Fact Checked
What Is A Migraine?
- A migraine is a medical disorder. Most individuals who experience migraines suffer from headaches that can be quite serious.
- A migraine headache is generally a penetrating, aching pain on one, or occasionally, both sides of the head.
- Most individuals with migraine headache feel discomfort in the behind one eye or ear, though any area of the head can feel sore.
- In addition to pain, migraine also can cause vomiting and nausea.
- Some individuals also might see spots or blinking lights or have a short-term loss of vision.
What Causes Migraines?
The precise cause of a migraine is not completely understood. Most scientists think that migraine is due to irregular fluctuations in levels of substances that are naturally created in the brain. When these level of substances rise, they can cause swelling. This swelling then causes vessels in the brain to enlarge and place pressure on the surrounding nerves, resulting in pain.
Professionals do know that individuals with migraines respond to a variety of factors, known as triggers. These triggers can differ from individual to individual and don’t always lead to migraine. An individual’s reaction to triggers also can differ from migraine to migraine. Many females with migraine tend to have occurrences triggered by:
- Shortage of or too much sleep;
- Missing meals;
- Bright lights, strong odors, or loud sounds;
- Hormone fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle;
- Pressure and anxiety;
- Fluctuations in the weather;
- Alcohol (usually after red wine); and
- Caffeine (drinking too much coffee);