Migraine: Causes and Treatment

Migraine is a primary headache disorder (it is considered that there is no underlying disease causing it), characterized by recurring throbbing attacks, most often felt on one side of the head (French migraine, from Latin hemicrania, Greek hemikrania, "a headache affecting half of the head") and of moderate to high intensity; an attack lasts from several hours to 2-3 days. The problem most often first appears during puberty and causes the most suffering in people aged 35-45. (The medical literature also uses the term "hemicrania.")

According to statistics, about 1 billion people worldwide have migraine, more often women - 19% (about one in five women) versus 11% of men. (This gender difference is explained by hormonal factors.) Given such prevalence, it is not surprising that migraine ranks second among conditions that limit the ability to work. 

You can receive migraine treatment in Kyiv from a neurologist at the multidisciplinary CSM Clinic (including a consultation on how to treat migraine in a child). Our full-cycle hospital has what is needed for accurate diagnosis and treatment: specialists with extensive clinical experience, expert-level diagnostic and treatment equipment, and a sincere wish to help you.

Migraine Symptoms

Attacks may include the following migraine symptoms:

• moderate or severe headache, which may:
• be felt on one side (very rarely on both);
• throb;
• get worse with physical activity, even without any strain (climbing stairs is enough);
• last from several hours to 2-3 days;
• recur throughout life (from once a year to once a week, and sometimes more often);
• nausea;
• vomiting;
• increased sensitivity to light, sound and some smells;
• irritability, fatigue, low mood;
• changes in appetite.

These signs are typical of migraine without aura (about 80% of cases). As a rule, migraine attacks in children are shorter, with more pronounced abdominal symptoms.

Migraine with aura (up to 20% of cases) adds a set of reversible neurological symptoms (they usually precede the headache and abdominal symptoms):

• visual disturbances (flickering, stripes, partial loss of vision);
• tingling and numbness;
• speech disturbances;
• distorted perception of the size and shape of objects.

Possible Consequences of Migraine

Untreated episodic migraine can turn into a chronic phase, which may appear as 15 attacks a month and can be difficult to diagnose.

It has been reported clinically that recurrent migraine attacks may damage the blood vessels of the brain, which in turn may contribute to the development of ischemic stroke (the risk is proportional to the frequency of attacks). The transition of migraine to a chronic form also has other unpleasant consequences, including:

• depression;
• a high risk of status migrainosus (throbbing headache lasting more than 72 hours);
• development of epileptic seizures.

Regardless of its stage, migraine noticeably reduces quality of life, lowers the ability to work and worsens mood.

Migraine Diagnosis

Although migraine is a primary headache, differential diagnosis requires a thorough examination. The doctor must make sure there are no diseases whose clinical picture includes a migraine-like condition. The results of diagnosis determine the further treatment tactics.

Diagnosis for migraine attacks may include:

• a detailed interview with the patient by the doctor;
• laboratory and instrumental examination (an individual list, depending on the suspected causes of the headache):
• complete blood count (most often with a white blood cell differential);
• blood chemistry;
• a hormone panel;
• brain MRI (including with contrast, when a tumor needs to be ruled out);
• brain CT;
• vascular ultrasound;
• EEG, etc.;
• review of the test results and the doctor's conclusion.

Migraine Treatment

Let's start with an unpleasant truth: migraine cannot be completely cured. But it is not all bad. With proper therapy, attacks can be made less severe and their frequency can be significantly reduced. Currently there are two main ways to treat migraine pain:

• medication (analgesics, anti-inflammatory and antiemetic drugs, and triptans - substances specially developed to stop migraine attacks are selected; for prevention in difficult cases (therapy lasting up to 12 months) - beta-blockers, antidepressants and anticonvulsants, which affect vascular tone and neuronal excitability);
• non-drug treatment (various physiotherapy methods are used).

CSM Clinic offers its patients to try device-based migraine treatment methods, which have certain advantages and may give a fairly quick result. Our neurologist may prescribe physiotherapy methods for migraine such as:

• high-frequency magnetotherapy of the cervical collar area;
• laser therapy of the cervical collar area;
• electrotherapy;
• phonophoresis, etc.

Physiotherapy for migraine can be used together with medication therapy, and it may enhance its effect.

Self-treatment of migraine is not recommended, if only because a patient cannot correctly interpret the cause of a headache on their own. There is a high probability that it is not migraine but a secondary headache, which can be a symptom of such life-threatening conditions as hypertensive crisis, stroke, cancer, etc.

Comprehensive migraine treatment includes relief of the pain attack, preventive therapy and behavioral therapy (patient education).

Migraine Prevention: Recommendations for Managing Attacks

"Home" migraine prevention (behavioral therapy) is selected by a neurologist individually for each patient. To improve the results of drug and non-drug treatment, the patient may be advised to adjust:

• lifestyle (including physical and mental workload);
• diet (build a balanced diet, avoid exhausting weight-loss diets and alcohol, and exclude certain foods - chocolate, citrus fruits, bananas, fatty cheeses, etc.);
• sleep pattern (neither sleep deprivation nor excessive sleep);
• psycho-emotional state (avoid stress), etc.

It is also recommended to give up bad habits, treat neurological problems in time (depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, etc.), and get regular physical exercise, walks or bike rides.

Benefits of Migraine Treatment at the Clinic

1. CSM Clinic in Kyiv is a large private full-cycle hospital where you can have expert diagnostics interpreted by experienced doctors, quality treatment, comprehensive therapy and prevention of possible consequences.
2. Doctors with extensive clinical experience and a high level of empathy.
3. Expert-level diagnostic equipment.
4. Modern physiotherapy devices and established medical care protocols.
5. A personalized approach to every patient.
6. Affordable prices for neurologist consultations and other services.

Not sure which doctor treats migraine? Looking for a competent specialist who will offer modern migraine treatment methods? The specialists of CSM Clinic are ready to help patients with migraine, including severe forms, and other neurological diseases. Choose quality expert diagnostics and treatment based on modern protocols with proven clinical experience.

For residents and guests of the Kyiv region, we invite you to visit our medical center in Bila Tserkva: a comfortable hotel on the clinic's premises, high-quality medical services, safety during air raid alerts, and more. Entrust your health to professionals.