Dispelling the Migraine Myths That Are Assumed to be True

You probably have heard of migraines, or you or someone you know has had them. Migraines can bring on severe pain and could be a sign of an underlying cause. Sometimes you might even get one for no reason at all. Migraines have been classified as a debilitating neurological disease that affects about 1 billion of the population worldwide. Even though migraines are prevalent in our society, there is not much known about them. Migraines are most common in women, with statistics showing about 1 in 5 women are affected by them. In men, it's almost three times as less common, with almost 1 in 16 men affected by them. Migraines are most common between the ages of 25 through 55, but migraines can also start in childhood or adolescence.

Migraines are so understudied that there are only 500 headache specialists and 39 million migraines sufferers in the United States. In fact, almost half of all migraine sufferers are never diagnosed. They have to suffer in silence because most doctors do not know how to treat it. This has lead to economic consequences, where businesses lose billions of dollars to workers calling out sick every year. Millions of Emergency Room visits are from acute migraine sufferers because the information and knowledge of migraines are not publicly known.

Since migraines are not well researched, therefore there are common misconceptions of them floating around online. Many of these misconceptions depersonalize and stigmatize sufferers of this disease. Migraines have been classified as a neurological disease with debilitating symptoms, and some sufferers with extreme migraines are considered disabled. This disease also can be recurring where some sufferers can have migraines up to 15 days a month. You can also get a migraine rarely, with seemingly no cause and can only happen once in your life. What we do know is migraines are mostly genetic, so if you know someone in your family who has suffered from migraines, you will most likely have a migraine at some point in your life.

Questions and Answers

After learning all of this information about migraines, you probably have questions on what a migraine feels like, how to treat it, and other questions about migraines. What follows are some of the most common ones. 

Q: How do I know if I am going to have a migraine?

A: Signs of a migraine can usually happen 24 to 48 hours before a migraine. These symptoms are called "Prodrome" and include constipation, food cravings, stiffened neck, mood swings, continual yawning, recurrent thirst, and constant urination. These mood changes can include an exuberant feeling called euphoria or an episode of depression. However, you may not experience these symptoms or they can be so subtle you do not notice it. Before or during a migraine, you could experience vision problems and sensory symptoms as well. These include vision problems, muscle fatigue, auditory and visual hallucinations, along with numbness on one side of the body and tingling in your arms or legs. During a migraine, you experience these symptoms along with nausea, vertigo, and dizziness.

Q: What does is it feel like to have a migraine, compared to a regular headache?

A: Having a migraine is different from a regular headache because it is a throbbing pain in one side of the head, or throughout the whole head. Migraines can last for days if untreated, while a headache can last for hours. After a migraine, you could experience a feeling of euphoria, but you can also experience confusion, dizziness, and weakness.

Q: What can I do if I have a migraine?

A: When you have a migraine it is best to rest and drink plenty of fluids to keep your brain hydrated. But if you treat a migraine with medications, you can put yourself at risk for an even worse migraine in the future. These medications are an only temporary relief, and you should see a doctor if migraines are recurrent or extreme.

Q: How can I prevent future migraines?

A: Preventing future migraines is a mystery in itself, but some preventative measures are making sure to eat a healthy diet, stay hydrated, and exercise regularly. It is best to talk to your doctor for personalized preventative measures.

Q: What can cause a migraine?

A: Some causes of migraines that are documented are hormonal changes in women, structural changes in the brain, and stress. However, it is best to see your doctor to see the underlying cause.