Migraine attacks have been known for a long time. Such an attack tormented famous people. And to this day, many people face such an unpleasant condition. And most often there are signs of migraine in women. So, what is this pathology? What are its symptoms? And is it possible to fight it?
What is a migraine?
Modern medicine gives a clear concept of this term. Migraine is a special paroxysmal condition of severe headache, which is systematically repeated, manifesting itself in one hemisphere of the brain. The main pain focus is fixed in the frontal part. As a result, pain is felt in the eye and temple area.
However, the signs of migraine in women are manifested not only by unpleasant sensations. After all, this is not just a headache, but a disease. Therefore, it is accompanied by additional unpleasant symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.
Migraine pain can be exacerbated in response to external stimuli. Bright lights and loudsounds can cause not only irritation, but also strong sensations.
Migraine attacks, as previously mentioned, are more susceptible to the fair sex. This disease manifests itself in women of young and middle age. In adulthood, headache attacks may occur rarely or not at all.
Migraine as a phenomenon has a hereditary specificity. It is often passed down through the female line. Also, a special metabolism of serotonin can be inherited, which, in turn, has an analgesic effect. In addition, the specific reactions of cerebral vessels to external factors can also be transmitted.
Causes of occurrence
Despite the fact that migraine is similar to a regular headache, it is a neurological disease. It is important to understand what are the causes of migraine in women. Treatment will be effective if it is aimed at eliminating those sources that provoked discomfort.
Common headache is often triggered by:
- drugs designed to raise or lower blood pressure;
- strain of the muscles of the neck and head;
- osteochondrosis;
- intracranial pressure.
Migraines are a little different. To date, all the causes of pathology have not been studied. Not so long ago, the disease was perceived only as an imbalance in the work of blood vessels. This was due to the fact that during an attack there is a significant expansion of the vessels of the meninges. This is a good enough reason. After alldilation of the blood vessels provokes pressure, resulting in a headache.
Scientists have proven that migraine is inherited, from parents to children. The percentage of inheritance of this disease is quite high - 70%.
It can also be noted that there are signs of migraine in women who have impaired metabolic function or have diseases of the nervous system.
Serotonin theory
General concepts about the development of migraine, the causes of its occurrence and the mechanism of pain sensations are explained by this theory. Serotonin is a substance that causes vasoconstriction and sends signals throughout the body. During the attacks, there is a failure. The amount of serotonin increases significantly, resulting in spasms in the head.
It is also interesting that pain sensations occur precisely in that part of the head where vascular spasms occur. This theory allowed physicians to understand in more detail what signs of migraine are observed in a woman. The treatment of pathology also began to improve after such a discovery.
Association of pain sensations with the hypothalamus
Most recently, a connection was discovered between the occurrence of headache attacks during migraine with the part of the brain that is responsible for the functioning of the endocrine system - the hypothalamus. It is in it that the system responsible for the overall vascular tone is located. Signals come from the hypothalamus about the body's reaction to external stimuli. This subsequently causes headaches.pain.
The symptoms of migraine in women and the treatment of pathology are issues that are of great importance. Therefore, having determined that unpleasant sensations appear during excessive activity of the hypothalamus, doctors thought about creating an effective medication. After all, such a discovery could contribute to the development of a drug that helps get rid of migraines.
What triggers a migraine?
A large number of changes in the external environment can cause an unpleasant state.
Migraine can cause:
- strong emotional experience, stress;
- change of climate, weather conditions;
- body tension;
- strong odors;
- bright and flickering light;
- physical hunger;
- hormonal disorders;
- lack of sleep;
- products;
- chemicals.
Indeed, there is a fairly large list of foods that can trigger a migraine attack. One of them is caffeine. Abuse of the drink contributes to the disruption of the harmony of the body. Wine and beer can also provoke migraine symptoms in women. The use of low-quality canned foods leads to a negative vascular reaction.
Symptoms of pathology
The disease has a rather specific feature. It doesn't come on suddenly. Migraine symptoms often appear gradually in women. Treatment of pathology, started in a timely manner, can even prevent an attack.
Pathology phases:
- The prodromal phase may signal the onset. It is characterized by dizziness and discomfort in the body.
- The second phase is called the aura. She is a harbinger of migraine. Every person who systematically suffers from this disease knows what an aura is.
- Attacks follow. They manifest as intense pain.
- Then comes the postdromal phase, which is considered the final moment. It is accompanied by nausea.
The flow of these phases for each patient is purely individual.
Prodromal phase symptoms
It is characterized by mild symptoms that are harbingers of a migraine. These symptoms can appear hours before an attack or a couple of days before.
It is important to pay close attention to such phenomena. After all, stopping an attack is much easier if you correctly recognize these symptoms of migraine in women. Treatment in this case will not be long.
Prodromal phase may appear:
- strongly thirsty;
- drowsy, tired;
- change in appetite (increase or decrease);
- emotional decline, depression and anxiety.
Aura symptoms
These symptoms are not observed in all patients with migraine.
There are 2 varieties of this state:
- Positive aura. Appears as a flickering bright light. The propagation field can be significantly increased. Also, during a positive aura, visions in the form of stars sometimes occur.or lines.
- Negative aura. It is characterized by dark spots in the eyes. It can also manifest as a lack of peripheral vision.
A person experiencing signs of an aura may have mixed feelings. Each patient describes an individual unusual picture that he observed.
There are other symptoms of migraine in women:
- memory violation;
- speech disorder;
- discomfort in limbs;
- distortion of space or dimensions;
- impaired functioning of consciousness.
Acute phase symptoms
Unfortunately, modern pharmacology has not developed a single remedy that can get rid of an attack. Regular analgesics don't help. Therefore, attacks can continue for a long time. Sometimes they drag on for 3 days.
Migraine symptoms:
- nausea and vomiting;
- pulsating pain;
- headache reaction to physical activity;
- skin pallor and chills;
- facial numbness;
- sensitivity to light and sound.
Pathology may be accompanied by swelling of the eyelids and runny nose. However, this rarely happens.
Postdromal symptoms
After the throbbing pain caused by the migraine passes, the next phase begins. It is often characterized by a feeling of hazy consciousness.
Migraine treatment
Above, it was discussed in detail what are the signs of migraine inwomen. How to treat such a pathology?
Migraine medicines:
- Painkillers. They are mostly sold without a prescription. Help with the first symptoms of a migraine. For therapy, you can use Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Naproxen, Diclofenac.
- Triptans are one of the first drugs designed specifically to combat migraines. They control the level of serotonin in the brain, which provokes the onset of seizures. They are recommended for people prone to severe headaches. The drugs are effective, but have many unpleasant side effects. The best remedies are Zomig, Almotriptan, Rizatriptan.
- Opiates. It is recommended to resort to their use only in extreme cases, when other medicines do not help. The problem is that drugs are not approved for the treatment of this disease. They have significant contraindications. Can cause dangerous complications. These include Oxycodone, Codeine, Morphine.
- Ergotamines are considered one of the most beneficial substances to help cope with migraines. The drug is "Dihydroergotamine".
- Medicines used to treat nausea. They are used in combination with other headache medications. The drugs "Metoclopramide", "Reglan" are effective.
- Drugs that stop migraine attacks: Timolol, Sodium Valproate, Topiramate, Propanolol.
- Beta Brocators are used to regulate blood pressure. The following medicines are effective: Metoprolol, Lopressor, Tenormin, Nadolol, Korgard.
- Antidepressants. They are often used to treat migraines. They also help with insomnia and depression.
Home Therapy
No matter what the causes of migraine in women are, folk remedies can be quite effective in dealing with pathology.
Effective recipes:
- Mix spinach and carrot juice, add dandelion juice. Take the mixture in this ratio - 1: 3: 1. It is recommended to consume 3 times a day, one hour before meals.
- Also an excellent tincture is obtained from elder flowers. For cooking, pour 1 spoonful of a glass of boiling water. Then strain the infusion and cool. It is consumed with honey, 20 minutes before meals.
For the treatment of migraine, hawthorn, white mistletoe, shepherd's purse are suitable. The use of folk methods is only welcome. They are great for stopping attacks.
However, do not forget that by understanding the causes of migraine in women, folk remedies and medicines can prevent the onset of an attack. Be attentive to your he alth and learn to recognize the signs that the body warns you of an illness.
