A migraine is a very painful type of headache. People who get migraines often describe the pain as pulsing or throbbing in one area of the head. During migraines, people are very sensitive to light and sound. They may also become nauseated and vomit.
Migraine is three times more common in women than in men. Some people can tell when they are about to have a migraine because they see flashing lights or zigzag lines or they temporarily lose their vision.
Many things can trigger a migraine. These include
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Lack of food or sleep
- Exposure to light
- Hormonal changes (in women)
Doctors used to believe migraines were linked to the opening and narrowing of blood vessels in the head. Now they believe the cause is related to genes that control the activity of some brain cells. Medicines can help prevent migraine attacks or help relieve symptoms of attacks when they happen. For many people, treatments to relieve stress can also help.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Migraine
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/migraine/migraine.htm
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Migraine Headache
(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/headacheandmigraine/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/headacheandmigrainespanish/htm/index.htm -
Migraine Headaches: Ways to Deal with the Pain(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/brain/disorders/127.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/brain/disorders/127.printerview.html
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Headache: Hope through Research(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/headache/detail_headache.htm
- Migraine(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/migraine-headache/DS00120/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Post-Traumatic Stress Common in Migraine Sufferers(04/03/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_82537.html
- Topiramate Safely Prevents Migraine in Adolescents(03/13/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_81710.html
- Clues Found to Brain Mechanism Behind Migraines(03/11/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_81585.html
- More News on Migraine http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_m.html#migraine
- Commonly Used Acute Migraine Treatments(American Headache Society, Committee on Headache Education) - http://www.achenet.org/education/patients/CommonlyUsedAcuteMigraineTreatments.asp
- Migraine - What Are the Treatments?(American Academy of Neurology) - http://www.thebrainmatters.org/index.cfm?key=1.9.6
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Triptans(Consumers Union of U.S.) - http://www.consumerreports.org/health/best-buy-drugs/triptan.htm?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=1
Also available in Spanish http://www.consumerreports.org/health/resources/pdf/best-buy-drugs/Triptans2-pagerspanish.pdf
- Migraine Prevention: A Guide to the Latest Methods and Treatments(National Headache Foundation) - http://www.headaches.org/educational_modules/migraine_module/page_home.htm
- Migraines: Simple Steps to Head Off the Pain(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/migraines/HE00004/METHOD=print
- Preventive Treatments(American Headache Society, Committee on Headache Education) - http://www.achenet.org/education/patients/PreventiveTreatments.asp
- Controversies in Headache Medicine: Migraine Prevention Diets(American Headache Society, Committee on Headache Education) - http://www.achenet.org/education/ControversiesinHeadacheMedicineMigrainePreventionDiets.asp
- Low Tyramine Headache Diet(National Headache Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://www.headaches.org/pdf/Diet.pdf
- Headache Hygiene - What Is It?(American Headache Society, Committee on Headache Education) - http://www.achenet.org/education/patients/HeadacheHygiene.asp
- Managing Migraines(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2006/206_migraines.html
- Chronic Daily Headaches(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/chronic-daily-headaches/DS00646/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Chronic Migraine(National Headache Foundation) - http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Chronic_Migraine
- Coexisting Migraine and Tension-Type Headaches(National Headache Foundation) - http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Coexisting_Migraine_and_Tension-Type_Headaches
- Migraine Associated Vertigo (MAV)(American Hearing Research Foundation) - http://www.american-hearing.org/disorders/central/migraine/mav.html
- Migraine with Aura(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/migraine-with-aura/DS00908/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Employees with Migraine Headaches(Office of Disability Employment Policy) - http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/Migraine.html
- Headache Versus Migraine(American Pain Foundation) - http://www.painfoundation.org/page.asp?menu=1&item=3&file=QandA/Headache.htm
- Migraine and Common Morbidities(American Headache Society, Committee on Headache Education) - http://www.achenet.org/education/patients/MigraineandCommonComorbidities.asp
- What Is Serotonin Syndrome and What Should You Know about It?(American Headache Society, Committee on Headache Education) - http://www.achenet.org/education/patients/WhatisSerotoninSyndromeandWhatShouldYouKnowAboutIt.asp
- MIDAS (The Migraine Disability Assessment Test)(American Headache Society, Committee on Headache Education) - http://www.achenet.org/tools/migraine/index.asp
- Recurrent Headaches(DSHI Systems) - http://www.freemd.com/recurrent-headaches/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
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Migraine Headache(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/headacheandmigraine/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/headacheandmigrainespanish/htm/index.htm
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Migraine Disorders(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Migraine+Disorders%22
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Genetics Home Reference: Familial hemiplegic migraine(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=familialhemiplegicmigraine
- Teens, Migraine, Suicide, and Suicidal Thoughts(American Academy of Neurology) - http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/full/72/13/e61
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Teens, migraine, suicide, and suicidal thoughts. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19332686&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Stroke and migraine: a cardiologist's headache. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19286901&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Migraines during pregnancy linked to stroke and vascular diseases: US... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19278973&tool=MedlinePlus
- Migraine -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=migraine+disorders[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Find a Healthcare Professional(American Headache Society, Committee on Headache Education) - http://www.achenet.org/resources/physician/
- American Headache Society, Committee on Headache Education - http://www.achenet.org/
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/
- Headaches in Children(American Headache Society, Committee on Headache Education) - http://www.achenet.org/education/patients/HeadachesinChildren.asp
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Migraine Headache in Children and Adolescents(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/common/common/757.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/children/parents/common/common/757.printerview.html
- Migraine Variants in Children(American Headache Society, Committee on Headache Education) - http://www.achenet.org/education/patients/MigraineVariantsinChildren.asp
- Migraines: What a Pain!(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/aches/migraines.html
- Migraine Headaches(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/brain_nervous/migraines.html
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Hormones and Migraines(National Headache Foundation) - http://www.headaches.org/education/Headache_Topic_Sheets/Hormones_and_Migraine
Also available in Spanish http://www.headaches.org/education/Spanish_Topics/Las_Hormanas_Y_La_Migrana
- Migraine(National Women's Health Information Center) - http://womenshealth.gov/faq/migraine.cfm
- Migraine in Women(American Headache Society, Committee on Headache Education) - http://www.achenet.org/education/patients/MigraineinWomen.asp
- Headache - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/headache.html
- Brain and Nerves - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/brainandnerves.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Migraine is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/