What is Migraine?

Contents

Migraine: Introduction
Types of Migraine
Prognosis
Prevalence
Other names for Migraine
Who gets Migraine?
What causes Migraine?
What are the symptoms of Migraine?
Organs Affected by Migraine
Can anyone else get Migraine?
How is it treated?
Society issues for Migraine
Migraine: Introduction

What is Migraine?

A migraine is a specific type of headache that is severe, persistent and often occurs in conjunction with a wide variety of ...more »

Migraine: Chronic recurring headaches with or without a preceding aura.
Migraine: A subtype of vascular headaches characterized by periodic unilateral pulsatile headaches which begin in childhood, adolescence, or early adult life and recur with diminishing frequency during advancing years. The two major subtypes are CLASSIC MIGRAINE (i.e., migraine with aura) and COMMON MIGRAINE (i.e., migraine without aura). Migrainous episodes may be associated with alterations in cerebral blood flow. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p172)
Source - Diseases Database
Migraine: a severe recurring vascular headache; occurs more frequently in women than men.
Source - WordNet 2.1

Migraine: Introduction

Types of Migraine:

Types of Migraine:

Classic migraine - with an aura
Common migraine - without an aura
Menstrual migraine - predictable migraine related to menstrual periods
Hemiplegic migraine - temporary one-sided paralysis, sometimes with balance problems and vertigo.
Ophthalmoplegic migraine - around the eye and may involve droopy eyelid and vision disturbances such as double vision.
Basilar artery migraine - related to the brain's main artery.
Benign exertional headache - a usually brief headache triggered by exertion such as running, lifting, coughing, sneezing, or bending.
Status migrainosus - a rare, extreme and long-lasting headache often requiring hospitalization, often preceded by behavioral symptoms such as anxiety or depression.
Headache-free migraine - a variety of migraine-like symptoms except that there is no headache!
Abdominal migraine
more types...»

Broader types of Migraine:

How many people get Migraine?

Prevalance of Migraine: 28 million Americans (NINDS)
Prevalance Rate of Migraine: approx 1 in 9 or 10.29% or 28 million people in USA [about data]
Undiagnosed prevalence of Migraine: 14 million undiagnosed
Undiagnosed prevalence rate of Migraine: approx 1 in 19 or 5.15% or 14 million people in USA [about data]
Prevalance of Migraine: Migraine headaches affect 28 million Americans, 75 percent of whom — roughly 21 million people — are women. (Source: excerpt from Migraine Update: NINDS) ... 20 million women in the U.S. suffer from headaches; 9 million of whom suffer debilitating migraines. (Source: excerpt from MIGRAINE HEADACHES: NWHIC)

Who gets Migraine?

Patient Profile for Migraine: Adults and teens

Profile for Migraine: Both sexes may develop migraine in infancy, but most often the disorder begins between the ages of 5 and 35. (Source: excerpt from Headache -- Hope Through Research: NINDS)

Gender Profile for Migraine: Women are 75% of cases

Gender Profile for Migraine: Although both males and females seem to be equally affected by migraine, the condition is more common in adult women. (Source: excerpt from Headache -- Hope Through Research: NINDS)

Gender Profile for Migraine: Although these headaches are common among both men and women, there are important differences. The prevalence of migraine is 2-3 times higher in women. The character of the headaches also differs. Women tend to report higher levels of pain, longer duration of headaches, and more associated symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting. Visual symptoms are also less common in women. (Source: excerpt from MIGRAINE HEADACHES: NWHIC)

How serious is Migraine?

Prognosis of Migraine: Migraine usually does not represent a significant threat to health. However, in rare circumstances, people with migraine may be at risk of serious complications. A severe migraine may result in a stroke, possibly due to prolonged constriction of blood vessels. Some people may have side effects of medications.
Complications of Migraine: see complications of Migraine

What causes Migraine?

Causes of Migraine: see causes of Migraine
Risk factors for Migraine: see risk factors for Migraine

What are the symptoms of Migraine?

Symptoms of Migraine: see symptoms of Migraine

Complications of Migraine: see complications of Migraine

Onset of Migraine: premenstrual period

Can anyone else get Migraine?

Inheritance: see inheritance of Migraine

Migraine: Testing

Diagnostic testing: see tests for Migraine.

Misdiagnosis: see misdiagnosis and Migraine.

How is it treated?

Treatments for Migraine: see treatments for Migraine
Alternative treatments for Migraine: see alternative treatments for Migraine
Prevention of Migraine: see prevention of Migraine
Research for Migraine: see research for Migraine

Society issues for Migraine

Costs of Migraine: $13 billion in missed work or reduced productivity annually (NINDS)
Costs of Migraine: Migraine, however, can cause significant disability and costs the American taxpayers $13 billion in missed work or reduced productivity annually. (Source: excerpt from Migraine Update: NINDS)

Hospitalization statistics for Migraine: The following are statistics from various sources about hospitalizations and Migraine:

0.72% (92,012) of hospital episodes were for Epilepsy, migraine and other episodic disorders in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
82% of hospital consultations for Epilepsy, migraine and other episodic disorders required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
53% of hospital episodes for Epilepsy, migraine and other episodic disorders were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
47% of hospital episodes for Epilepsy, migraine and other episodic disorders were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
73% of hospital admissions for Epilepsy, migraine and other episodic disorders required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
5.1 days was the mean length of stay in hospitals for Epilepsy, migraine and other episodic disorders in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
1 day was the median length of stay in hospitals for Epilepsy, migraine and other episodic disorders in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
more statistics...»

Work Days Lost for Migraine: Migraine victims alone lose over 157 million workdays because of headache pain. (Source: excerpt from Headache -- Hope Through Research: NINDS)