary headaches or comorbid conditions.9,10 Table 4 lists red flag symptoms that indicate the need for neuroimaging and/or urgent referral.9,10
International Headache Society Diagnostic Criteria for Migraine Headache With and Without Aura
Migraine without aura
*Recurrent disorder manifesting in headaches with reversible focal neurologic symptoms that usually develop gradually over 5 to 20 minutes before onset of the headache and last for less than 60 minutes. Headache with the features of migraine without aura usually follows the aura symptoms. Less commonly, headache lacks migrainous features or is completely absent .
Adapted with permission from Gilmore B, Michael M. Treatment of acute migraine headache . Am Fam Physician. 2011 83:272.
International Headache Society Diagnostic Criteria for Migraine Headache With and Without Aura
Migraine without aura
POUND Mnemonic for Diagnosis of Migraine
Clinical features:
Clinical features:
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Are Migraine Headaches More Common In Women Than Men
Yes. About three out of four people who have migraines are women. Migraines are most common in women between the ages of 20 and 45. At this time of life women often have more job, family, and social duties. Women tend to report more painful and longer lasting headaches and more symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting. All these factors make it hard for a woman to fulfill her roles at work and at home when migraine strikes.
What Causes Migraines
Doctors dont know exactly what causes migraines. It appears that migraine headaches may be caused in part by changes in the level of a body chemical called serotonin. Serotonin plays many roles in the body, and it can have an effect on the blood vessels. When serotonin levels are high, blood vessels constrict . When serotonin levels fall, the blood vessels dilate . This swelling can cause pain or other problems. Another aspect that is being studied is that migraine headaches go along with a spreading pattern of electrical activity in the brain.
Some research suggests there could be a heredity factor for migraines, meaning they may run in families. Researchers have identified some genes associated with migraines. They are unsure, though, why these genes seem to impact some people more than others. The American Migraine Foundation reports that if one of your parents has migraines, there is a 50% chance that you will, too. If both of your parents have migraines, your chances jump up to 75%. Ultimately, migraines seem to be caused by a combination of factors: genetic, environmental, and lifestyle.
Women are more likely to have chronic migraines . This is likely linked to hormones. Hormones fluctuate each month around the time of your period. They can also fluctuate if you are pregnant or going through menopause.
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What Is A Migraine
A migraine is a brain disorder in which a serious bout of headache can be accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, sensory hypersensitivity or deficiency symptoms . Getting help for migraines is important because a migraine can render you incapable of looking after yourself. The difference between a normal headache and a migraine is that a migraine is a neurovascular headache in which the blood vessels dilate through stimulation. This results in hypersensitivity of the entire nervous system. The frequency, severity and duration of migraine bouts vary from patient to patient.
Migraines can return for life, but they can also be limited to a certain period of a persons life. Approximately one third of women experience migraines at some point in their lives, while this percentage is much lower for men. A migraine is most common in the age group 15 to 55 years. In some women the bouts only occur around the time of menstruation. This is called a menstrual migraine. The pain associated with a migraine often occurs on one side of the head, and is characterised by a beating or pounding sound. Migraine relief tablets can help but may not totally alleviate the condition.
During a migraine bout, it is impossible to perform other activities. The triggering factors vary from menstruation to alcohol, bright light and stress. The good news is there is help for migraines out there.
What Are The Forms Of Treatment For Help With Migraines
Help for migraines consists of medication, in other words migraine relief tablets. These medicines are called triptans, they are strong painkillers for migraines. In addition, there are treatments aimed at prevention. Preventive treatment also consists of administering migraine relief tablets in advance to limit or prevent bouts.
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Should I See An Eye Doctor For Migraines
Migraines often cause vision changes, which is why it makes sense that you might need to visit an eye doctor. Not only is the severe headache causing these vision disruptions, but its also possible that vision issues could be contributing to chronic headaches.
A comprehensive eye exam is an important step to rule out any potential eye problem that might be affecting your migraines or chronic headaches.
Even though there arent always underlying vision problems that are affecting migraines, its important to talk to an eye doctor to rule out potential issues.
What Causes Abdominal Migraine
The cause of abdominal migraine is unknown. We dont know the exact connection between an abdominal migraine and a classic migraine, but we do know theres a connection between the gut and the brain, says Deena Kuruvilla, MD, a neurologist and specialist in facial and headache pain at Yale Medicine. Many of the drugs we use to treat depression, for example, are effective in treating an abdominal migraine.
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How Do I Know If I Should Go To The Er
If your migraine is too severe and the treatments listed above do not work, you may choose to go to the ER. If you decide to go to the ER, be sure to have someone else drive you there.
The symptoms of a migraine can be confused with the symptoms of a stroke. You should go to the hospital right away if:
- You have an extremely severe headache
- You have speech, vision, movement, or balance problems that are new or different from symptoms you have had before with your migraines
- You have a stiff neck or fever with your headache
- The headache starts suddenly, like a thunderclap, especially if you are over age 50
What Medications Are Used To Relieve Migraine Pain
Over-the-counter medications are effective for some people with mild to moderate migraines. The main ingredients in pain relieving medications are ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen, naproxen and caffeine.
Three over-the-counter products approved by the Food and Drug Administration for migraine headaches are:
- Excedrin® Migraine.
- Advil® Migraine.
- Motrin® Migraine Pain.
Be cautious when taking over-the-counter pain relieving medications. Sometimes overusing them can cause analgesic-rebound headaches or a dependency problem. If you’re taking any over-the-counter pain medications more than two to three times a week, report that to your healthcare provider. They may suggest prescription medications that may be more effective.
Prescription drugs for migraine headaches include:
Triptan class of drugs :
- Sumatriptan.
- Butterbur.
- Co-enzyme Q10.
Drugs to relieve migraine pain come in a variety of formulations including pills, tablets, injections, suppositories and nasal sprays. You and your healthcare provider will discuss the specific medication, combination of medications and formulations to best meet your unique headache pain.
Drugs to relieve nausea are also prescribed, if needed.
All medications should be used under the direction of a headache specialist or healthcare provider familiar with migraine therapy. As with any medication, it’s important to carefully follow the label instructions and your healthcare providers advice.
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Home Remedies To Help Prevent Migraine
The best way to prevent migraine is by sticking to a routine that works for you. This is because keeping things predictableeven down to what time you eat or how long you sleep each nightcan help you identify potential migraine triggers. Put simply, if something is off in your routine, and then you get migraine, you have an obvious suspect for the cause. Even though its impossible to prevent migraine 100% of the time, the tips below can make them less frequent for some people:
Migraine is awful, no doubt, but it doesnt have to control everything you do. Having a consistent schedule and routine is helpful, but you dont have to go overboard with it. In fact, doing so can make you feel overwhelmed and stressed out, which, ultimately, is a migraine trigger itself. Sometimes people get very preoccupied with journaling, Dr. Csere says. It can kind of take over your life.
Just stick to the basics: Write down when you have a gnarly headache, note if it was mild or severe, and consider any obvious triggers that could have been linked to it. Even these general notes can help provide your doctor with valuable information without overloading yourself with homework.
Remember: You shouldnt have to live with the pain. With a personalized approachwhich will likely include a little bit of trial and erroryou can develop a treatment plan that can give you relief and make migraine feel much more manageable so you dont have to live in fear of the next attack.
Whats The Best Way To Use A Cold Pack To Treat A Headache Or A Migraine
Since cold packs tend to be sold over the counter at most drug stores, you aren’t going to find that there’s only one way to use this remedy. The more creative you are in applying this strategy, the more effective your outcome is likely to be when targeting how best to relieve a headache using this home remedy initiative. As always, if you have questions or concerns about treating headaches naturally, talk with a doctor before trying any of these strategies on your own.
Elliott says the best way to treat a headache or migraine with cold therapy is by applying it for about 15 – 20 minutes, but further details revealed in the 2013 study show that where you place the cold pack can also produce significant results. Specifically, he’s referring to the neck wrap, which can relieve headaches and migraines.
Dr. Alex Tauberg, a certified chiropractor in Pittsburgh, suggests putting a cold pack either over the source of your pain or at the base of your skull. Keep the pack on for 20 minutes, and then take it off for an hour. You can alternate between applying and not applying the cold pack until you feel relief. When putting the cold pack on, there are four distinct feeling that you should experience in this order:
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