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Evidence-based education to help you understand your neurological condition, recognize patterns, and take control of your care.
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Migraine is a complex neurological condition that affects more than one billion people worldwide[1][9]. It is far more than “just a headache”, it is one of the world’s leading causes of disability[10]. During an attack, the nervous system becomes hyper-reactive, triggering a cascade of symptoms that can last anywhere from a few hours to several days.
Researchers believe migraine involves changes in brain chemistry, nerve signaling, and blood flow. Genetics play a significant role , if a close family member has migraine, you are more likely to experience it too. While there is no cure, many effective treatments and management strategies exist.
A migraine attack is not just a headache, it is a neurological event that can unfold in up to four distinct stages. Not everyone experiences every stage, and the symptoms, duration, and intensity can vary widely from person to person and even from attack to attack.
Hours to days before the headache
The prodrome is your body’s early warning system[11]. Subtle changes can begin hours or even a day or two before a migraine attack hits. Many people don’t recognize these signs at first, but learning to spot them can give you a valuable head start on treatment.
5 to 60 minutes before or during the headache
About 25–30% of people with migraine experience aura[3][12]. These are temporary neurological disturbances that usually develop gradually and resolve before or during the headache phase. Aura symptoms originate from the brain, not the eyes.
4 to 72 hours
This is the phase most people associate with migraine, but the headache is just one part of a much larger neurological event. Some people experience all the other stages without ever getting a headache at all (“silent migraine”).
24 to 48 hours after the headache
Often called the “migraine hangover,” the postdrome phase is frequently overlooked but can be just as debilitating as the headache itself. Your brain is recovering from a significant neurological event, and it needs time.
Migraine is not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis. It is broadly divided into two categories based on frequency, and within those categories there are many distinct subtypes, each with its own set of symptoms and challenges.
Fewer than 15 headache days per month. Attacks come and go with periods of relief in between. This is the most common form of migraine. With proper management, many people with episodic migraine can reduce their attack frequency and severity.
15 or more headache days per month, with at least 8 of those meeting migraine criteria, for more than 3 months[2]. Chronic migraine can develop over time from episodic migraine, particularly when attacks are undertreated or when medication overuse occurs.
Within both episodic and chronic migraine, there are many subtypes. Understanding your specific type can help guide treatment and give you language to advocate for yourself with providers.
The most common subtype, accounting for about 70–75% of all migraine. Involves moderate to severe head pain with symptoms like nausea, light sensitivity, and sound sensitivity — but without the neurological warning signs of aura.
Affects about 25–30% of people with migraine. Aura symptoms — such as visual disturbances, tingling, numbness, or speech changes — typically develop gradually over 5–60 minutes before or during the headache phase.
One of the most underdiagnosed types. Characterized by episodes of dizziness, vertigo, and balance problems that can last minutes to days. Head pain may or may not be present. It is the most common cause of episodic vertigo.
A rare and often frightening subtype that causes temporary motor weakness or paralysis on one side of the body during the aura phase. Symptoms can mimic a stroke. It can be familial (inherited) or sporadic.
Previously called basilar migraine. Aura symptoms originate from the brainstem and can include vertigo, slurred speech, double vision, ringing in the ears, and loss of coordination. It does not include motor weakness.
Involves repeated episodes of temporary, partial, or complete vision loss in one eye, accompanied or followed by a headache. It is rare and requires careful evaluation to rule out other causes of vision loss.
All the neurological symptoms of migraine — aura, nausea, light sensitivity, brain fog — but without the headache. Often goes undiagnosed because people don’t associate their symptoms with migraine.
Attacks that are closely linked to the menstrual cycle, typically occurring in the 2 days before through the first 3 days of menstruation. Driven by the drop in estrogen levels. These attacks tend to be longer, more severe, and harder to treat.
Most common in children. Causes episodes of moderate to severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting — often without a headache. Many children with abdominal migraine go on to develop more typical migraine as adults.
A debilitating migraine attack that lasts longer than 72 hours. Considered a medical complication of migraine that may require emergency treatment, IV fluids, and rescue medications.
Also known as rebound headache. Develops when acute migraine medications are used too frequently (typically more than 10–15 days per month), paradoxically causing more headaches. Breaking the cycle often requires medical supervision.
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