Migraine
Alternate Names : Headache - Migraine
Definition
Migraine headaches are a type of 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.
Some people who get migraines have warning symptoms, called an aura, before the actual headache begins. Most people, however, do not have such warning symptoms.
See also:
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Classic migraine (which have an aura consisting of visual disturbances before the headache starts)
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
A lot of people get migraines -- about 6 out of 100. The headaches tend to start between the ages of 10 and 46, may run in families, and occur in women more often than men.
Migraines are classified as either "common" or "classic". Common migraines do not have any warning symptoms, while classic migraines do have a warning (the aura). Most migraine patients have the common type.
The exact cause of migraine is not known. Migraine headaches are related to problems with blood flow through parts of the brain. At the start of a migraine, blood vessels in certain areas of the brain constrict (narrow), leading to symptoms like visual disturbances, difficulty speaking, weakness, or numbness. Minutes to hours later, the blood vessels dilate (enlarge), leading to increased blood flow in the brain and a bad headache.
Why these changes in the blood vessels (and blood flow) occur in the brain is not understood. Certain triggers, however, make it more likely for you to get migraines:
- Allergic reactions
- Bright lights, loud noises, and certain odors or perfumes
- Physical or emotional stress
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Smoking or exposure to smoke
- Skipping meals
- Alcohol or caffeine
- Hormonal fluctuations (related to menstrual cycles or use of birth control pills, for example)
- Tension headaches
- Certain foods like those containing the amino acid tyramine (red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, and some beans), chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, some fruits (avocado, banana, and citrus), monosodium glutamate (a food additive commonly called MSG), onions, dairy products, meats containg nitrates (like bacon, hot dogs, and salami), and fermented or pickled foods
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