Migraines

Migraines can be one of the most debilitating experiences a person can have. With four stages of symptoms and a myriad of possible triggers, it is a notoriously tricky disorder that induces tremendous pain. Especially for athletes, it’s crucial that migraines are avoided; they can greatly interfere with daily routine and physical activity can aggravate existing symptoms. To understand more, we must look deeper into what constitutes a migraine.

What is a migraine?

A migraine is a type of headache characterized by extreme throbbing pain, typically on one side of the head. The headache is usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and an acute sensitivity to light, sound, and/or strong odors. It is believed that the pain stems from the dilation and constriction of blood vessels within the head, which activates surrounding nerve fibers and triggers pain. Migraines can affect people of all ages and of all lifestyles, and they can last from four to 72 hours. The pain can be so significant that one can be rendered incapable of accomplishing mere day-to-day activities.

The Four Stages of a Migraine:

Experiencing a migraine can involve up to four stages, though it is not necessary to experience all of them for a headache to be considered one. These stages are called prodrome (or premonitory symptoms), aura, attack (or headache), and postdrome.

Prodrome: Up to 24 hours before the headache, a patient might experience mood changes, difficulties sleeping or concentrating, frequent yawning, food cravings, and increased urination.

Aura: Five to 60 minutes before the headache, a patient might see visual disturbances such as shapes, bright spots, and flashes of light and feel muscle weakness characterized by a feeling of pins-and-needles in the arms or legs. These symptoms foreshadow the headache to come, making it the ideal time to take appropriate medication.

Attack: At this point, the patient experiences a pulsating, debilitating headache, typically one that gradually builds in intensity. Alongside this headache, it is common to also experience nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to stimuli. A migraine that does not go through this stage is called a silent migraine.

Postdrome: Up to 24 hours after the headache, a patient will often feel physically exhausted, drained, or confused. Sudden head movements can also briefly bring back head pain. The postdrome stage is similar to an alcohol hangover, which is why it’s sometimes called a migraine hangover.

Triggers and Risks:

Some of the most common migraine triggers that are most relevant to athletes (particularly student-athletes) are stress, anxiety, changes in sleep, skipping meals, physical overexertion, sudden changes in the weather, hormonal fluctuations, and a jarring exposure to strong lights, noises, or odors. What’s more, women are three times as likely to experience migraines than men due to hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy and at the start of the menstrual cycle; migraines are also a possible side effect of taking oral contraceptives. Migraines additionally can be hereditary, with up to 80% of those who experience them being directly related to someone else who does. Lastly, the body can be sensitive to the chemicals within certain foods, thus triggering a migraine. The most common food triggers are processed/cured foods, fermented or pickled foods, alcohol, additives such as nitrates and MSG, and chocolate.

Treatment:

Though the majority of migraines are undiagnosed and untreated, there are many easy ways to mitigate the pain and lessen symptoms. One of the most effective is napping in a dark, quiet room; this way, much of the pain in the attack stage can simply be slept through. Another great form of treatment is medication, though it's important not to overuse it as organs like the liver can get irritated. There are medications used to stop migraines at first signs and also preventive ones if these afflictions occur frequently. It's also good to drink lots of fluids, especially if vomiting is a symptom.

However, the best way to treat a migraine is to make sure it never happens— in other words, avoid any triggers. These lifestyle changes include sleeping the right amount, eating healthy meals free of food triggers three times a day, managing stress, and watching overexertion.

Conclusion:

Whether you've never had one before or have struggled with them for a while, migraines are an experience nobody ever wants to undergo. Even though professionals don't have this phenomenon down to an exact science, being informed and taking the appropriate precautionary measures are the best ways to make sure our daily lives aren't hindered by these debilitating headaches.

Sources:

Cleveland Clinic medical. “How to Get Rid of a Migraine.” Cleveland Clinic, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5005-migraine-headaches. Accessed 24 Mar. 2024.

“Migraine.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 7 July 2023, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20360201.

“Migraine.” National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/migraine. Accessed 24 Mar. 2024.

“Migraine: Medlineplus Medical Encyclopedia.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000709.htm. Accessed 24 Mar. 2024.