Migraine Resources
Migraine and Women’s Health
Studies show that women are nearly 3x more likely to experience migraine than men [2]. One reason is that women experience fluctuations in hormones, specifically in estrogen, during menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause.
For many women, these changes in hormonal levels can trigger migraine attacks with painful headaches and other symptoms. Although women are more likely to experience migraine, an effective treatment plan can ease or eliminate symptoms in both sexes.
Tracking Migraine Phases
Understanding and tracking migraine phases are the first steps to finding the best treatment plan [3]. Since everyone experiences migraine differently, recognizing how symptoms and phases affect you personally makes a difference in treatment. After uncovering patterns in migraine attacks, a medical professional can build a plan to treat them in their early phases, potentially avoiding painful headaches and hangovers.
A headache diary can help track and manage the details of migraine attacks. Keeping a diary or journal of symptoms and patterns on paper or with the free Nerivio app, you can share those details with your doctor. Information about your symptoms, how long they last, how severe they are, and what treatments work for you will help your doctor provide a more customized treatment plan.
Immediate Relief Tactics for Migraine Attacks
One tactic is relaxing in a quiet, dim room, while experiencing light or sound sensitivities. Other tactics are more preventative, like developing a healthy eating routine.
If you do not have a treatment plan, you may still find relief from your migraine through immediate relief tactics. Some of these tactics are useful for easing symptoms as they occur [5].
For example, one tactic is relaxing in a quiet, dim room, while experiencing light or sound sensitivities. Other tactics are more preventative, like developing a healthy eating routine and avoiding any triggers you associate with your migraine.
Acute treatments, such as drug-free Nerivio, are also available to minimize the symptoms when they happen. Nerivio can also be used to help prevent migraine attacks.
Individuals experiencing migraine symptoms should always consult their doctor before beginning a treatment plan or new medication. A proper diagnosis and treatment plan is the way to find pain freedom.
Our information is educational but not a replacement for a private consultation with your doctor. If you are living with migraine attacks, you should talk to your healthcare provider.
Types of Migraine Attacks
Migraine attacks affect everyone differently, and many will fall into one of the following types. Each type of migraine has unique symptoms that affect your body differently. Working with your doctor to identify the symptoms you experience and the type of migraine you have will ensure you get an effective, customized treatment plan [6].
Migraine without aura
Repeating headache disorder with attacks that last 4 – 72 hours. Typically, the headache is on one side of the head, pulsating and throbbing, with moderate or severe intensity, and increasing while performing regular physical activities. In addition to the head pain associated with nausea and/or photophobia and phonophobia.
Migraine with aura
Migraine with recurrent aura attacks. Aura attacks last for minutes and include unilateral fully reversible visual, sensory, or other central nervous system symptoms (speech disturbances, motor limitations) that usually develop gradually and are usually followed by headache and associated migraine symptoms.
Retinal Migraine
Extremely rare. Migraine headache attacks associated with fully reversible visual disturbance in one eye. Symptoms may include light flashes, partial vision loss, or blind spots. Symptoms develop gradually over minutes and last between a few minutes to an hour, in addition to headache.
Ocular Migraine
Extremely rare. Symptoms are similar to those of retinal migraine, yet affecting both eyes. Temporary blindness is another symptom.
Hemiplegic Migraine
Rare. Symptoms include fully reversible motor weakness, usually on one side of the body, and fully reversible visual, sensory, and or speech symptoms. During a hemiplegic migraine, people may also experience fever. Hemiplegic symptoms are similar to those of a stroke. If you experience weakness in your body, consult your doctor immediately for a proper diagnosis. Hemiplegic symptoms are similar to those of a stroke. If you experience weakness in your body, consult your doctor immediately for a proper diagnosis.
Abdominal Migraine
Does not induce headache pain like most other migraine attacks. Symptoms include moderate to severe abdominal pain, with recurrent attacks. May include other symptoms like hot flashes, nausea, and vomiting. Most commonly found in children. The attacks are severe enough to interfere with normal daily activities.
Acephalgic Migraine
Also called silent migraine, or aura migraine without headaches, acephalgic migraine does not involve head pain. Individuals will experience aura symptoms like dizziness, visual disturbances like light flashes, or sensitivity to light or sound.
Vestibular Migraine
Symptoms include vertigo or a spinning sensation and other regular symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or noise.
Other Types of Headache that are not Migraine
Tension Headache
Very common type of headache, typically in both sides of the head, with a feeling of pressing or tightening in the head, mild to moderate intensity, lasting minutes to days [7]. The head pain does not worsen with routine physical activity and is not associated with nausea, although sensitivity to light or sound may be present. People may experience both tension headache and migraine.
Cluster Headache
Rare but intense. Symptoms include sudden, sharp head pain and possible swelling of an eye, runny nose, restlessness, excessive tearing, and sweating. Cluster headaches may appear again the same day and happen again periodically [8].
Sources
- Stovner, L. J., Hagen, K., Linde, M., & et al. (2022). The global prevalence of headache: an update, with analysis of the influences of methodological factors on prevalence estimates. The Journal of Headache and Pain, 23, 34. https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-022-01402-2
- American Migraine Foundation. (2019, March 21). Migraine Through A Woman’s Life. Retrieved from https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/migraine-through-a-womans-life/
- Stanford Health Care. (n.d.). Headache Diary. Retrieved from https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/brain-and-nerves/headache/diagnosis/headache-diary.html
- The Migraine Trust. (n.d.). Stages of a migraine attack. Retrieved from https://migrainetrust.org/understand-migraine/stages-of-a-migraine-attack/
- American Migraine Foundation. (2022, August 4). Migraine Home Remedies. Retrieved from https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/migraine-home-remedies/
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (n.d.). Migraine. Retrieved from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/migraine
- Mayo Clinic. (2021, September 29). Tension headache. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tension-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20353977
- Mayo Clinic. (2022, July 30). Cluster headache. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cluster-headache/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352084
Safety Information
DISCLAIMER
It is highly recommended that you consult your doctor before taking any action based on the information above. This content does not constitute medical advice or a recommendation.
INDICATION FOR USE
Nerivio is an FDA-cleared, drug-free therapy for acute and preventive treatment of migraine with or without aura in patients 12 years and up. It is a prescription use, a self-administered device for use in the home environment at the onset of migraine headache or aura for acute treatment, or every other day for preventive treatment.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Nerivio should not be used by people with uncontrolled epilepsy, an active implantable medical device, such as a pacemaker, hearing aid implant, or any implanted electronic device. Such use could cause electric shock, electrical interference or serious injuries or medical conditions."
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
For full user instructions and safety information, please see the Nerivio User Manual.
Talk to your doctor to see if Nerivio is right for you.
