All about migraine

Migraine headaches affect around 4 per cent of children, 6 per cent of men, and 18 per cent of women, and are most common in people aged between 25 and 55.

Attacks can last for up to 72 hours. There may also be nausea, sickness or diarrhoea, and a feeling of exhaustion. There can be visual disturbances - flashing lights or black spots or patterns starting before the headache, which may last for up to an hour. During a migraine, there s little tolerance to light, sound or physical exertion and sufferers often seek relief by lying down in a quiet dark room.

The cause of migraine is not fully understood but it is widely believed it involves the balance between the processes, which stimulates the nervous system, and those that relax it. The increased blood flow in certain parts of the brain contributes to the painful headache. There is a significant drop in the brain chemical, serotonin.

Women who suffer from migraine will experience hormonal changes. About 70% of women who have migraine can relate their migraine headaches to their menstrual period. 80% of sufferers can show a family history of migraine, which suggests that they are, at least in part, inherited.

Triggers for a migraine might include:

certain foods - such as chocolate, cheese, red wine, citrus fruits, coffee, tea, tomatoes, potatoes
too much or too read more