It is a neurological disorder that is characterised by severe and recurring headaches often on one side of the head.  Pain may last for 4-72 hours and may range form a sharp shooting pain to a dull pain.  It may begin at any age.  Young women are most susceptible.

» CAUSE:-

Migraine tends to run in families. Certain environmental stimuli cause an imbalance in the brain chemicals called neurotransmitters which might then cause the blood vessels to expand and cause the pain.  Some people may have a more sensitive nervous system than others making them more vulnerable.
Other risk factors may be stress, certain foods such as cheese, citrus fruits, chocolate or alcohol (particularly red wine), poor sleeping habits and hormonal changes.

» Symptoms:-

Most people have a warning period or ‘Aura’ before the onset of the actual headache.  Symptoms of an aura include:-
• Numbness or tingling of face or arm.
• Blurred vision or silvery zigzag lines moving across the field of vision.
• Confusion or disorientation
• Depression, irritability.
Other main migraine symptome includes:-
• Throbbing headache often only on one side of the head and aggravated by the routine work.
• Extreme sensitivity to the light and sound.
• Nauses and vamitting
• Desire to be quiet

» Precaution:-

Since a migraine attack cannot be totally avoided, the patient should take care that the precipitating factors are reduced to the minimum.  They must avoid foods that trigger an attack.  Regular exercise and stress management are helpful.