What Is It?
Migraine is a common neurological condition that can cause recurring attacks of moderate to severe headache, often with nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light, sound, or smell. It is more than a “bad headache” because it involves changes in how the brain and nerves respond to triggers.
A migraine attack may last from 4 to 72 hours if untreated or not successfully relieved. Some people have migraine only occasionally, while others have repeated attacks that affect work, school, sleep, and daily activities.
Some people notice phases before, during, or after a migraine attack. These may include tiredness, food cravings, mood changes, aura, headache, or a “washed out” feeling afterwards.
Migraine is usually considered when headache attacks are recurring, moderate to severe, often one-sided or throbbing, worsened by movement, and linked with nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound. Other conditions can feel similar, including tension-type headache, sinus headache, medication-overuse headache, neck-related headache, very high blood pressure-related headache, eye problems, or more serious neurological causes.
Migraine With or Without Aura
Some people have migraine without aura, where the headache and related symptoms occur without warning signs. Others have migraine with aura, where temporary symptoms happen before or during the attack.
Aura may include flashing lights, zigzag lines, blind spots, tingling, numbness, or speech difficulty. Aura symptoms should be temporary. First-time aura, new aura, prolonged aura, or unusual neurological symptoms should be assessed urgently because they can resemble other neurological conditions.
Why Migraine Is So Common
Migraine is common because many factors can influence the brain’s sensitivity, including sleep, stress, hormones, food patterns, dehydration, alcohol, bright light, strong smells, weather changes, and certain medicines.
People often search for migraine because the pain can be intense and frightening. It may be confused with ordinary headache, eye strain, sinus pressure, stroke-like symptoms, or serious brain conditions. Understanding migraine helps people recognise the pattern and know when medical advice is needed.
What Causes It?
Migraine usually involves brain and nerve sensitivity, changes in pain signalling, inflammation-related chemicals, and personal triggers. It is not caused by one single factor.
Common Causes and Triggers
Genetic tendency
Migraine can run in families. A person may be more likely to get migraine if close relatives also experience it.
Hormonal changes
Some people notice migraine around menstruation, pregnancy, perimenopause, or changes in hormonal contraception.
Sleep and stress changes
Too little sleep, too much sleep, stress, relaxation after stress, and irregular routines can trigger attacks.
Food, drink, and hydration factors
Skipped meals, dehydration, alcohol, too much or too little caffeine, and certain foods may trigger migraine in some people.
Sensory and environmental triggers
Bright light, glare, loud noise, strong smells, screen exposure, heat, or weather changes may contribute.
Migraine is different from tension-type headache. Tension-type headache usually feels like dull pressure or tightness on both sides, while migraine is more likely to be throbbing, one-sided, moderate to severe, worsened by activity, and linked with nausea or sensitivity to light and sound.
What Should You Do?
If you think you have migraine, first observe the pattern. Notice how often it happens, how long it lasts, what symptoms come with it, and what may have triggered it. Resting in a quiet, dark room and keeping hydrated may help during an attack.
What to Observe First
Pay attention to:
- How often headaches happen
- How long each attack lasts
- Whether pain is one-sided, throbbing, or worsened by movement
- Whether there is nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light, sound, or smell
- Whether aura symptoms occur and how long they last
- Whether triggers include sleep, stress, hormones, meals, alcohol, dehydration, or screen exposure
- Whether pain relief medicines are being used often
How Is It Usually Managed?
Migraine is usually managed by recognising patterns, reducing avoidable triggers, and treating attacks early when appropriate. General steps may include regular sleep, regular meals, hydration, managing stress, limiting personal triggers, and resting during attacks.
A pharmacist can help assess whether the headache pattern sounds like migraine or whether medical review is safer. Using headache medicines too often can contribute to medication-overuse headache, so frequent or recurring migraine should be reviewed.
Ask a Pharmacist If Unsure
Ask a pharmacist if headaches keep returning, affect school, work, sleep, or daily life, or if you are unsure whether the pattern sounds like migraine, tension-type headache, sinus headache, or medication-overuse headache.
Seek advice earlier for children under 12 years old with recurrent, severe, or unusual headaches, pregnant women, adults aged 65 years and above, or people with high blood pressure, cancer history, head injury, or long-term medical conditions.
Women or people using hormonal contraception should seek medical advice if they have migraine with aura, first-time aura, or new aura symptoms.
When to See a Doctor
Seek urgent medical help if the headache is sudden, severe, or linked with:
- The worst headache you have ever had
- Weakness, numbness, confusion, fainting, or seizure
- New or unusual aura symptoms
- Aura lasting more than 60 minutes
- Fever, stiff neck, rash, or feeling very unwell
- Vision loss, double vision, or difficulty speaking
- Headache after a head injury
- Headache triggered by exertion, coughing, straining, or sex
- New headache during pregnancy
- New headache after age 50
- New headache in someone with cancer, HIV, organ transplant, chemotherapy, or weakened immunity
- Headache that is worsening, changing pattern, or happening very frequently
- Persistent vomiting
Quick Summary
- Migraine is a neurological condition that causes recurring headache attacks.
- Attacks may last 4 to 72 hours and may include nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound.
- Migraine may happen with or without aura.
- Common triggers include sleep changes, stress, hormones, skipped meals, dehydration, alcohol, bright light, and strong smells.
- Seek urgent help for sudden severe headache, neurological symptoms, unusual aura, pregnancy-related new headache, exertion-triggered headache, or new headache after age 50.
FAQ
What is migraine?
Migraine is a neurological condition that causes recurring headache attacks, often with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, or smell.
Is migraine serious?
Most migraine attacks are not dangerous, but migraine can be disabling. Sudden, severe, unusual, worsening, or neurological symptoms should be assessed urgently.
How long does a migraine last?
A migraine attack may last from 4 to 72 hours if untreated or not successfully relieved.
Can migraine happen without headache?
Yes. Some people can have migraine symptoms such as aura, nausea, dizziness, or sensory sensitivity with little or no headache, but new or unusual symptoms should be assessed.
Can migraine go away on its own?
Yes. Some migraine attacks settle with time, rest, hydration, and reduced stimulation. Frequent or severe migraine should be assessed.
Is migraine the same as tension headache?
No. Migraine is more likely to be throbbing, one-sided, linked with nausea or vomiting, and worsened by light, sound, or movement. Tension-type headache usually feels more like pressure or tightness.
What is migraine aura?
Migraine aura is a temporary phase that may include flashing lights, blind spots, tingling, numbness, or speech difficulty. First-time, prolonged, or unusual aura needs urgent medical advice.
When should I see a doctor for migraine?
See a doctor urgently if headache is sudden, severe, the worst ever, linked with weakness, confusion, vision changes, prolonged aura, fever, stiff neck, pregnancy, head injury, persistent vomiting, exertion, coughing, straining, or starts newly after age 50.