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Migraine
Definition:
A migraine is a type of primary headache that some people get repeatedly over time. Migraines are different from other headaches because they occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. In most people, a throbbing pain is felt only on one side of the head. Migraines are classified as either "with aura" or "without aura." An aura is a group of neurological symptoms, usually vision disturbances, that serve as warning sign. Patients who get auras typically see a flash of brightly colored or blinking lights shortly before the headache pain begins. However, most people with migraines do not such warning signs. See also: Text Continues Below
Alternative Names:
Headache - migraine Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
A lot of people get migraines -- about 11 out of 100. The headaches tend to start between the ages of 10 and 46 and may run in families. Migraines occur more often in women than men. Pregnancy may reduce the number of migraines attacks. At least 60 percent of women with a history of migraines have fewer such headaches during the last two trimesters of pregnancy. Until the 1980s, scientists believed that migraines were due to changes in blood vessels within the brain. Today, most believe the attack actually begins in the brain itself, and involves various nerve pathways and chemicals inthe brain. A migraine attack can be triggered by stress, food, environmental changes, or some other factor. However, the exact chain of events remains unclear.
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