What is a migraine?

A migraine is a complex disorder that involves episodes of recurrent and severe headaches. A migraine headache is usually on one side and may be associated with visual or sensory symptoms, collectively called aura. The aura may occur before, during or after a headache.
An episode of a migraine can be very painful, lasting for hours, making day-to-day activities difficult until the episode is resolved. Women are more likely to suffer from migraines than men.
What does a migraine feel like?
Migraines are not felt the same way by everyone. The usual symptoms of a migraine are:
- A severe, throbbing headache that increases with movement.
- Pain is usually limited to one side of the head, around the forehead and around the eyes. However, it can be felt anywhere around the head or neck.
- Pain builds up between one to two hours, progressively increasing and becoming more diffuse.
- A migraine headache can last for four hours to three days.
- Nausea occurs in 80% of the cases.
- Almost half of the people with a migraine complain of vomiting.
- Loss of appetite.
- Light-headedness.
- Sensitivity or discomfort to light and sound.
The typical features of a migraine aura are:
- Aura can occur before, during or after the onset of a headache.
- An aura can also occur independently, with no relation to the headache.
- An aura usually builds up over five to 20 minutes and lasts less than an hour.
- Most commonly, visual symptoms occur during the aura. The person may report seeing flashes of light, colorful or bright shapes, shimmering spots, or loss of vision.
- Hearing various kinds of sound.
- Difficulty talking.
- Weakness or numbness of the face or one side of the body.
What is the main cause of migraines?
The exact cause of migraines remains a mystery. However, several factors are associated with migraines. Some of the factors are:
- Migraines happen due to changes in the blood supply to the brain accompanied by inflammation, according to the neurovascular theory.
- Migraines may be due to changes in the level of a chemical in the brain called serotonin. Low levels of serotonin cause the vessels that supply blood to the brain to swell up. This leads to pain and other symptoms of a migraine.
- Genes also play a role in causing migraines. Around 70% of migraine patients report their parents, grandparents or siblings suffer from migraines.
- The higher occurrence of migraines in women suggests the role of hormones in causing migraines.
Other factors causing migraine events are:
- Stress
- Excessive or insufficient sleep
- Medications (e.g., contraceptives)
- Smoking
- Exposure to bright or fluorescent lighting
- Strong odors (e.g., perfumes, colognes, petroleum distillates)
- Head injury
- Weather changes
- Motion sickness
- Cold stimulus (e.g., ice cream headaches)
- Lack of exercise
- Fasting or skipping meals
- Red wine
- Certain foods and food additives (e.g., caffeine, artificial sweeteners, monosodium glutamate (MSG), citrus fruits, aged cheese, meats with nitrites)
Are migraines dangerous?
A migraine is a long-term condition that can interfere with day-to-day activities but is typically not otherwise dangerous to organs. However, some studies have shown that, although rare, migraines can cause strokes in people, especially in women. Patients are completely symptom-free between attacks. Patients with migraines have even reported being migraine-free for years.
The frequency and severity of migraine attacks tend to decline with age. Around one-third of migraine sufferers stop having migraine attacks after around 15 years.

QUESTION
Who suffers more frequently from migraine headaches? See AnswerHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
Top What Causes Migraines Related Articles
Celebrities With Migraines
See how celebrities cope with the pain caused by migraines. Learn their methods used to prevent and relieve migraine pain.Migraine Triggers
Do you have frequent headaches? Learn the most common headache triggers for tension headaches, sinus headaches, cluster headaches and migraine. They include red wine, skipping meals, and smoke. Find medical treatments that work, like diet, exercise, massage, and physical therapy.Migergot (ergotamine tartrate and caffeine)
Migergot (ergotamine tartrate and caffeine suppositories) is a combination of an alpha-blocker and a stimulant and vasoconstrictor indicated as therapy to abort or prevent vascular headache, e.g., migraine, migraine variants or so-called "histaminic cephalalgia."Migraine Headache
Migraine headache is a type of headache associated with a sensitivity to light, smells, or sounds, eye pain, severe pounding on one side of the head, and sometimes nausea and vomiting. The exact cause of migraine headaches is not known. Triggers for migraine headaches include certain foods, stress, hormonal changes, strong stimuli (loud noises), and oversleeping. Treatment guidelines for migraines include medicine, pain management, diet changes, avoiding foods that trigger migraines, staying hydrated, getting adequate sleep, and exercising regularly. Prevention of migraine triggers include getting regular exercise, drinking water daily, reducing stress, and avoiding trigger foods.Migraines and Seizures (Symptoms, Auras, Medication)
Migraines are a type of headache and seizures are the main symptom of epilepsy. Migraine headaches and seizures are two different neurological problems that have similar signs, symptoms, and auras, for example, sensitivity to light (photophobia) and sound, irritability, nausea, and vomiting.Symptoms unique to migraine and migraine auras are water retention, problems sleeping, appetite changes, and talkativeness. Symptoms unique to seizure and seizures auras are depression, a feeling of heaviness, a feeling that a seizure is approaching, and depression.
Many of the symptoms of migraine and seizures are the same, however, seizures do not cause migraines; however, people who have seizures are twice as likely to have migraines and vice-versa. People who have migraines are twice as likely to have seizures, and people with seizures are twice as likely to have migraines; however, one condition does not cause the other.
Migraine Hacks
A migraine can be more than just a whopping headache. Try these self-care tips for relief before and after it hits.Migraines Slideshow
What does a migraine headache feel like compared to a tension headache? Learn to spot migraine symptoms early, how to identify your triggers, and get more information on migraine headache medications and treatments. Learn to tell migraine from other types of headaches.Migraine vs. Headache: Differences and Similarities
Headaches are the most common reason why a person goes to the doctor or other healthcare professional for treatment. There are different types of headaches, for example, migraine, tension, and cluster headaches. The most common type of headache is tension headache. Migraine is much less common. There are few similarities between migraine and other headaches, for example, the severity of the pain can be the same, mild, moderate, or severe; and they can occur on one side or both sides of the head. However, there are many differences between migraine and other types of headaches. Migraine headaches also have different names, for example, migraine with aura and menstrual migraine.Symptoms of migraine that usually aren't experienced by a person with another type of headache include nausea, vomiting, worsens with mild exercise, debilitating pain, eye pain, throbbing head pain.
Migraine trigger include light, mild exercise, strong smells, certain foods like red wine, aged cheese, smoked meats, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, alcohol, and dairy products, menstrual period, stress, oversleeping, and changes in barometric pressure.
Untreated migraine attacks usually last from 4 to 72 hours, but may last for weeks. Most headaches resolve within 24-48 hours. Doctors don't know exactly what causes migraine headaches; however, other headaches like tension headaches have more specific triggers and causes. Additional tests usually are required to diagnose migraine from other types of headaches, diseases, or other medical problems. Most headaches can be treated and cured with home remedies like essential oils, massage, and over-the-counter pain medication like acetaminophen (Tylenol) and NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn) or ibuprofen (Advil, Midol, Motrin). Most headaches resolve with OTC and home remedy treatment, while your doctor may need to prescribe medication to treat your migraines. If you have the "worst headache of your life," seek medical care immediately.
Should I Go to the ER for a Migraine?
A migraine is a severe throbbing and pulsating headache that causes pain on one side of the head. A patient should visit an emergency department if they have a severe headache with or without nausea and vomiting.Types of Migraine Headache Medications
Migraine medications are for treating migraine headaches and associated symptoms. Migraine medications do not cure migraines, but relieve migraine pain and reduce the frequency and intensity of the migraines. Some migraine pain relief medications are available over the counter, but most are prescription medicines.What Is the Best Cure for Migraine?
The best cure for migraine involves preventive medications and lifestyle changes. Some newer medications and therapies are effective in controlling the symptoms of migraine. Avoiding or controlling triggers may provide considerable benefit. Migraine can be prevented mainly by using medications, avoiding triggers and implementing lifestyle changes.What Is the Best Thing to Do for a Migraine?
There is no permanent cure for migraine headaches, but there are migraine treatments that can prevent attacks and relieve symptoms. When you get migraines, you can ease the pain immediately by simple measures such as resting with your eyes closed in a dark, quiet room, putting an ice pack on your forehead, and staying hydrated by drinking plenty of liquids.Why Is Aspartame Bad?
According to research, adverse effects of aspartame only occur at very high concentrations not generally achieved by daily consumption. Consuming large amounts of aspartame is bad because it may cause headaches, weight gain, diabetes, phenylketonuria, heart disease, dementia and other health effects.