A migraine is a headache characterized by recurring, throbbing pain usually on one side of the head. People with migraine may experience certain symptoms just before headache pain, including visual disturbances (called aura), irritability, nausea, and tingling sensations. Migraine is often classified as classic migraine (with aura), common migraine (without aura), or mixed-tension migraine (migraine headache accompanied by tension headache). Migraine attacks may last hours or days; some headaches can be temporarily disabling.
Migraine headaches are characterized by recurring, throbbing head pain that is typically one-sided and can begin suddenly. Migraine headaches typically begin between the ages of 10 and 30 although they can start at any age. Migraines tend to run in families and affect three times more women than men.
There are 3 main types of migraine headache: classic migraine (migraine headache with aura), common migraine (migraine headache without aura), and mixed-tension migraine (migraine headache accompanied by tension headache).
In people with classic migraine, the headache is preceded by visual disturbances such as shimmering lights, decreased vision in a certain spot (scotoma), or distorted images. These are collectively referred to as aura. Irritability, nausea, and tingling sensations may also precede or accompany migraine headache pain, which can be worsened by physical activity, light, sounds, and certain smells.
Migraine attacks may last hours or days with headaches that are severe and temporarily disabling. Migraine headaches often occur over a period of time and then disappear for many weeks, months, or even years.
Current evidence suggests that classic and common migraines occur when arteries of the brain constrict (narrow) and then widen, activating nearby pain receptors. The fact that migraine is more common in women has lead to the theory that estrogen plays a role in the development of migraine headaches. Indeed, migraines can change with a woman's monthly cycles and can be exacerbated in younger women taking estrogen-containing birth control pills. Migraines often decrease in frequency and severity in women after menopause.
Tension headaches and cluster headaches are 2 other types of head pain. A tension headache typically features mild to moderate band-like pain that affects the entire head. Cluster headaches affect one side of the head (unilateral) and may be associated with tearing of the eyes and nasal congestion. This type of headache occurs in clusters, happening repeatedly every day at the same time for several weeks and then remitting.
