The Best Migraine Medicine You Might Not Have Heard Of
July 18, 2022
You’ve probably heard of migraines and most likely experienced one, but do you know what they are and how to treat them?
A migraine can cause intense discomfort and visual sensitivity, which can be off-putting and bring your daily routine to a sudden halt. According to The American Migraine Foundation, an estimated 39 million Americans live with migraine issues but do not receive a proper diagnosis or treatment.
What Is a Migraine?
A migraine is, essentially, an intense headache. The symptoms of a migraine include a throbbing headache, either on one or both sides of the head and are usually accompanied by visual and aural sensitivities.
However, regardless of how migraine is defined, the defining factor of migraines is how painful and debilitating they can be. A migraine can last from several hours to a few days and upset your professional and personal life.
People often confuse headaches and migraines as synonymous, but in reality, a headache is just one migraine symptom.
Aside from increased sensitivity to light, sound, and smells, migraine symptoms include nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it might be worth discussing with your doctor whether you have a headache or migraine.
The Four Stages of a Migraine
Migraines often begin in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood and can progress through four stages: prodrome, aura, attack, and post-drome.
The stages include symptoms that range from visual to body numbness and fatigue. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms before, during, or after having a headache, you might have a migraine.
Let’s learn more about each stage of a migraine.
Stage 1: Prodrome
The first phase, the prodrome, precedes the discomfort associated with a migraine. The stage usually occurs one to two days before an upcoming migraine. Some prodrome symptoms include euphoria, neck stiffness, mood changes, food cravings, frequent urination, yawning, and fluid retention.
If you notice any of these symptoms before you experience a headache, you might have been moving through a migraine's prodrome phase. Most importantly, the prodromal phase is a heads-up from your body that it might soon experience an upcoming migraine and prioritize rest and hydration.
If you want to get ahead of your symptoms, our Migraine Relief IV Therapy is designed to address acute migraine symptoms.
Stage 2: Aura
Approximately 20% of people with migraines experience aura. Visual auras are most common but can also include other verbal, motor, and sensory disturbances. The aura stage typically occurs before or during the actual headaches stage.
Migraine aura symptoms most frequently include the following:
- Visual phenomena, such as seeing various shapes, spots, or flashes of light
- Vision loss
- A sensation of “pins-and-needles” in the arm or leg
- Difficulty speaking
- Uncontrollable jerking
If you are experiencing visual symptoms of an aura, choose a space with low lighting and sound pollution.
Stage 3: Migraine Attack
A migraine attack usually lasts from four to 72 hours, and the frequency varies per person. If left untreated, the pain may persist on one or both sides of your head.
- During a migraine, you may experience signs of:
- Discomfort, usually on one or both sides of your head
- The throbbing or pulsing sensation
- Sensitivity to light, sound, smell, and touch
- Nausea and vomiting
If you are experiencing intense pain during the headache phase of a migraine, it can feel overwhelming and hopeless. During this stage, finding relief is the priority.
Stage 4: Post-Drome
After a migraine attack, the pain will slowly subside. However, this phase can be just as debilitating as the prior three because your body is recovering from an intense experience. You may experience feelings of exhaustion, fatigue, or confusion as your mind and body attempt to recover from the experience.
During this stage, taking it slow and gently letting your body recover from the migraine experience is critical. Attempting to jump back into a daily routine may be difficult, so it is crucial to prioritize your health and wellness during this recovery period.
Hydration, gentle movement, and prioritizing whole fruits and vegetables can help you recover from migraines.
What Causes a Migraine?
It's no coincidence that women are three times more likely to experience migraines than men. Migraines are connected to hormonal balances (or imbalances), particularly the presence of estrogen.
Fluctuating estrogen levels can result in head and neck tension, migraines, or other symptoms resulting from a shift in estrogen levels.
But migraines don't just impact women and can result from several physiological and environmental factors. Allergies are a big contributor to migraines, as they can irritate your body. When experiencing a migraine, your blood vessels become swollen, and allergies are often known to trigger migraines for people.
Other factors contributing to migraines include environmental factors, ranging from changing weather patterns and specific foods to more physiological factors, such as stress levels and poor lack of sleep.
How Do I Help Treat My Migraine?
There are several ways to help treat your migraine, but over-the-counter pain medicines and lifestyle changes are the most common options. You may need to consult your doctor if your migraines are moderate to severe.
A preventive way to address migraines is to consider your overall lifestyle and adopt some changes that may help prevent migraines.
These lifestyle changes include improving sleep habits and routines, making a list of dietary triggers, avoiding foods that cause migraines, regular exercise, and incorporating IV therapy.
Why Use I.V. Relief for Migraines?
Intravenous or I.V. relief is a safe and high-impact way to address your migraine symptoms from start to finish.
With a 30-minute session in the comfort of your own home, your symptoms will be reduced, and your body will feel refreshed and ready to move forward with the day. Within each I.V., hydration therapy treatments include electrolytes, anti-inflammatory medication, and medication for acute symptomatic migraine relief to help you address migraine symptoms. THE IV DOC offers medications used in emergency rooms for abortive migraine relief.
A migraine can feel overwhelming and hopeless, especially if you're experiencing acute and intense symptoms. With a team of medical professionals and at-home treatment, you can find the most gentle and effective ways to help treat your migraines through IV relief.
The Bottom Line
Migraines can range from convenient to severe, putting you out for a whole day. Because migraines can be the onset of various factors, you must prioritize your health and well-being throughout your busy days.
You deserve to have a life free from discomfort, and migraines can be one of the most disruptive experiences in a busy lifestyle. As such, it’s critical to prioritize your overall mental and physical health.
If you're looking for migraine relief and are interested in quickly and efficiently addressing your migraines, then I.V. relief may be a great option.
Our team comprises professional physicians who strive to help you on your wellness journey. It is also important that you are comfortable throughout the entire process, which is why The I.V. Doc comes to you.
Whether in the relaxing surroundings of your own home, hotel accommodations, or private office, you get to decide where is best for you. Our services also provide a level of discretion preferred by celebrities and other high-profile individuals.
Sources:
Migraine vs. Headache: How to Tell the Difference | Penn Medicine
Why Women Have More Headaches Than Men | Northwestern Medicine