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Headache Headache Basics

What Makes a Migraine?

Summary & Participants

Find out the latest on what causes migraines - one of the world's most painful and debilitating afflictions.

Medically Reviewed On: August 05, 2008

Webcast Transcript

Cathy, Migraine Sufferer: The days that I have migraines when I wake up, you know, I just feel like such a different person.

ANNOUNCER: Cathy’s migraines make it difficult for her to function.

Cathy, Migraine Sufferer: It would really feel like, like a truck came and knocked you over and you were like trying to get up from that hit. That’s what it feels like.

ANNOUNCER: An attack can be so debilitating that migraines are ranked among the world’s most disabling conditions.

Alexander Mauskop, MD, Headache Specialist: When you're having a severe migraine with nausea, you cannot raise your head off the pillow, you're feeling nauseous, you cannot tolerate any light, any noise and the headache can keep you in bed for several days at a time.

ANNOUNCER: Migraines affect more than 28 million Americans – yet only half of them see a doctor for the problem. But discoveries about what causes migraines have led to a variety of new, more effective treatments.

Alexander Mauskop, MD, Headache Specialist: Migraine is an excessive activation of the nervous system. The nerve cells, the neurons in the brain is where the problem begins. The blood vessels do react to these changes, but, in fact, they're secondary to the brain disorder.

ANNOUNCER: Researchers also believe that genetics play a major role.

Alexander Mauskop, MD, Headache Specialist: You're born with a genetic predisposition, but there are triggers that bring the headaches on. The most common trigger is stress. Weather changes, biometric pressure drops or the menstrual cycle in women or exposure to bright light, loud noises, smells, all those are triggers.

ANNOUNCER: Certain foods can also be a trigger. But while figuring out specific triggers can be difficult, diagnosing migraines is not.

Alexander Mauskop, MD, Headache Specialist: Any patient with a severe headache which interrupts their normal functioning should see a physician. Chances are it’s a migraine, especially if you’ve had them before.

ANNOUNCER: Thanks for joining us on today’s Once Daily.