What is migraine?

Migraine is a neurological disorder causing recurrent attacks. Headache may accompany nausea and sensitivity to light or sound, sometimes with temporary aura symptoms. Not every headache is migraine. Diagnosis relies on patterns and, when necessary, excluding other causes.

Features and diagnosis

1. Pain characteristics Pain is often throbbing and worsened by activity. It may be one-sided but need not be. Functional impact and associated symptoms matter. Fatigue can occur before or after headache. 2. Aura Visual or sensory disturbances can develop. First-time sudden vision loss, speech problems or weakness must not automatically be labeled aura. Stroke can resemble it; new or different neurological symptoms require rapid assessment. 3. Triggers Irregular sleep, skipped meals, stress changes and other factors can contribute individually. Universal food bans are inappropriate. Diaries record frequency, duration, associated symptoms and medicines.

Management and safety

4. Treatment choices Acute treatments and preventive therapies serve different purposes. Selection depends on health circumstances; an online recommendation may be unsuitable during pregnancy or with other conditions. 5. Routine and overuse Regular sleep, meals and appropriate activity can support control. Frequent painkiller use can perpetuate headaches in some people. Discuss medication frequency rather than simply seeking stronger products. 6. Emergencies Sudden extremely severe pain, neurological deficits, fever with neck stiffness or post-injury headache needs urgent assessment. A markedly different attack matters even with established migraine: previous diagnosis does not exclude a new dangerous cause.