Contents:
- Medical Video: What is considered a chronic migraine ? | Health Channel
- Get to know the difference between chronic migraines and episodic migraines
- What kind of migraine have I experienced so far?
- Characteristic of episodic migraine
- Characteristics of chronic migraines
- What is the treatment for these two types of migraine?
- How to prevent chronic migraines
Medical Video: What is considered a chronic migraine ? | Health Channel
Maybe you are one of the people who often experience side headaches or migraines. However, do you know if not all migraines are the same? Yes, there are two types of migraines, namely episodic migraine with chronic migraine. So what type of migraine do you experience?
Get to know the difference between chronic migraines and episodic migraines
Chronic migraines and episodic migraine will cause symptoms of the same headache. But the difference is how often these symptoms appear.
In episodic migraines, headache symptoms will appear less than 15 times in a month to three months. This type of migraine is the most experienced.
While people with chronic migraines will experience headaches more than 15 times a month. Usually, people with episodic migraines have the opportunity to experience chronic migraines in a matter of months or even years.
Allegedly migraines are caused by inflammation that causes blood vessels in the brain to swell and eventually attack the surrounding nerves. But this is not the main cause, many migraine attacks are associated with derivatives.
What kind of migraine have I experienced so far?
Characteristic of episodic migraine
Try to remember how and how often you experience migraines. If you experience five migraine attacks within 24 hours and occur less than 15 times a month, then you may experience episodic migraine.
Episodic migraine attacks are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to noise or light during a migraine. Usually, some things that trigger episodic migraine, namely stress, menstruation, weather changes, the symptoms of disorders of the eye or brain, and because of the side effects of consumption of drugs.
Characteristics of chronic migraines
The sign that most represents the incidence of chronic migraines is a migraine attack that occurs more than 4 hours at a time and will last more than 15 days a month. Usually, this type of migraine will cause symptoms that last longer and more often than with episodic migraine.
A study on Current Pain and Headache Reports, found that individuals who suffer from chronic migraines experience headaches that last for an average of 65.1 hours without treatment, and 24.1 hours accompanied by treatment.
When compared with individuals who experience episodic migraines, they can survive an average of 38.8 hours without treatment and 12.8 hours with treatment, quoted from Healthline.
What is the treatment for these two types of migraine?
Both types of migraine can be treated with almost the same type of drug, usually doctors will recommend drugs that are often used to relieve headaches.
Doctors will usually also recommend drugs to treat other symptoms that arise, such as nausea and vomiting. Giving preventive medicines is also often done to prevent the occurrence of chronic migraine symptoms.
Types of drugs such as antidepressants, antiseizure, onabotulinumtoxinA (botox), and painkillers, which can help reduce the frequency, duration, and severity of your headache.
How to prevent chronic migraines
If you have had migraines before, some of the following can prevent the possibility of chronic migraines:
- Fatigue can trigger migraines, so try to get enough sleep for about seven to eight hours every night.
- Pay attention to the type of food you consume. Because, some types of food can cause headaches, such as too much caffeine and packaged food and beverages.
- Anxiety and excessive worry can be the main triggers. For that, you should manage your stress well.
- Regular exercise will help you achieve a healthy weight. Because, obesity can increase your risk of developing chronic migraines.
- Pay attention to your medication consumption because consuming too many types of drugs can cause excessive headaches. Preferably, obey the rules for taking medication and the type of medication recommended by the doctor.
