Understanding Migraine and Cluster Headache Medic (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- What Are Migraine and Cluster Headaches?
- What Causes Migraine and Cluster Headaches?
- What Are the Risks of Migraine and Cluster Headaches?
- How Are Migraine and Cluster Headaches Treated?
- Migraine Headache Abortive Therapy
- Cluster Headache Abortive Therapy
- Triptans
- Ergot Alkaloids
- Migraine Headache Preventive Therapy
- Cluster Headache Preventive Therapy
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
What Causes Migraine and Cluster Headaches?
Many experts believe that migraine and cluster headaches share a common cause that begins in the nerve that carries sensation from the head to the brain (trigeminal nerve). Blood vessels on the brain’s surface expand (dilate), causing swelling in an area and pressure on nerve endings. The nerve endings submit signals to the brain to perceive pain. This may also explain some other symptoms associated with migraines, such as nausea, vomiting, and visual disturbances.
Next: What Are the Risks of Migraine and Cluster Headaches? »
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Migraine Headache »
Although migraine is a term applied to certain headaches with a vascular quality, overwhelming evidence suggests that migraine is a dominantly inherited disorder characterized by varying degrees of recurrent vascular-quality headache, photophobia, sleep disruption, and depression.
