Whelehans pharmacy migraine symptoms and triggers
Eamonn Brady is a pharmacist and the owner of Whelehans Pharmacy, Pearse St, Mullingar. If you have any health questions e-mail them to info@whelehans.ie
This is a continuation of last week’s article
Symptoms and types
The word “migraine” derives from a Greek word “hemikrani” (half- skull)which literally means “pain on one side of the head”. This accurately describes and differentiates migraine from other types of headache as typically it presents on one side of the head.
An attack may consist of some or all of the following symptoms:-
Migraine without Aura (around 80% of all attacks)
-Moderate to Severe pain, throbbing one sided headache, aggravated by movement
-Nausea and/or vomiting
-Hyper sensitivity to external stimuli (ie noise, smells, light)
-Stiffness in neck and shoulders
-Pale appearance
Migraine with Aura (in addition to above symptoms)
-Aura, around 20% experience visual disturbances prior to the headache lasting up to one hour (most commonly, blind spots, flashing light effect or zig zag patterns; may also include physical sensations such as unilateral pins and needles in fingers, arm and then face)
-Blurred vision
-Confusion
-Slurred speech
-Loss of co-ordination
Triggers
A myriad of trigger factors, whilst in themselves not the cause of migraine, can build, bringing an individual to the point where a migraine attack is imminent. Triggers can include:
-Environmental factors
Just moving around doing normal day to day stuff can be a potential danger for someone susceptible to migraine. These include: Bright or Flickering lights (could be cinema, shop displays or sunlight through trees whilst driving); Certain types of lighting (fluorescent, strobe);Strong smells (especially perfume, paint etc); Weather (variety of factors…ie bright sun glare, muggy close days, humidity); TV/Computer screens and monitors; Loud and persistent noise; Travel areas of pressure change, ie altitude.
-Dietary Triggers
Research indicates about 20% of migraine attacks are brought on by dietary factors. However actual scientific evidence proving a link is virtually non-existent. In many cases, there may be other factors that precede consuming a “suspect” food that could contribute more to the onset of an attack, ie lack of sleep, skipping meals.
The most commonly cited link is foods which are high in the amino acids tyramine and/ or phenylethylamine such as: cheese (fermented, aged or hard mouldy types); chocolate; alcohol (beer and red wine particularly); nitrites (common in processed meats); sulphites (eg. preservative….dried fruit and….red and white wine); additives (MSG); aspartame (Diet drinks); caffeine (coffee, tea, etc; although caffeine can be used to prevent migraine, really down to personal tolerance).
-Hormonal Triggers
Once females move into puberty and then adulthood, hormones play an increasing role in migraine prevalence. Oestrogen fluctuations due to menstruation or through the use of oral contraceptive pills or HRT can sometimes trigger migraine.
Conversely, migraine susceptibility can decrease during pregnancy when oestrogen levels are high.
In the main, migraine attacks lessen after menopause (although can increase in the years preceding it). Identifying triggers can be the single most important step an individual can take in helping themselves to manage their condition so that appropriate preventative steps and actions can be taken.
Upcoming Migraine Talk
Whelehans Pharmacy in conjunction with Migraine Association of Ireland is hosting a Migraine Information evening on Tuesday June 23rd at 7pm in the Greville Arms Hotel in Mullingar. Admission is free.
Speakers on the night will include Dr. Martin Ruttledge, Consultant Neurologist from the Beaumont Migraine Clinic. Dr Ruttledge is one of the top neurologists in the country, and thetop when it comes to migraine and headache.
There will be other speakers including Nutritionist Aisling Murray and Pharmacist Eamonn Brady and help and advice from Migraine Association of Ireland on the night. Call the Whelehans Pharmacy at 04493 34591 for more information or to book a place.
To be continued….next week I will discuss migraine treatment.
This article is shortened to fit within Newspaper space limits. More detailed information and leaflets is available in Whelehans