Migraine is one of the most common conditions in the world, but it is often misunderstood. Many people use the word migraine to mean any bad headache. That is not quite right. Migraine is a specific neurological condition, and it is more than just pain. This article explains what makes migraine different.
Migraine is not just a headache
A headache is a symptom. Migraine is a condition. It includes the headache, but also a whole set of other things going on in the brain and body. These can come before, during, and after the pain. For some people, the headache is not even the worst part.
What a migraine attack usually looks like
A migraine attack often has up to four stages, although not everyone experiences all of them:
- The early warning stage (prodrome). This can happen hours or even a day or two before the pain. People often notice yawning, food cravings, mood changes, a stiff neck, or unusual tiredness.
- The aura. Around one in three people with migraine get aura. This is usually a visual disturbance such as zig-zag lines, blind spots, or shimmering. It can also affect speech, sensation, or movement. Aura usually lasts up to an hour and tends to come before the pain.
- The headache. This is what most people think of as the migraine. It is often (but not always) on one side of the head. It often throbs or pulses. It usually gets worse with movement. It is often accompanied by feeling sick, sensitivity to light and sound, and sometimes smells.
- The recovery (postdrome). After the pain ends, many people feel washed out, foggy, or low for a day or two. This is sometimes called the migraine hangover.
A single attack can last anywhere from a few hours to three days.
How is migraine different from a normal headache?
Common differences include:
- The pain. Migraine pain is often throbbing, often one-sided, often quite severe. A tension headache is usually a tight, dull, all-over feeling that is less intense.
- The other symptoms. Migraine usually comes with nausea, light sensitivity, or sound sensitivity. Tension headaches usually do not.
- The effect on activity. Migraine usually makes normal activity difficult or impossible. People often need to lie down in a dark, quiet room. Tension headaches usually allow you to carry on.
- The length. Migraine can last hours to days. Tension headaches usually pass within a few hours.
What causes migraine?
The exact cause is still being studied. Researchers describe migraine as the brain becoming more sensitive than usual to certain triggers. It is partly genetic, which is why migraine often runs in families.
Common triggers include:
- Poor or changed sleep.
- Stress, or the drop in stress after a busy period (a let-down migraine).
- Certain foods and drinks (such as red wine, aged cheese, or processed meats for some people).
- Hormonal changes, especially in women.
- Weather changes, especially in pressure.
- Bright lights, strong smells, or loud sounds.
- Missing meals or dehydration.
Everyone is different. Two people with migraine may have completely different triggers.
Who gets migraine?
Migraine affects roughly one in seven people worldwide. It is about three times more common in women than men, mostly because of the role hormones play. It often starts in adolescence or early adulthood, but it can begin at any age. Many people find their migraines change over the decades.
In short
Migraine is a neurological condition, not just a headache. It has stages, it has triggers, and tracking it (which is what this app is for) is a useful first step in understanding your own pattern.
This is general information only.
