Now-a-days, we hear about migraines quite frequently, and the main reason behind it is our lifestyle. For instance, increased stress levels, unhealthy food habits, etc can lead to this health condition. Different people might experience migraines of different intensities, and sometimes managing this pain can be quite difficult. It might severely affect their day to day activities, and sometimes they might feel like just lying down with eyes closed. During such instances, these people might wonder how long do migraines last & how to manage it. Managing migraines can be extremely difficult, and the remedies might vary from one person to another. In addition to that, the duration of the migraine attacks can also vary from one patient to another. So, the best thing that you can do is to analyze your case properly to understand the triggers that are leading to the migraine attacks. Thereafter, you need to carefully avoid those triggers. Also, find out what gives you comfort during instances of migraine attack. Then, try to specifically do these things. These include staying in a dark place, avoiding loud noises, taking a bath, drinking hot fluids, etc.
Check out what migraine actually is…
Before finding out how long do migraines last & how to manage it, a clear knowledge regarding this health issue is indeed necessary. So, let’s take a look at what migraine is.
- Migraine can be considered as a medical condition that leads to recurring headaches that can be quite severe. This condition is characterized by a pain which is throbbing or pulsating in nature.
- Along with this intense headache, the migraine patients might also observe several other symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, as well as light and sound aversion.
- The migraine headaches are often referred to as migraine episodes because they usually occur in stages. Mild cases can be managed very easily, and might not interfere with the person’s ability to carry out the different daily tasks.
- On the other hand, severe cases of migraine might be quite difficult to manage, and sometimes it might seem as if none of the remedies are working. Such intense migraine attacks can significantly affect your daily life. They might even affect your ability to focus on your job or studies.
- As we have already mentioned, when it comes to migraine episodes, you will be able to observe a lot of variations. In other words, the migraine attack that you are experiencing might be way different from the one somebody else is experiencing.
- This variation is also applicable in the case of the severity, symptoms, frequency, as well as triggers. This is the reason why the management and precautions also vary from one patient to another.
Keep reading to know how long do migraines last..
The vital details regarding this medical condition have been discussed in the previous section. Now, it is time to take a look at its duration.
- Though migraine attacks are quite common now-a-days, a lot of people might not know the fact that this attack can be divided into four phases. Each phase is characterized by a certain set of unique features. These phases are listed below for the convenience of the readers.
- Prodrome
- Aura
- Headache
- Postdrome
- But, at the same time, it should be kept in mind that some people might not experience every phase of the migraine attack. Every person faces different kinds of migraine attacks, and the phases might show varied levels of prominence in each of them.
- Several reports suggest that the headache portion of a migraine episode can last from 4 hours to about three days. Thus, some people might experience a relief from the throbbing headache after a few hours. But unfortunately, others might have to wait for 2-3 days to get rid of this intense pain.
- In the case of the people who experience each and every phase of the migraine episode, the migraine attack can last anywhere from 1-2 days to more than a week. During this time period, the patient will go through every phase of the attack, one by one.
- A migraine attack lasting for more than a week is quite uncommon. Such attacks are observed in the case of the patients who experience extreme levels of migraine episodes which are accompanied by severe, throbbing headaches.
- Several studies indicate that in the majority of the patients suffering from Migraine, the episodes or attacks typically last for one or two days. This is an average data, and for some people the duration of the migraine attacks can be longer than this.
See how to manage a migraine attack
Now that we know how long do migraines last, let’s take a look at its management.
- Managing migraine attacks is not that easy, and sometimes no matter what you do, the headache will not go away. During such instances, you should take some rest in a quiet, dark room. If possible, you should try to relax and get some sleep.
- In case you are vomiting frequently, you must take some fluids to remain hydrated. You can try taking some water, or fresh juices.
- You should stay away from cigarettes, coffee, caffeinated drinks, as well as alcoholic beverages. These substances might aggravate the attack further.
- You can try placing a cool cloth on your head to get some relief from the throbbing pain.
- You can also take some over-the-counter pain medications to deal with the pulsating headaches. Some of these medicines include aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, etc.
Conclusion
We have discussed how long do migraines last & how to manage it. To avoid migraine attacks, you should practice some methods of stress management. A lot of patients have experienced immense relief with the help of relaxation exercises, as well as meditation. You should also try to get regular and uninterrupted sleep. Identifying your triggers is also very important, as it will help you to consciously avoid the migraine attacks to a great extent. There are a lot of foods that induce migraines, and avoiding them will benefit you a lot.