Why migraines

Funding and support for this material have been provided by The Allergan Foundation. This article was contributed by: familydoctor. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone.

Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. There are several different types of headaches. Migraines and tension headaches are the most common. Botulinum toxin, or Botox, is used to treat muscle spasms and other conditions. It is injected into the affected…. Some are easily treated, while others….

Visit The Symptom Checker. Food Poisoning. Acute Bronchitis. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. Bursitis of the Hip. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. High Blood Pressure. Home Diseases and Conditions Migraines. Table of Contents. Teenagers and Headaches. What is a migraine headache? What does a migraine feel like? Symptoms of migraines Possible symptoms of migraines include: Intense throbbing or dull aching pain on one side of your head or both sides.

Pain that worsens with physical activity. Nausea or vomiting. Changes in how you see, including blurred vision or blind spots. Being bothered by light, noise, or odors. Stopped-up nose. Feeling cold or sweaty. Stiff or tender neck. Tender scalp. What causes migraines? What are some migraine risk factors and triggers? Common migraine risk factors include the following: Family history: You are much more likely to have migraines if one or both of your parents had migraines.

Sex: Women are more likely than men to have migraines. Age: Most people have their first migraine during adolescence, but migraines can start at any age, usually before age Common migraine triggers include the following: Food and drink: Certain food and drink see list below may cause migraines.

Dehydration and dieting or skipping meals may also trigger migraines. Hormone changes: Women may experience migraines related to their menstrual cycles, to menopause, or to using hormonal birth control or hormone replacement therapy. Stress: Stress may trigger migraines.

Senses: Loud sounds, bright lights such as flashing lights or sunlight , or strong smells such as paint fumes or some perfumes may trigger migraines. Medicines: Certain medicines may trigger migraines. If you think your migraines might be related to your medicine, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Illness: Infections, such as the cold or the flu, may trigger migraines, especially in children.

How are migraines diagnosed? Read More by Dr. Jennifer Hanna. Migraine information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Headache: Hope through research. Accessed Feb. Smith JH, et al. Acute treatment of migraine in adults. Simon RP, et al. In: Clinical Neurology. McGraw Hill; Ha H, et al. Migraine headache prophylaxis. American Family Physician. Kissoon NR expert opinion.

Mayo Clinic. March 16, Preventive treatment of episodic migraine in adults. Kleinman K, et al. In: Harriet Lane Handbook. Elsevier; Taylor FR. ABC's of headache trigger management. American Migraine Foundation. Serotonin is a chemical necessary for communication between nerve cells. It can cause narrowing of blood vessels throughout the body. When serotonin or estrogen levels change, the result for some is a migraine.

Serotonin levels may affect both sexes, while fluctuating estrogen levels affect women only. For women, estrogen levels naturally vary over the life cycle, with increases during fertile years and decreases afterwards. Women of childbearing age also experience monthly changes in estrogen levels. If someone you know is living with migraine, here's how you can offer support….

Here's how I navigate chronic illness in a fat, brown, queer, immigrant woman's body. While more research is needed to include physical therapy as a first-line treatment for migraine, it may be helpful for some people as a complementary…. Migraine is a common condition around the world. It affects people of all ages, but the symptoms in children can be different than those in adults.

Migraine headaches are common after traumatic brain injuries like concussions. Persistent migraine headaches in particular can have a big effect on…. Some research suggests chiropractic treatments may reduce symptoms of migraine headaches. Here we dive into how it works and whether you should try it.

Anthropophobia is a fear of people. Typically, a fear of people is associated with…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. While intense, debilitating headaches frequently characterize it, additional symptoms may include: nausea vomiting difficulty speaking numbness or tingling sensitivity to light and sound The condition often runs in families and can affect all ages.

What does migraine feel like? Migraine symptoms. What causes migraine attacks? Migraine treatment. Migraine triggers. Migraine types. Migraine nausea. Migraine prevention. How is migraine diagnosed? Devices for migraine.

Migraine in children. Migraine attacks and pregnancy. Medication overuse headache. Migraine vs. Migraine home remedies. Treating Migraines and Severe Migraines. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Medically reviewed by Tiffany Taft, PsyD. Does Physical Therapy Treat Migraine? Overview of Migraine in Children. Medically reviewed by Mia Armstrong, MD. Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm.

Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph.