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what is a migraine

WHAT IS A MIGRAINE?

If you suffer from migraine headaches, you’re not alone.

Migraines affect about 12% of American adults.1 In fact, one in four households has a family member who gets migraine headaches.2

Migraine headaches are a common – but complex – condition

Despite its prevalence, migraine is a complex illness that affects people in very different ways. You may get migraine headaches once or twice a week, or once or twice a year.3 Untreated migraine attacks can last several hours, or a few days.4

Migraine headaches can strike at any time of day, although they often occur in the morning. While migraine headaches are almost three times more common among women, 6% of men suffer from them.2

The factors that trigger migraines vary widely from person to person, and the headaches can be accompanied by a variety of migraine symptoms.2,3 But one thing almost all migraine sufferers share is the experience of migraine pain.

Finding migraine relief

There is no cure for migraine. But there are steps you can take to gain control of your migraine headaches and find migraine relief. The first step may be understanding that migraine is a very real illness.3 Learn more about the migraine in this informative video.

Learn More About

Differences Between Migraines & Other Headaches

Find out what researchers know about migraine causes, and compare migraine vs. tension headaches.

Migraine Triggers

Learn to recognize what may be triggering your migraines.

Migraine Signs & Symptoms

Migraine headaches can have distinctive warning signs and symptoms.

References:

  1. American Migraine Foundation. Migraine-Who Does it Affect? Available at: http://www.americanmigrainefoundation.org/whatismigraine.aspx Last accessed July 2011.
  2. National Headache Foundation. Migraine Prevention Summit Proceedings. Prevalence and Impact of Migraine. AMPP Study Results. Available at: http://www.headaches.org/pdf/Monograph12.pdf. Last accessed July 2011.
  3. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Migraine Fact Sheet. Available at: http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/migraine.cfm Last accessed July 2011.
  4. National Headache Foundation. Migraine Prevention Summit Proceedings. Prevalence and Impact of Migraine. AMPP Study Results. Available at: http://www.headaches.org/pdf/Monograph12.pdf. Last accessed July 2011.

 

Tags: migraine causestypes of headaches, migraine treatments

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