Migraines

The Migraines topic includes research on the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of migraine, a recurring type of severe headache. Migraine is a health condition with a variety of symptoms, the most well known of which is a severe headache. The headaches, or migraine episodes, frequently include other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, mood changes, fatigue, or sensitivity to light, noise, and smells.

Migraine episodes can be predictable, happening, for example, before a menstrual period or after stress, or they can be more random. Many people who experience migraine episodes experience what is called aura before their headache begins. Aura is a disturbance primarily in vision, causing the person to see things like dots, zigzags, or sparks, but aura can also affect speech.

While there is no cure for migraines, treatment can help manage symptoms and recognition of triggers can decrease risk of an episode’s occurrence. Triggers can include weather, stress, strong odors, tobacco or alcohol use, hormonal changes, bright or flashing lights, and medications, among other things.