Migraines
What is Migraines?
Migraines are severe headaches that cause intense throbbing or pulsing pain. They usually affect one side of your head. The pain can last anywhere from 4 hours to 3 days if left untreated.
Migraines are different from regular tension headaches. They often come with other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Some people experience warning signs called auras before the headache starts. Auras can include visual disturbances like flashing lights or blind spots.
Migraines affect more than 39 million people in the United States. Women are 3 times more likely to get migraines than men. While the exact cause is not fully understood, migraines involve changes in brain chemistry and blood flow. Identifying and avoiding your specific triggers can help reduce how often attacks happen.
Symptoms
- Intense throbbing or pulsing pain on one or both sides of your head
- Pain that gets worse with physical activity or movement
- Nausea and vomiting
- Extreme sensitivity to light, sound, and sometimes smells
- Visual disturbances like flashing lights, zigzag lines, or temporary vision loss
- Tingling or numbness in your face or hands
- Difficulty speaking or finding words
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Fatigue and difficulty concentrating
Not everyone experiences aura symptoms before a migraine. Some people have migraines without any warning signs. Symptoms can vary from person to person and even from one attack to another.
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Causes and risk factors
Migraines happen when nerve pathways and brain chemicals become imbalanced. Specific triggers vary widely between individuals. Common triggers include hormonal changes, especially in women during menstruation or menopause. Certain foods and drinks like aged cheeses, processed meats, alcohol, and caffeine can trigger attacks. Food sensitivities or intolerances may also play a role in some people.
Other risk factors include stress, changes in sleep patterns, bright lights, strong smells, and weather changes. Nutritional deficiencies in vitamins and minerals may contribute to migraine frequency. Genetics play a significant role, as migraines tend to run in families. About 80% of people with migraines have a family history of the condition. Skipping meals, dehydration, and certain medications can also trigger migraines in susceptible people.
How it's diagnosed
Migraines are typically diagnosed based on your medical history and symptoms. Your doctor will ask about the pattern of your headaches, their frequency, and what makes them better or worse. They may perform a neurological exam to check your vision, coordination, reflexes, and sensation.
Blood tests can help identify potential triggers and underlying factors that may contribute to migraines. Testing for nutritional deficiencies and food sensitivities may reveal important clues. While specialized migraine testing is not part of our current panel, talking to our doctor about your symptoms can help you understand what tests might be helpful. Some people benefit from keeping a headache diary to track patterns and triggers.
Treatment options
- Identify and avoid your specific triggers through a food and symptom diary
- Maintain regular sleep schedules and get 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep each night
- Stay hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily
- Practice stress management techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing
- Exercise regularly with moderate activities like walking or swimming
- Consider supplementation with magnesium, riboflavin, or coenzyme Q10 under medical guidance
- Eliminate potential food triggers identified through testing or elimination diets
- Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen for mild attacks
- Prescription medications including triptans for acute migraine relief
- Preventive medications like beta-blockers or anti-seizure drugs for frequent migraines
- CGRP inhibitors, a newer class of preventive medications
- Botox injections for chronic migraines affecting 15 or more days per month
Frequently asked questions
Migraines are more severe than typical tension headaches and cause throbbing pain usually on one side of your head. They often come with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Regular headaches cause milder, steady pressure on both sides of your head without these additional symptoms. Migraines can last 4 hours to 3 days, while tension headaches typically resolve more quickly.
Yes, certain blood tests can provide valuable information about potential migraine triggers. Testing for food-specific IgG antibodies can reveal sensitivities to foods like beets or lima beans that may trigger attacks. Nutritional testing can identify deficiencies in coenzyme Q10 or vitamin B2, both linked to migraine frequency. Working with a doctor to interpret these results can help you develop a personalized prevention plan.
Migraine frequency varies widely from person to person. Some people experience migraines once or twice a year, while others have several attacks per month. Chronic migraines are defined as headaches occurring 15 or more days per month for at least 3 months. Tracking your migraines can help you and your doctor identify patterns and determine the best treatment approach.
Yes, migraines have a strong genetic component. About 80% of people with migraines have a family history of the condition. If one parent has migraines, their child has a 40% chance of developing them. If both parents have migraines, the risk increases to 90%. However, genetics alone do not determine whether you will get migraines, as environmental and lifestyle factors also play important roles.
Common food triggers include aged cheeses, processed meats containing nitrates, alcohol especially red wine, and foods with MSG. Caffeine can trigger migraines in some people but help others. Chocolate, artificial sweeteners, and fermented foods may also cause problems. Food sensitivities vary by individual, so keeping a food diary and considering IgG testing can help identify your specific triggers.
Research suggests that deficiencies in certain nutrients may contribute to migraine frequency and severity. Low levels of coenzyme Q10, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), and magnesium have been linked to migraines in some studies. Supplementing these nutrients under medical supervision may help reduce migraine attacks. Blood testing can identify deficiencies and guide appropriate supplementation strategies.
See a doctor if you experience sudden, severe headaches that feel different from your usual pattern. Seek immediate care if headaches come with fever, stiff neck, confusion, vision loss, or difficulty speaking. You should also consult a doctor if migraines occur more than 4 times per month or if over-the-counter medications are not helping. A healthcare provider can prescribe stronger medications and help identify triggers.
Auras are warning signs that occur before or during a migraine attack. They typically involve visual disturbances like flashing lights, zigzag lines, or temporary blind spots. Some people experience tingling sensations or difficulty speaking. About 25% to 30% of people with migraines experience auras. Auras usually develop gradually over 5 to 20 minutes and last less than an hour.
Yes, stress is one of the most common migraine triggers reported by patients. Regular stress management practices can significantly reduce migraine frequency and severity. Techniques like meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and biofeedback have shown effectiveness in clinical studies. Combining stress reduction with other lifestyle changes like regular sleep and exercise provides the best results for many people.
People with migraines, especially migraines with aura, have a slightly higher risk of stroke and certain heart conditions. However, the absolute risk remains low for most people. Managing cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure, smoking, and obesity becomes even more important for migraine sufferers. Regular check-ups and following preventive health guidelines can help minimize these risks.