The Neurology Department of the Reina Sofía Hospital in Córdoba emphasizes that the early approach to migraine It is essential to avoid the chronicity of this pathology. Each year, between 1 and 2% of people suffering from episodic migraine end up suffering from it permanently. chronic and one of the main causes is the excessive use of painkillers due to self-medication.
This week marks International Migraine Action Day, a headache which is characterized by the person suffering from recurring episodes of headaches, of moderate or severe intensity, which can last for hours or days, and which produce a lack of autonomy for the development of the person’s daily activities in many cases.
Moreover, it is a very widespread (more than 12% of the population), with a greater impact on women (between 20 and 50 years old) and which constitutes one of the main causes of disability in the world, since the ages concerned are those of maximum professional and family development.
At the Reina Sofía Hospital alone, more than one is treated each year. thousands of patients in the specific consultation for headaches that depends on the neurology service and in which neurologists Marta Recio, Raquel Portillo and Miguel López provide assistance.
However, it is an underdiagnosed and undertreated disease and up to 25% of patients may have a late diagnosis of H.up to six years.
The hospital neurologist specializing in this pathology Marta Recio explains that “many people do not consult because they believe it is a slight problemwhich other family members also suffer from and with which they learn to live.
Genetic
And this is important because, according to the neurologist, in the development of this disease, the genetic also plays an important role. In fact, the latest studies published on the subject indicate that there are genes linked to migraine and that there is a familial aggregation.
Regarding the symptoms of this pathology, the neurologist emphasizes that “it is generally hemicranial and pulsatile. It is accompanied by sonophobia and photophobianausea and vomiting and worsens with physical activity.
“But it is not just about pain, since in the phases of migraine there is a succession of neurological symptoms that occur sequentially for hours or days, both in the prodromal phase (before the attack) and in the postdromal phase (after the attack), including fatigueirritability, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, yawning or cravings for certain foods,” he continues.
It is classified according to its frequency into low-frequency episodic migraines (less than 10 headaches per month), high frequency (10 to 14 monthly headaches) or chronic (15 or more monthly headaches).
Additionally, migraine can be differentiated with or without will have. Aura, as Dr. Recio explains, “is a neurological symptom, usually visual, that typically appears 5 to 60 minutes before the headache.”
On the other hand, it is necessary to take into account frequency and intensity. In this sense, the team of specialists emphasizes that migraine has a fluctuating clinical evolution where there may be periods of remission or recurrence, with variations in the frequency or characteristics of the attacks.
In this regard, the neurologist explains that the brain of a person suffering from migraine is hyperexcitablethat is, it responds to certain triggers (hormonal, atmospheric, sleep, lights, sounds, stress…) by irritating the fibers of the trigeminal nerve and releasing pro-inflammatory substances that trigger the painful process.
The diagnosis is clinical. The first step is that of the treating physician who, faced with a migraine, will assess the treatment most appropriate initial. Depending on the answer, you will be referred to the neurology consultations of the Reina Sofía Hospital and then, if necessary, to the specific query of headaches.
Regarding the treatment, three phases must be highlighted. The first consists of identifying the possible triggers and avoid them. Second, it is necessary to act and treat painful crises early (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs if the headache is mild and triptans when it is mild). moderate intensity or serious).
Professionals explain that any delay in treatment can contribute to making the problem worse.
In this second moment, it is essential to apply the appropriate treatment and at the precise moment, because the delay when administered, it may cause it to have no effect on symptoms.
And thirdly, we need to establish preventive treatments in cases where the person has a high frequency of these attacks or when they last for a long time, with the aim of reducing them.
To avoid or slow down the onset of these symptoms, it is recommended habits healthy lifestyle (aerobic physical exercise, avoiding obesity and alcohol or tobacco consumption, 5 meals a day, drinking 2 liters of water), leading a life as regular as possible in sleep schedules.
In addition, it is advisable to reduce the use of electronic devices leisure activities, avoid caffeine and other related triggers. Apply relaxation and meditation techniques to learn new ways to manage the experience of stress.
It is also advisable to reduce sudden changes in brightness and temperature. And finally, for people who suffer from it, the doctor emphasizes that it is important to have a record of the day headaches, which they can do easily with the apps enabled for this purpose.
