Migraines and Stress: A Virtual Journey

Take a deep-dive look at what happens to your brain and body during a migraine with this virtual journey video.

Transcript

00:00

NARRATOR: After a long stressful day, you find yourself feeling tired, moody. Something feels off, but you know exactly what this is.

00:10

[MUSIC PLAYING] Another migraine is barreling towards you like a freight train.

00:17

And for millions of people around the world, these recurring and painful headaches can be severe enough to disrupt everyday life.

00:24

The brain is capable of generating trillions of electrical messages every second, but stress, both daily and from major life events,

00:33

can be so harmful that it wreaks havoc not only on the mind but the body. Those seemingly innocent moments of everyday stress

00:42

caused the body to flood itself with hormones. The heart pounds faster, blood pressure rises, lungs breathe quicker, and muscles tighten,

00:52

and we're essentially revving up for no reason. Stress is the most common trigger for people with migraines and has the power

01:00

to initiate, worsen, and increase the frequency of attacks. During the first phase of a migraine, called the prodrome,

01:08

brain activity becomes abnormal and erratic. Like a warning sign of an oncoming attack, migraine sufferers commonly experience the prodrome

01:17

as neck stiffness, mood changes, and fatigue. As the prodrome loosens its grip, a rolling wave-like blackout may sweep across the surface

01:26

of the brain as an aura. Along with tingling and numbness in parts of the body, those experiencing an aura may see visual disturbances,

01:35

like flashing lights, zigzag lines, or blind spots in their field of vision. Less than an hour later, chemicals in the brain

01:44

turn the aura into a migraine attack. Just the stress and thought of suffering through a throbbing

01:50

headache, along with other symptoms, like dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound, can worsen and intensify a migraine.

01:59

After the attack, the brain is in such dire need of recovery that it undergoes the last hibernation-like phase

02:06

of a migraine called the postdrome. For some, the postdrome may be as disabling as the migraine attack itself, leaving the person

02:14

in a worn-out hangover-like state of achiness and weakness for hours or days.

02:21

It's hard to predict when a migraine will strike again, but with doctor-recommended treatment, smart lifestyle

02:27

choices, strong social support, and stress-reduction strategies, like relaxation techniques, biofeedback,

02:34

and cognitive behavioral therapy, you can be better prepared when it does.