Headaches & Migraines

Although the exact cause of migraines isn’t known, there are lots of triggers that people have noticed that tend to induce a migraine.

These triggers are different for everyone, so it can be wise to keep a diary of when your migraines happen so you can try to work out when and what triggers them for you.

Some of the most common migraine triggers include hormonal changes, emotional triggers, tiredness, dehydration, not eating regular meals, alcohol or caffeine, bright lights or loud noises and certain medications like the contraceptive pill.

Migraines are a common problem, and while there isn’t a cure, there are several treatments available to help ease the symptoms.

Firstly, you should try regular painkillers like paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen to see if they can relieve your symptoms.

If these aren’t helping, a type of medicine called triptans are formulated specifically for migraine headaches.

Migraines are much more severe than a typical headache, with symptoms including:

• - Intense headache on 1 side of the head
• - Feeling sick
• - Being sick
• - Increased sensitivity to light and sound

 

Some people may also experience sweating, poor concentration, feeling very hot or very cold, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

NSAID stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are a type of medicine typically used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and a high temperature.

They are given to people who are suffering from pain, whether it be from a headache to something long-term like arthritis.

You can buy NSAIDs over the counter or on prescription, and you might recognize some like ibuprofen and naproxen.