More than a bad headache – raising awareness of migraine
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 5th September 2021
Migraine Awareness Week runs every year in September, to raise the profile of this complex, much-misunderstood neurological condition. It is estimated that there are over 19,000 migraine attacks in the UK every day, with a higher prevalence among women.[i] Anyone who suffers from migraine, or knows someone who does, will realise that it is far more than “just” a headache. It impacts on quality of life and can lead to anxiety and depression. Patients with chronic migraine are also prone to medication overuse, due to their attempts to manage the pain.[ii] The symptoms of migraine are physically debilitating, often leaving an individual unable to perform their daily routines.
Migraine is characterised by a variety of clinical symptoms, not just a throbbing, pulsating pain, typically on one side of the head. Vision can be disturbed, or the individual might become photo or phonophobic, or sensitive to certain smells. They may also experience nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. A migraine can last from several hours to even days and there are a variety of triggers, including stress and, for women, being at a certain point of their menstrual cycle. Even for a regular sufferer, each attack can differ from the last.
A question of genes?
Genetics are a component of susceptibility to migraine, particularly migraine with aura, which come with a warning sign that one is about to start (the sufferer may see flashing lights, for example). Migraine without aura happen spontaneously and are more common.[iii]
The link between a gene mutation and migraine was made over 10 years ago; research into the association between genetics and migraine is ongoing.[iv] In 2020, a study concluded that, although the genetic load was higher in migraine with aura, also hemiplegic migraine, the “genetic architecture of migraine with aura and migraine without aura is more similar than dissimilar”.[v] Hemiplegic migraine is a rare but frightening occurance, with symptoms that are similar to stroke.[vi],[vii]
Anecdotally, people who experience migraine tend to report how a parent or other close relative also does, or did. The general advice passed down for coping with an attack hasn’t changed much over the years: once migraine has started, take painkillers and lay down in a darkened room until you feel better. But we are learning more about migraine all the time and, although there is no cure, there are more treatments available, which tend to be trial and error. Acute medication will provide pain relief, but regular sufferers may consider preventive options, including alternative therapies such as acupuncture.[viii]
The important thing is that migraine is diagnosed, to distinguish it from cluster/tension headache and to rule out a serious, underlying problem or other alternatives. It is also crucial that the impact migraine has on a patient’s life, and the lives of those around them, is validated by medical and healthcare professionals. This will encourage that individual to explore all treatments available to control their symptoms. Keeping a diary is recommended as a way to identify triggers and patterns and this can help with diagnosis too. A diary is also a good way to check adherence to the habits that support a healthy lifestyle, which may also help people cope with migraine better and mitigate stress – daily exercise, good sleep hygiene, drinking plenty of water, limiting caffeine and alcohol, also eating well and avoiding tobacco.
The dental relationship
Orofacial pain can be caused by migraine, or there might be another source, including a dental problem, such as misaligned teeth and bruxism. Oral disease can also present with “referred” pain, including a throbbing headache. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and headache often occur together; if an individual with a TMD also experiences migraine, a TMD can make attacks both more frequent and more painful. A patient with a history of migraine should visit their dental practice regularly, also keep their dentist informed of their condition; a dental team that understands the relationship between oral and systemic health means better outcomes. At Ten Dental, patients trust the experienced, multi award-winning dentists and specialists with their ongoing care, whether their needs are general or complex. From diagnosing the source of chronic pain, to supporting management plans for non-dental conditions, all solutions will be explored to return that person to health.
The correct diagnosis for migraine is crucial. Not only to enable management and improve quality of life, but to reassure an individual that there is nothing more serious going on. When someone suffers from regular migraine the impact can be emotional, mental and physical. Understanding is increasing and new treatments options are emerging all the time – not all of which are medical. Although migraine does have a tendency to become less severe over time, people must be empowered to seek help promptly for this debilitating condition, and find the unique combination of therapies and treatments that works for them.
For more information visit www.tendental.com, email referrals@tendental.com or call on 020 8675 1798
Author: DR MARTIN WANENDEYA
BDS (U Brist) DipImpDent RCS (Eng) (Adv. Cert) (GDC: 70626)
Implant Surgeon
[i] Brain Research UK. Neurological conditions, migraine. Link: https://www.brainresearchuk.org.uk/neurological-conditions/migraine (accessed June 2021).
[ii] British Association for the Study of Headaches. National Headache Management System for Adults. Link: https://www.bash.org.uk/downloads/guidelines2019/01_BASHNationalHeadache_Management_SystemforAdults_2019_guideline_versi.pdf (accessed June 2021).
[iii] Migraine without aura. The Migraine Trust. Link: https://www.migrainetrust.org/about-migraine/types-of-migraine/migraine-without-aura/ (accessed June 2021).
[iv] The Migraine Trust. The roles of genes in migraine. Link: https://www.migrainetrust.org/about-migraine/migraine-what-is-it/genetics/ (accessed June 2021).
[v] de Boer, I., Terwindt, G.M. & van den Maagdenberg, A.M.J.M. Genetics of migraine aura: an update. J Headache Pain 21, 64 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-020-01125-2.
[vi] J Headache Pain 21, 64 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-020-01125-2.
[vii] Hemiplegic migraine. The Migraine Trust. Link: https://www.migrainetrust.org/about-migraine/types-of-migraine/hemiplegic-migraine/ (accessed June 2021).
[viii] National Headache Management System for Adults.
