Human Resources
Migraine Awareness Week 2-8 September 2012
Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:50:00 BST
Migraine Awareness Week 2-8 September 2012
What is migraine?
Migraine is often much more than ‘just a headache’. It is in fact a neurological condition which can have an effect on the whole body, resulting in many symptoms, sometimes without a headache at all.
1 in 7 people in the UK is affected by migraine. Although there is no cure, there are a variety of techniques to manage the condition. Migraine attacks can last anywhere between 4 and 72 hours and on average a sufferer can have 13 per year.
Signs
- Intense, throbbing headache, often on one side of the head
- Nausea/vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Increased sensitivity to light, sound, smells
- Neurological/aura symptoms – visual disturbance (blind spots, distorted vision, flashing lights, zigzag patterns)
- Tingling/pins and needles in limbs
- Inability to concentrate
- Confusion
- Difficulty speaking
- Paralysis
- Loss of consciousness (in very rare cases)
Stages
There are 5 stages to a migraine attack;
Warning stage – mood change, tiredness, unusual hunger or thirst in the 48 hours before a migraine
Aura – usually begins before the headache starts and lasts for an hour.
Main stage – the headache is present with other symptoms such as nausea/vomiting
Resolution – the pain gradually eases and may disappear completely. The sufferer will often feel lethargic.
Recovery – It can take up to a few days to recover after a migraine.
Common causes/triggers;
Stress or the relief of stress
Hunger or infrequent meals
Specific food types (particularly caffeine, tyramine, alcohol, monosodium glutamate)
Changing sleep pattersn
Hormonal factors
Over tiredness/exertion
Extreme emotions
Environmental noise
Climatic Conditions
Self help tips;
Maintain a migraine diary to try to identify patterns/triggers to attacks
Visit your GP
Eat regularly – try not to leave longer than 3 hours between foods
Maintain a regular sleep pattern
Drink plenty of water
Keep stress and anxiety to a minimum
Limit alcoholic and caffeinated drinks
Get plenty of fresh air and regular exercise
Avoid bright, flashing or flickering lights and reflective surfaces
Ensure adequate ventilation
For further help and information visit;
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Migraine/Pages/Introduction.aspx