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February 3, 2012
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Migraine Headache

Medical Author:
Amelito Malapira, MD
Medical Editor:
Joseph Carcione Jr, DO, MBA
Medical Editor:
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD
Medical Editor:
James H Halsey, MD

Migraine Headache Overview

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 4-72 hours and vary in frequency fromdaily to fewer than 1 per year. Migraine affects about 15% of the population. Three times as many women as men have migraines. More than 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 that does not go away by itself.

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Migraine Headache - Symptoms

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

What are your migraine headache symptoms?

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Migraine Headache - Effective Treatments

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What kinds of treatments have been effective for your migraine headache?

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Migraine Headache

Worst Headache of Your Life »

Worst Headache of Your Life Overview

Headaches are a common reason for a visit to a health care practitioner. Almost everyone suffers headaches occasionally. Some people have more serious types of headaches requiring specialized medical treatment. On rare occasions, a headache may be a symptom of a life-threatening problem. The "worst headache of your life" may be a symptom of a medical emergency. People with this symptom should be evaluated emergently.

Worst Headache of Your Life Causes

There are many types and causes of headaches. Some of them include:

  • Tension headaches

  • Migraine headaches

  • Meningitis or an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord

  • Tumors

  • Temporal or giant cell arteritis, an inflammation or swelling of blood vessels in the head

  • Head injury with or withou...





Read the Worst Headache of Your Life article »


Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Migraine Headache »

Migraines are severe, throbbing headaches frequently located in the temples or frontal head regions.

Read More on Medscape Reference »

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