Migraine
Migraines are chronic headaches that can cause significant pain for hours or even days. Some migraines are preceded or accompanied by sensory warning symptoms or signs (auras), such as flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in your arm or leg.
A migraine is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. The pain of migraine occurs when excited brain cells trigger the trigeminal nerve to release chemicals that irritate and cause swelling of blood vessels on the surface of the brain. These swollen blood vessels send pain signals to the brainstem, an area of the brain that processes pain information. The pain of migraine is a referred pain that is typically felt around the eye or temple area. Pain can also occur in the face, sinus, jaw or neck area.
What are the symptoms of migraine headaches?
Migraine characteristics can include:
- Pain typically on one side of the head
- Pain has a pulsating or throbbing quality
- Moderate to intense pain affecting daily activities
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Attacks last four to 72 hours, sometimes longer
- Visual disturbances or aura
- Pain worsens with physical activity
Causes of migraine headaches
Although the exact causes of migraine headaches are not yet fully understood, it is believed that they result from a combination of genetics and environmental factors. Having a family history of migraine headaches will significantly increase the likelihood of a person suffering from this condition. It is believed that a number of factors can act as triggers of migraine.
These factors include ingestion of particular foods and beverages, such as wine, beer, cheese and chocolate; hormonal changes in women, stress, sensory stimuli such as bright lights and loud sounds, changes in sleep patterns, changes in weather and particular medications.