Medical information for patients

Migraine

Migraine is a form of headache which is severe and usually one sided, frequently associated with nausea and vomiting. This is sometimes preceded by warning symptoms which usually affect the eyesight and are known as an "aura".

Symptoms

People sometimes feel not quite right prior to a migraine, for example depressed, unusually happy or hungry, and in addition may suffer from visual changes such as flashing, zigzag lines, or a blind spot. Sometimes the symptoms are even more extreme. The headache is usually one sided although it is not invariably the same side. Quite quickly nausea and vomiting may follow. The bowels may also be affected and in children sometimes there is no headache but abdominal pain instead.

Causes

Each person is different but there are some "trigger" factors that are commonly involved:

Treatment and prevention

Further information

Books

"Daily Telegraph" Migraine, by Valerie South
Step by step guide for patients, published by the Daily Telegraph and recommended by Dr James Le Fanu.
Understanding Migraine & Other Headaches, by Dr Anne MacGregor
Information for patients, published by the British Medical Association.
More books
Search Amazon.co.uk for more books on Migraine

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