What are migraine headaches? A migraine is a very bad headache that tends to come back over and over again.
Migraine attacks can be as often as once or twice a week. The sufferer may feel sick and may vomit. The pain is usually on one side of the head and sufferers often experience visual disturbances, such as seeing flashes or spots or having double vision.
People who are experiencing a migraine may be very sensitive to bright lights and noise. Moving around makes the headache even worse.
Migraine is a disease, just like diabetes and heart disease, and requires medical attention.
Three out of four migraine sufferers are female. Some migraine cases are hereditary. Doctors believe migraines may be caused by a chemical or electrical problem in certain parts of the brain.
Some things can cause a migraine or make it worse, including stress and anger, smells, fumes, weather changes, too much or too little sleep, hunger, excessive activity and medications that cause blood vessels to swell.
Some foods may also trigger a migraine. Alcohol, coffee, chocolate, dairy products and monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is often found in Chinese food, can cause migraines.