Women and Migraine

A severe headache often associated with visual disturbances and nausea or vomiting. Age first attack usually occurs by age 30; incidence with age. Gender more common in females; genetics sometimes runs in families; lifestyle stress and certain foods can trigger an attack. In the US each year, about 25 million people experience a migraine. Migraine is more common in women and people over age 40, but they can occur in children as young as 3 years old. Migraine headaches recur at intervals of varying length. Some people have attacks several times a month; others have less than one a year. Most people find that migraine attacks occur less frequently and become less severe as they get older.

There are two major types of migraine headache; migraine headache; migraine with an aura and migraine without an aura. An aura is a group of symptoms, mainly usual, that develops before the onset of the main headache. Migraine with aura accounts for about 1 in 5 of all migraine cases. Some people experience both types of migraine at different times.

What are the causes?

The underlying cause of migraine is unknown, but increased blood flow as a result of widening of the blood vessels in the brain is known to occur during a migraine. About 8 in10 people who have migraine have a close relative with the disorder. Stress and depression may be trigger factors, as may the relief of stress, such as relaxing after a difficult are missed meals, lack of sleep. And certain foods, such as cheese or chocolate. Many women find that their migraines often occur around the time of menstruation.

What are the symptoms?

Migraine headaches, either with or without aura, are sometimes preceded by a group of symptoms preceded by a group of symptoms that are collectively known as a prodrome symptoms tend to appear about an hour before the main symptoms begin, the prodrome often includes:-

• Anxiety or mood changes.
• Altered sense of taste and smell.
• Either an excess or a lack of energy.
• People who have a migraine with aura experience a number of further symptoms before the migration, including visual disturbances, such as blurry vision and bright flashes. Pins and needles, numbness, or a sensation of weakness on the face or on one side of the body.
• The main symptoms, common to both types of migraine, then develop. These symptoms include; headache that is severe, throbbing, made worse by movement and usually felt on one side of the head, over one eye, or around one temple, Nausea or vomiting.