Migraines

The pain of a migraine headache is often described as an intense pulsing or
throbbing pain in one area of the head. It is often accompanied by extreme
sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and vomiting. Migraine is three times
more common in women than in men. Some individuals can predict the onset of a
migraine because it is preceded by an “aura,” visual disturbances that appear as
flashing lights, zig-zag lines or a temporary loss of vision. People with
migraine tend to have recurring attacks triggered by a lack of food or sleep,
exposure to light, or hormonal irregularities (only in women). Anxiety, stress,
or relaxation after stress can also be triggers. For many years, scientists
believed that migraines were linked to the dilation and constriction of blood
vessels in the head. Investigators now believe that migraine is caused by
inherited abnormalities in genes that control the activities of certain cell
populations in the brain.

Is there any
treatment?

What is the
prognosis?

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What research is being
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Organizations

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Prepared by:
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
National
Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes
of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892

NINDS health-related material is provided for information
purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or an official
position of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or any
other Federal agency. Advice on the treatment or care of an individual patient
should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that
patient or is familiar with that patient’s medical history.