By: Kathy Hubbard
Although we tend to group migraines with everyday headaches, they’re actually not the same. Migraines are classified as chronic illnesses and Cleveland Clinic says that it’s important for us to know the difference.
“Headaches are typically unpleasant and disruptive but aren’t severe enough to affect whether or not you can go about your usual routine or activities,” Cleveland explains. “The most common type is tension-type headache (TTH). The main symptom of TTH is pain that affects your head or face, but not your brain.
“Migraines affect your brain directly, which is why they’re so severe. It’s common for the symptoms to be severe enough to disrupt your routine and activities. Trying to go about your life as you would under ordinary circumstances can feel unbearable when you have a migraine.”
Migraines, of course, aren’t the same for every sufferer every episode. Symptoms vary as do the duration. There are four stages but not every migraine will involve all four.
In the first stage called prodrome (early symptom) you may notice some subtle warnings. You may be constipated, have mood changes and food cravings. You may have a stiff neck, increased need to urinate, fluid retention and yawn frequently.
Secondly it may cause an aura. “For some people, an aura (sensory or perceptual disturbance) might occur before or during migraines. Auras are reversible symptoms of the nervous system. They’re usually visual but can also include other disturbances. Each symptom usually begins gradually, builds up over several minutes and can last up to 60 minutes.”
The third stage is the migraine itself. It can last from four to 72 hours if untreated. During a migraine you may have a pain usually on one side of your head, but I must tell you that it often affects both sides. The pain throbs or pulses; causes sensitivity to light, sound, and sometimes smell and touch. It can cause nausea and vomiting.
The fourth stage is after the migraine episode. You may feel drained, confused or washed out. Mayo Clinic said that some people reported feeling elated while others complained that a sudden head movement brought on the pain again, albeit briefly.
WebMD says that no one knows what causes migraines but there are known triggers. “Triggers are events, changes, acts, or other external or internal stimuli that make a migraine attack more likely. Some triggers will be easy for you to manage and avoid, while others may be beyond your control.”
It was their list of food triggers that I used in the headline. There are a lot more, believe me. The list includes aged cheeses, alcohol, caffeine; food made with nitrites like pepperoni, hot dogs and lunch meats; potato chips; chocolate; vegetables such as onions, pea pods, some beans, corn, and sauerkraut.
Besides food, other triggers include stress, menstrual periods, extreme fatigue, skipping meals, too much exercise or physical strain, loud sounds, strong smells, some medications, dehydration, smoking, and the weather. What? The weather?
Healthline reports that “The idea that changes in the weather could trigger a migraine attack isn’t new. People who get these headaches have long described to their doctors how certain weather conditions set off their headaches. However, the relationship has been difficult for researchers to confirm.
“A small 2014 study noted that thirteen percent of participants said their migraine symptoms were sensitive to weather changes. Yet the types of weather events that triggered their headaches didn’t follow any specific pattern. For example, some people got a migraine attack when the atmospheric pressure was high, while others were more affected by low atmospheric pressure.
“A larger 2015 study showed that the number of people admitted to emergency departments rose during times of high temperatures and low humidity. In general, people may notice that migraines get worse with a variety of weather changes including cold weather; warm weather; wind; rain and humidity. However, the results aren’t consistent.”
You’ll need to see your primary care provider to ascertain that you in fact have migraines. It’s helpful for diagnosis to keep a diary of what you were doing, eating, and what the weather was like when you had a migraine come on. Treatment can be as easy as avoiding chicken livers. And it’s good to know that there are many successful medications available.
Kathy Hubbard is a member of the Bonner General Health Foundation Advisory Council. She can be reached at kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com. This article was written for publication in the Bonner County Daily Bee on June 25, 2025.
