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Migraine

What is Migraine?

A migraine is a type of headache that usually happens in episodes or "attacks". Attacks may last anywhere from four hours to as long as 72 hours. Long considered "just another type of headache", migraine is now recognized as a distinct neurologic disorder.

The pain of a migraine headache is generally moderate to severe and can disrupt normal activities. It may feel like it is throbbing or pulsating and may be located on one side of the head. The pain may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light or sound.

Migraine is more common in women than men and is thought to affect nearly 18.6% of women and 6.5% of men. Studies have shown that up to 59% of women and 70% of men with migraine have never been diagnosed by a health care professional. Many people have pain and other symptoms so severe that they only want to lie down in a dark room and go to sleep. This, obviously, is very disruptive to their lives. However, migraine can be treated with medication. Today, there are a number of drugs available to either help prevent migraines or treat them after they begin.

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