Headache – migraine

Migraine is a type of headache and a recognised medical condition. Migraines can happen as rarely as once or twice a year, or as often as two or three times a week. The pain is severe and throbbing, and usually on one side of the head. An attack can last from four hours to three days and is linked to a spasm of the blood vessels leading to the brain.

Migraine affects about three times as many women (around 15 per cent) as men (around 5 per cent), and scientists believe that hormones play a large role. Young women are most at risk.

Symptoms#

A migraine headache has different symptoms from other types of headache. They can include:

• numbness of the face or extremities (hands and feet)
• nausea and vomiting
• sensitivity to light
• sensitivity to sound
• affected vision, such as an aura
• sensitivity to smell and touch

Causes and triggers#

No one really knows what causes migraine, but it may be an inherited condition. Attacks are almost certainly set off by a combination of factors, such as:

• diet – for example, cheese, chocolate, citrus fruits and alcohol (especially red wine)
• sleep – too little or too much
• the menstrual cycle
• physical and chemical factors – such as excessive heat, light or noise, or certain chemicals
• emotional factors – such as stress, excitement or fatigue
• relaxation after stress – so-called “weekend migraines”, often triggered by a period of overwork followed by relaxation

Hormones and migraine#

Migraines affect more women than men, and some researchers believe sex hormones play a key role. For around half of these women, migraine occurs in the few days before or after their menstrual period. Some studies suggest that a drop in the sex hormone estrogen around the time of menstruation may be to blame.

Treatment#

There is no cure for migraine and prevention is difficult, but treatment can help reduce the number of attacks. Migraines vary greatly from person to person, and so does the treatment. The main options are:

• avoiding trigger factors – this can be hard, since migraines are often set off by a combination of factors
• non-medication therapies – including acupuncture, hypnotherapy, exclusion diets, relaxation, yoga, meditation, and herbal or homeopathic remedies
• medication – including pain-relieving medication and medication to alter the pressure on blood vessels
• preventative treatment – medication taken daily to reduce the number of attacks

In the past, pethidine was used to treat migraine, but it is highly addictive and far more effective treatments are now available. Talk to your doctor or a neurologist about the best treatment for your migraines.

Key points#

• A migraine headache has different symptoms from other types of headache.
• Symptoms can include numbness of the face or extremities (hands and feet).
• No one really knows what causes migraine, but it may be an inherited condition.
• Migraines affect more women than men, and some researchers believe sex hormones play a key role.
• There is no cure and prevention is difficult, but treatment can help reduce the number of attacks.

Where to get help and trusted information#

For evidence-based global health guidance, see Source: World Health Organization (WHO).