| Migraine is a neurological disease that can cause a | | | | Allergic reactions |
| wide range of symptoms during an attack. The most | | | | Bright lights, loud noises, and certain odors or |
| commonly thought of symptom is headache. A | | | | perfumes |
| migraine can be disabling — with symptoms so | | | | Physical or emotional stress |
| severe, all you can think about is finding a dark, quiet | | | | Changes in sleep patterns |
| place to lie down. People who get migraines often | | | | Smoking or exposure to smoke |
| describe the pain as pulsing or throbbing in one area | | | | Skipping meals |
| of the head. During migraines, people are very | | | | Lack of Water or dehydration |
| sensitive to light and sound. They may also become | | | | Alcohol or caffeine |
| nauseated and vomit. Attacks are often recurrent | | | | Difference between Headache and Migraine |
| and tend to become less severe as the migraine | | | | Migraine is disease, a headache is only a symptom. |
| sufferer ages. | | | | Migraine pain is caused by vasodilation in the cranial |
| There is a migraine "pain center" or generator in the | | | | blood vessels, while headache pain is caused by |
| brain. A migraine begins when hyperactive nerve cells | | | | vasoconstriction. During a migraine, inflammation of |
| send out impulses to the blood vessels, causing them | | | | the tissue surrounding the brain, i.e., neurogenic |
| to clamp down or constrict, followed by dilation | | | | inflammation, exacerbates the pain. Therefore, |
| (expanding) and the release of prostaglandins, | | | | medicine often prescribed to treat a headache, such |
| serotonin, and other inflammatory substances that | | | | as beta-blockers, dilate the blood vessels and |
| cause the pulsation to be painful. Although much | | | | therefore can make a Migraine worse. |
| about headaches still isn't understood, some | | | | Unlike a headache, the Migraine disease has many |
| researchers think migraines may be caused by | | | | symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, auras (light |
| functional changes in the trigeminal nerve system, a | | | | spots), sensitivity to light and sound, numbness, |
| major pain pathway in your nervous system, and by | | | | difficulty in speech, and severe semihemispherical |
| imbalances in brain chemicals, including serotonin, | | | | head pain. One Migraine attack alone can last for eight |
| which plays a regulatory role for pain messages going | | | | hours, several days, or even weeks. |
| through this pathway. | | | | Migraine is a true organic neurological disease. A |
| Migraine Triggers | | | | Migraine is caused when a physiological (not |
| Emotional stress. This is one of the most common | | | | psychological) trigger or triggers cause vasodilatation |
| triggers of migraine headache. | | | | in the cranial blood vessels, which triggers nerve |
| Sensitivity to specific chemicals and preservatives in | | | | endings to release chemical substances called |
| foods. Certain foods and beverages, such as aged | | | | neurotransmitters, of which the neurotransmitter |
| cheese, alcoholic beverages, and food additives such | | | | serotonin is an important factor in the development |
| as nitrates (in pepperoni, hot dogs, luncheon meats) | | | | of Migraine. |
| and monosodium glutamate (MSG, commonly found in | | | | Migraine can induce a host of serious physical |
| Chinese food) may be responsible for triggering up to | | | | conditions: strokes, aneurysms, permanent visual loss, |
| 30% of migraines. | | | | severe dental problems, coma and even death. |