What is Migraine?

Around 500 000 Danes may suffer from migraine attacks. One out of seven women and one out of 15 men and children in Denmark are thought to have had at least one attack during the past 12 months. Some patients have frequent attacks, others have only a few.

What does a migraine attack feel like?

The commonest symptom of a migraine attack is pulsating pain on one side of the head. The sufferer may be nauseous and vomit, and light, sounds and smells appear overwhelming and unpleasant. The pain is aggravated if the patient walks up stairs or takes similar physical exercise.

An attack normally lasts between 4 and 72 hours, and will run its course without treatment. Often it is best for the patient to rest in a dark, quiet room.

Attacks in some migraine patients are accompanied by 'aura' - patients see flickering lights and jagged lines for about half an hour before the pain starts and part of their field of vision may be blacked out. The aura may be so serious that it is impossible to drive a car.

What happens inside the head during an attack?

Migraine is caused by the contraction and subsequent dilation of some arteries in the brain. Medicine may re-establish the normal diameter of the arteries, and most of the discomfort disappears. So far there is no 'cure' for migraine except medicines that relieve the symptoms during attacks, but preventive medicine may be offered to patients who get frequent attacks.

Triggers

Migraine is thought to have several triggers. The commonest one affects only women and is variations in the oestrogen content of the blood. Certain chemical compounds in our food, and probably also some conditions in the nose are also triggers. Many migraine patients take so many analgesics or specific migraine medicines so often, that the medicine itself provokes migraine and/or daily headaches.

See the doctor!

Far too many migraine patients never tell their doctor about their migraine. Even though not everybody may benefit from medication, it is always sensible to have a chat with your doctor if you have symptoms that resemble migraine. The intensity of migraine can't be measured, so, to come to a worthwhile diagnosis, a doctor must rely on what the patient tells him. If your family doctor is not helpful, get another doctor!




What is migraine? News from science Triggers Our opinion Migraine diary Links Home (eng) To Danish site		What is Migraine? Around 500 000 Danes may suffer from migraine attacks. One out of seven women and one out of 15 men and children in Denmark are thought to have had at least one attack during the past 12 months. Some patients have frequent attacks, others have only a few. What does a migraine attack feel like? The commonest symptom of a migraine attack is pulsating pain on one side of the head. The sufferer may be nauseous and vomit, and light, sounds and smells appear overwhelming and unpleasant. The pain is aggravated if the patient walks up stairs or takes similar physical exercise. An attack normally lasts between 4 and 72 hours, and will run its course without treatment. Often it is best for the patient to rest in a dark, quiet room. Attacks in some migraine patients are accompanied by 'aura' - patients see flickering lights and jagged lines for about half an hour before the pain starts and part of their field of vision may be blacked out. The aura may be so serious that it is impossible to drive a car. What happens inside the head during an attack? Migraine is caused by the contraction and subsequent dilation of some arteries in the brain. Medicine may re-establish the normal diameter of the arteries, and most of the discomfort disappears. So far there is no 'cure' for migraine except medicines that relieve the symptoms during attacks, but preventive medicine may be offered to patients who get frequent attacks. Triggers Migraine is thought to have several triggers. The commonest one affects only women and is variations in the oestrogen content of the blood. Certain chemical compounds in our food, and probably also some conditions in the nose are also triggers. Many migraine patients take so many analgesics or specific migraine medicines so often, that the medicine itself provokes migraine and/or daily headaches. See the doctor! Far too many migraine patients never tell their doctor about their migraine. Even though not everybody may benefit from medication, it is always sensible to have a chat with your doctor if you have symptoms that resemble migraine. The intensity of migraine can't be measured, so, to come to a worthwhile diagnosis, a doctor must rely on what the patient tells him. If your family doctor is not helpful, get another doctor!