Migraine affects 1 in every 7 adults globally, according to the WHO.

A migraine headache is an intense, throbbing pain which usually occurs on one side of your head. This debilitating headache is often accompanied with nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound or smell.

Migraine attacks can last a few hours to days, and the pain can be serious enough to interfere with your day-to-day life. Some people get migraine several times a month, while others have them only occasionally. Most people with migraine start to have headaches during adolescence, yet it can begin at any age. Women are more likely to have migraines as compared to men.

Symptoms of Migraine

During a migraine, you might have:

• Pulsing or throbbing headache.
• Pain usually on one side near the temples, forehead and eyes.  In some cases, the pain can occur on both sides of your head, face, sinuses, jaw or neck.
• Sensitivity to light, sound and odors
• Nausea and vomiting
• Nasal congestion
• Dizziness and blurred vision

Stages of Migraine

Symptoms of migraine may begin hours or days before the headache itself. In many people, they happen in four stages. These stages may include:

1. Prodrome phase: You may notice changes that may warn of an upcoming migraine, one or two days before the onset of a headache, including:  increased yawning, irritability, neck stiffness, craving for specific foods, and depression.
2. Aura phase:  The aura phase that occurs after the prodrome stage can last from 5 minutes up to 60 minutes.  It may not happen with every headache, though. In this phase the symptoms arise from the nervous system and often involve your vision. The symptoms may include hallucinations, temporary loss of vision, pins and needles sensations in an arm or leg, ringing in the ears, changes in speech and smell, taste, or touch.
3. Headache phase: It often begins as a dull pain that grows into throbbing pain which can start from one side of the head to the other. This phase can last for more than 3 days and may appear frequently.
4. Postdrome phase: Also known as the recovery phase, lasts for a day or two. It’s often called a migraine “hangover” and most people who have migraine experience it. The symptoms include tiredness, muscle pain or weakness, lack of appetite etc.

Causes of Migraine

The exact cause of migraines isn’t known. Genetics and environmental factors appear to play a role though. Scientists think that they happen because of abnormal brain activity that sends wrong signals which affects the nerve system that regulates pain.

Risk Factors for Migraine

Several factors make you more prone to having migraines, including:

• Family history: Migraines tend to run in families. If you have a family member with migraine, then you have a good chance of developing it too.
• Age:  Migraine often begins during adolescence and affects most those who are aged between 35 and 45 years, according to WHO.
• Gender: Women are three times more likely than men to have migraine.
• Hormonal changes in women: Migraine headaches, have been linked to the female hormone estrogen.  Fluctuations in estrogen levels, such as before or during menstrual periods, pregnancy and menopause, seem to trigger headaches in many women.