The Effects of Constant Migraines

A migraine occurs when the blood vessels in the head expand and the surrounding tissues of the brain inflame. A migraine is not just characterized by a bad headache; there are many other symptoms, including nausea, auras, numbness and sensitivity to both light and sound. As painful and disconcerting as a migraine can be, if you suffer from constant migraines, there are some long-term effects you should be aware of.

Deterioration of Personal and Professional Relationships

• Since the onset of a migraine can bring multiple symptoms, it can cause problems with those around you. If you suffer from migraines, you may be running to the restroom a lot due to nausea and vomiting. You may need to wear sunglasses to bear the light sensitivity. You may also have trouble speaking when you experience a migraine, causing slurred or incomprehensible speech. This can cause those in your life to suspect other problems such as drugs, alcohol or depression. They also cause missed work, which can lead to trouble with your employer. Unfortunately, those who do not suffer from migraines often think that the symptoms are self-induced and occur because you cannot bear the world around you, when in fact the symptoms are caused by a physical condition.

Microscopic Brain Damage

• An article published by Psychiatric News in 2009 suggests that if you suffer from long-term migraines accompanied by auras, you are more susceptible to minor damage to the brain such as lesions. Auras are flashes of light or blurred vision that occur usually an hour or so before a migraine begins and only affect 33 percent of migraine suffers, with the majority of those being women. It is unclear if the brain lesions have any long-term impact on quality of life or if they cause any cognitive disturbances; however, further research is being done.

Migrainous Stroke

• A stroke occurs when there is a change in blood flow to the brain. It is sudden onset and causes a loss of speech, vision and function on one side of the body. According to the Migraine Awareness Group, more people died of migraine-induced strokes in 2003 than those slain with handguns. Although strokes can occur for many other reasons, if you suffer from migraines, with or without auras, you are at an increased risk of stroke.