Migraine Headache: Brief Version

What is a migraine headache?

A migraine headache is a special kind of headache. It can last for hours or days. It may cause intense pain. You may also feel sick to your stomach or have eye problems.

What is the cause?

The exact cause of migraines is not known. They may be caused by a problem with blood flow in your brain. Or they may happen when brain chemicals don't stay balanced.

You are more likely to get a migraine when:

• You are under stress.
• You are tired.
• You eat some kinds of foods, such as wine, cheese, or chocolate, or chemicals added to foods, such as MSG.
• The weather changes.
• You are around bright lights.

Women are more likely to have migraines than men. Sometimes the headaches happen around the time a woman has her period. Or they may happen when a woman is taking hormone pills.

Migraines can run in families.

What are the symptoms?

Before a migraine starts, you may:

• Not feel well.
• Lose part of your vision.
• See bright spots.
• See zigzags in front of your eyes.

Most of the time, these eye problems go away when the headache starts.

When you have a migraine, you may:

• Have a headache that throbs or pounds (you may feel the pain more on one side of your head, or your whole head may hurt).
• Be very sensitive to light.
• Have blurred vision.
• Vomit or have nausea.
• Have numbness or feel tingling of your face or arm.

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history. He or she will examine you.

It may help to keep a headache diary. You should write down:

• the date and time of each headache
• how long it lasts
• the type of pain (Is it dull or sharp? Does it throb? Do you feel pressure?)
• where it hurts (for example, scalp, eyes, temples, neck).

If you are a woman, you should note:

• When you have your periods.
• If you are using birth control pills or other female hormones.

You should also keep a headache diary and write down what happened before the headache started:

• What symptoms did you have?
• What did you eat and drink?
• Did you use cigarettes, caffeine, alcohol, or soda?
• What time did you go to bed? What time did you get up?

If you have just recently started having headaches, your healthcare provider may recommend tests to look for causes of your symptoms. You may need a brain scan or MRI scan.

How is it treated?

• You may need to take medicine to keep migraines from getting worse once they start. Take these medicines as soon as you can when you start to have signs of a migraine.
• You may need to take another medicine every day to stop migraines from coming so often. The medicine can help prevent very bad migraines.
• You may need to try a medicine for several weeks to see if it works. Be sure to keep your follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider to see if a medicine is working and what should be tried next. Talk to your healthcare provider about what is best for you. You have many choices.

How long will it last?

The headache may last from a few hours to a few days. You may get migraines for the rest of your life. Most of the time, migraines happen less often as you get older.

How can I take care of myself?

As soon as the migraine starts:

• Take a pain reliever. Ask your healthcare provider what medicine you should take.
• Rest in a quiet, dark room until you start to feel better.

Don't drive a car when you have a migraine.

See your healthcare provider if your headaches get worse or if they don't get better when you take medicine for them. It may take several visits to find the best way to control your headaches.

Call your healthcare provider RIGHT AWAY if you have symptoms that you do not usually have with migraines, such as:

• You have a hard time talking or your speech is slurred.
• Your arm or leg is weak and you cannot move it normally.

Call your provider RIGHT AWAY if you have other symptoms, such as:

• You have a fever.
• Your neck is stiff.
• You keep vomiting for several hours.
• You cannot move a leg or arm.

How can I prevent migraines?

• Eat regular, healthy meals. Don't go too long without eating. Stay away from foods that seem to cause your headaches. Watch out for:
  • wine, ale, and beer
  • cheeses
  • aged, canned, cured, and processed meats
  • breads made with yeast
  • foods with cheese, chocolate, or nuts.
• Don't use medicines that trigger headaches. Ask your healthcare provider about this. You may need to stop using birth control or hormone pills.
• Don't smoke cigarettes.
• Get plenty of sleep every day.
• Lower your stress. Find time to relax, rest, and have fun in your life.

For more information, call or write:

American Council for Headache Education (ACHE)
Phone: 800-255-ACHE (255-2243)
Web site: http://www.achenet.org
Educational materials, referrals to support groups

National Headache Foundation
Phone: 800-843-2256
Web site: http://www.headaches.org
Educational materials, list of headache specialists, information specialists