Healthy Mind, Healthy Body

Migraines

 The difference between a garden-variety headache and a migraine is like comparing a rain shower and a thunderstorm. While normal headaches are a nuisance, the pain and other symptoms that typically occur with a migraine often make everyday tasks impossible. At least 12 percent of the U.S. population — 38 million people — suffer with migraines, according to a March 2013 report in the journal Headache. Women are three times more likely to have migraines than men are.

More Than Bad Headaches

Migraines are a nervous system disease that usually runs in families. In fact, you may be three times more likely to get migraines if you have a close relative — such as a parent, sister or brother — who also has the condition.
The brains of people who get migraines are overly sensitive to certain environmental factors that can trigger a migraine. When you encounter such a trigger, a series of abnormal reactions occurs in your brain leading to a migraine. Although migraine triggers differ from one person to another, common examples include:

• stress or anxiety
• too little or too much sleep
• hunger
• alcohol
• strong odors
• bright light
• strenuous exercise or sex
• hormonal changes related to menstrual periods
• certain foods, such as hard cheese and chocolate