What is Migraine?

Migraine

It is more than just a bad headache. In fact, it is a debilitating condition that causes severe headache, visual disturbances and sometimes nausea and vomiting.

What causes it?

The exact cause of migraine is not fully understood, but it is believed to be related to changes in the trigeminal nerve system (a major pain pathway in the brain) and an imbalance of brain chemical, such as serotonin. Triggers include:

• Hormones - women tend to suffer more around the time of their menstruation, or during pregnancy
• Food, such as alcohol, cheese and chocolate
• Stress
• Insufficient or too much sleep

Who are at risk?

Women are three times more likely to suffer from migraine than men. 80% of people with migraine have a family member who is also affected. If one parent has migraine, their children have a 50% chance of having it too.

What are the signs and symptoms?

• Severe headache - throbbing or pulsating - may affect one or both sides of the head
• Headache gets worse with any active movement
• There may be nausea and vomiting
• Sufferer becomes very sensitive to light or sound
• Symptoms can last from several hours to several days, and varies in frequency
• Sufferers may get an 'aura' just before an attack, such as seeing flashing lights, zigzag lines or a spreading blind spot in their vision
• May also experience tingling or weakness in one arm or leg and speech problems
• May feel more energetic or elated, or become depressed, or have food cravings in the hours or days before an attack

How is it diagnosed?

Migraine can usually be diagnosed by the patient's list of symptoms and a medical examination. If further tests such as brain scans are needed, they are often to exclude other causes of headache.

What are the treatments?

For pain relief, strong painkillers such as ibuprofen can be useful. If these are not good enough, a group of drugs called triptans, designed specifically for migraine, work very well. Medicine may also be necessary for nausea. It is not fully understood, but some heart medicines seem to be able to prevent migraine. These include beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers. Anti-depressants and anti-epilepsy drugs are also useful.