What is a migraine?

A migraine is a biological disorder of the brain that causes recurring moderate to severe headaches. The pain usually occurs on one side of the head. It is typically a throbbing pain.

Stress, hormones, bright lights, fatigue, and food can all be triggers for reoccurring migraine. More than 10 percent of the world’s population experiences migraine, with women being three times as likely to have migraines. While it is more common in women, it can affect anyone.

What are the symptoms of migraine?

Symptoms vary greatly among people with migraine, but can include:

• Moderate to severe headache that lasts 4 to 72 hours, if untreated
• Throbbing pain, often on one side of the head
• Increased pain after exercise or movement
• Sensitivity to bright light, sound, and/or odors
• Nausea and/or vomiting with the headache

What is a migraine aura?

Roughly one-third of affected individuals can predict the onset of a migraine because it is preceded by a sensory disturbance called an "aura.” The American Migraine Foundation outlines three ways that an aura may manifest:

• Vision Disturbances: Seeing spots, flashes, zig zags, stars, or even losing sight for short periods of time.
• Sensory Changes: Feeling tingling or numbness in the face, body, hands and fingers.
• Speech or Language Problems: Unable to produce the right words, slurring, or mumbling words.

What do migraine auras look like?

Although the symptoms of aura can be varied, visual effects can often include patterned lights, spots, or zig zags. Experiencing them for the first time can be scary. While not all migraines include aura, experiencing an aura can be a warning sign that a migraine is about to happen. 

What is chronic migraine?

When migraine attacks become increasingly frequent, and the headaches occur on a daily or near-daily basis, they are referred to as chronic or transformed migraine. Patients are considered to have chronic migraine when they experience 15 headache days a month for at least three months.  Chronic migraine affects approximately 1.5 to 2 percent of the population and has a more profound impact on quality of life than episodic migraine.

How is migraine treated?

Migraine is treatable with proper medical care and self-management that:

• Identifies and controls triggers that start a migraine
• Uses medications to treat migraine attacks acutely
• Uses medications and other treatments to help prevent attacks
• Encourages healthy behavior and lifestyle changes

Knowing and avoiding migraine triggers can help reduce the impact migraine has on a patient’s life. Triggers vary from person to person, and some triggers are avoidable, but many are not. Triggers can include:

• Diet: Missed meals, alcohol, foods with monosodium glutamate (MSG), too much caffeine or withdrawal from caffeine, and preserved meats with nitrates and nitrites
• Sleep: Too much or too little sleep
• Stress: Stress and release from stress
• Hormones: Changes during the menstrual cycle
• Environmental factors: Weather changes, bright or glaring lights, strong odors, and high altitude

Articles on Migraine from Brain & Life

Should I be concerned about ocular migraines?
Your questions, answered by neurologists.

Botox & Migraine: 6 Myths Busted
Despite the evidence, Botox is still misunderstood by many people who experience migraines. Here are some common misconceptions heard from patients and how one neurologist addresses them.

Non-Pharmaceutical Approaches to Treating Migraine
What's the evidence for complementary therapies, such as supplements and mind-body therapies?

How Bellamy Young of ‘Scandal’ Found Migraine Relief
For years, untreated migraines threatened the actress' career and well-being. She hopes that by sharing her story she can spare others a similar fate.

Pictures of You: Migraine Mystery
After three scary episodes of slurred speech and vision problems, Claire Cook, 22, was diagnosed with a rare type of migraine.

Tuning Out Pain
Chronic pain doesn't go away, but treating it wisely and learning to live with it can alter its intensity.

Troy Aikman Tackles Migraine
During the 1990s Troy Aikman was a record-setting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, leading "America's Team" to 90 regular-season victories. He built this Hall-of-Fame career while suffering from migraine.

How to Manage Weather-Related Migraines
Many people with migraines say that weather changes trigger headaches—especially extreme heat.

Migraine Resources from Brain & Life

Migraine: The Basics
A quick-hit guide to the basic facts about epilepsy symptoms and treatments in a printer-friendly format.

Navigating Life with Migraine and Other Headaches
A practical book for both patients and their families and caregivers about living with epilepsy.