Migraines lasting over 72 hours, known as status migraines, carry a higher risk of complications such as stroke. Treatments are available, including early medication and supportive care. Long-term care requires consistent follow-ups with a neurologist to evaluate the patient’s general level of health and neurological function.
Status migraine is a migraine lasting more than 72 hours. In addition to being extremely unpleasant for patients, these migraines carry a higher risk of complications. Treatments are available, including medications designed to be taken in the first hour to break the headache, as well as supportive care to keep the patient comfortable for the duration of the headache if it cannot be stopped. Patients who have experienced a migraine of this nature are usually referred to a neurologist for treatment if they are not already seeing a neurologist.
In a migraine, patients experience high-intensity pain, usually isolated to a specific region of the brain, though not always. The pain may be throbbing in nature and patients often experience sensitivity to light and/or sound, along with symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Migraine is viewed by the medical community as a manifestation of ongoing neurological problems and can be managed with medications and other therapies.
Migraine usually lasts less than 72 hours. When they exceed this duration, they are considered state migraines. One of the major dangers with the migraine state is that it increases the patient’s risk of stroke. Migraine is associated with dilation of blood vessels and if this persists over a long period of time, it can lead to ruptures and hemorrhagic stroke. In addition, patients with migraine status often develop dehydration due to vomiting and lack of interest in food and drink. This can create further complications for the patient.
If a migraine is identified early, medications may be given to prevent the headache from occurring. Patients with an already well-established headache may receive treatments such as intravenous fluids to address dehydration along with pain relief. The patient is also closely monitored for signs of a stroke. When the migraine state breaks down, further clinical evaluations may be recommended to learn more about why the patient developed the migraine state.
Migraine treatments can themselves contribute to migraines in some cases, as some medications can lead to headaches when taken long-term. It is important to adjust a treatment regimen regularly to reduce the risks of developing drug tolerance and other problems. If a patient is no longer responding to treatment, changes can be made to provide the patient with access to new medications for migraine management and prevention. Long-term care requires consistent follow-ups with a neurologist to evaluate the patient’s general level of health and neurological function.
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