What is a migraine?

A migraine is a severe, throbbing headache that can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound.

Women are three times more likely to experience migraines than men. Migraines are most common between the ages of 30 and 40, after which the attacks generally decrease. Developing migraines for the first time after the age of 50 is rare.

Migraine is caused by a combination of nerve stimulation and the widening of blood vessels in the brain. Migraines often run in families; people with migraines may have inherited a sensitive nervous system from their parents. Being overweight and having other vascular risk factors increase the likelihood of migraine attacks. Migraines can be triggered by so-called “triggers,” and the headache develops once the number of triggers reaches a certain threshold, similar to a glass of water overflowing once it becomes too full.