Migraine affects between 12 and 15% of people, making it the most common neurological condition in the world.
While it is a very individual condition, with triggers and attack patterns usually specific to the affected person, it has been found to be three-times more common in women than in men. Because of this, it’s presumed to have some link to oestrogen levels.
How do I know if I’m suffering from migraine?
While a headache is the best known symptom, there is actually a lot more to a migraine than just head pain. Migraine generally results in a one-sided throbbing in your head that is normally heightened by movement. This can last hours or even days and can be accompanied by:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to noise
- Diarrhoea
- Temporary paralysis (in severe cases)
Diagnosing migraine
Migraine is typically divided into two categories: with aura and without aura. Here’s how diagnosis is typically made for both.
With aura
Normally a person will experience at least two attacks with the some or all of the following symptoms:
- Reversible visual symptoms that include flickering lights, spots or lines and/or loss of vision
- Reversible sensory symptoms that include pins and needles and/or numbness
- Reversible speech impairment
- Symptoms lasting between 5 and 60 minutes
- Headache beginning during or within 60 minutes of aura appearing
Without aura
A person will usually experience at least five attacks with some or all of the following symptoms
- Attacks lasting 4-72 hours
- Headache has a pulsating quality, moderate to severe pain intensity and pain is in one side of the head
- Headache is aggravated by routine physical activity
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Severe sensitivity to light and/or noise
If you suspect you are suffering from migraine, contact your GP for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
