Description of migraine

Migraine begins with a wave of neurological activity that travels along the nervous system. It can affect many different areas of the body. Usually (but not always) it affects the blood vessels covering the brain, causing alternate dilation and contraction - the pounding headache. Some sufferers feel the pain as a constant severe pain, rather than pounding. Other courses taken by this rogue wave of neurological activity include the stomach, where it can cause severe pain, and also different areas of the body such as the shoulder. The migraine attack may run along a familiar course continually, or it can change courses. Instead of affecting the right eye, it may move to the left, for instance, or it can begin to affect anywhere else. Instead of affecting the head, it can begin to affect the stomach. As well as a pounding headache, caused by the contraction and dilation of meningal blood vessels, usually there is nausea, vomiting, and extreme light sensitivity. Some people cannot bear to open their eyes when they have a migraine, and some even go temporarily blind.

Aura

In addition to the wave of neurological activity that instigates the actual migraine pain, there are preliminary neurological activities that cause aura. An aura is a combination of one or more of visual, balance, smell, and taste disturbances that warn the person of the impending migraine. Some people only ever experience the aura, and their migraine does not develop further. The Migraine Resolution Programme can also be effective in reducing symptoms of the aura. Other signs of an impending migraine include pins & needles or read more