Migraine Headache

1. A Visual Guide to Migraine Headaches Slideshow Pictures
2. Headache and Migraine Triggers Slideshow Pictures
3. Take the Migraines Quiz

Medical Author:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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• Migraine Headache Overview
• Migraine Headache Causes
• Migraine Headache Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Migraine Headache Diagnosis
• Migraine Headache Treatment
• Migraine Headache Self-Care at Home
• Migraine Headache Medical Treatment
• Migraine Headache Other Therapy
• Migraine Headache Follow-up
• Migraine Headache Prevention
• Migraine Headache Prognosis
• Multimedia
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors
• Related migraine articles:
  Migraine - on MedicineNet
• Read more on Migraine Headache from Healthwise
• Headaches FAQs
• Viewer Comments: Migraine Headache - Symptoms
• Viewer Comments: Migraine Headache - Effective Treatments

Migraine headaches are one of the most common problems seen in emergency departments and doctors' offices. Migraines are due to changes in the brain and surrounding blood vessels.

Migraine headaches typically last from 4 to 72 hours and vary in frequency from daily to fewer than one per year. According to the National Headache Foundation, more than 29.5 million Americans suffer from migraine, and it affects three times as many women as men. About 70% to 80% of people with migraines (called migraineurs) have other members in the family who have them too.

• Different types of migraine headaches:
• Common migraine accounts for 80% of migraines. There is no "aura" before a common migraine.
• People with classic migraines experience an aura before their headaches. Most often, an aura is a visual disturbance (outlines of lights or jagged light images). Classic migraines are usually much more severe than common migraines.
• Status migrainosus is a migraine attack that lasts more than 72 hours.

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