KARACHI, Sept 1: Neurologists on Thursday stressed for creating public awareness about migraine, its proper diagnosis and management or referral of migraine patients to neurologists.

They said some food contents like cheese and chocolate, delay in meals, chronic fatigue, emotional stress, hormonal fluctuations, seasonal or altitude changes in weather, red wine, beer, flickering lights, loud noises, odours, chemicals and cigarette smoke should be avoided as they might trigger migraine.

Head of the Department of Neurology, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Dr Shaukat Ali said 9.2 per cent females and 4.2 per cent males belonging to Asia suffered from migraine as compared to 16.2 per cent females and 7.2 per cent males in Africans, and 20.4pc females and 8.6 per cent males in Caucasians.

He was giving a presentation on “Diagnosis, Symptoms and Complication of Migraine” at a seminar on “Migraine: More than a bad headache” organized by the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) at its library.

There are several types of migraine including migraine with aura and without aura, ophthalmologic migraine, retinal migraine, childhood periodic syndromes, etc.

Diagnostic criteria for migraine should include some indications as five or more lifetime attacks last for four to 72 hours with symptom-free intervals; two or more time one-sided throbbing pain, from moderate to severe that goes worse on routine activities; one or more non-headache features like aura, nausea, photophobia or phono-phobia, he added.

“Hyperactivity, exaggerated well-being, excitement, hunger, craving for sweets, tea, coffee, thirst, increased libido, depression, unexplained mood change and excessive yawning may be initial symptoms of migraine attack with accompanying symptoms like vascular and temperature changes, GIT symptoms, sodium and fluid retention, oliguria and diuresis, autonomic symptoms and mood disturbances,” he told.

“Motion sickness, essential hypertension, mitral valve prolapse (MVP), prosthetic cardiac valve, hyperlipidaemia, haemodialysis headache, epilepsy, intracranial hypertension, thrombocytopenia could be associated disorders of migraine. Migraine is a common problem the world over, which affects the whole functioning of the body,” he maintained.

He said fatty foods and milk products should be avoided and one should stick to normal daily diet for prevention of migraine.

Dr Mughis Sheerani, Assistant Professor, Aga Khan University Hospital speaking on “Migraine Management: Insight into new treatment options” said headache was not all in the head and allergies did not frequently cause headache.

“Most headaches are not due to sinus problems and most sufferers do not have TMJ syndrome, while more headache medication is not better treatment,” he suggested.

For evaluation of headache, he said the patients’ history containing disease onset, intensity, frequency, seasonal variation, progression or relief, triggering or aggravating, family history, neurological symptoms, sleep pattern, emotional profile and physical examination were very important.

Dr Sheerani said any type of headache should not be ignored and a physician should be consulted accordingly for proper diagnosis and management of the disease.

The Medical Superintendent of the city government’s Homeopathic Hospital, Nazimabad, Dr Rasheed Viyani, Tabiba Amna Khalil and Tabiba Farhana Shafiq from Department of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard University explained the available treatment methods of migraine in eastern and homeopathic methods.

Earlier, the Director PPF, Samina Ishaq, delivered the welcome address.

The seminar was followed by a question-and-answer session.—PPI