Members of the same family are often cursed with migraine and there is believed to be a hereditary link; however, science has not yet proved that there is a genetic factor at work. It is pressure from inflamed blood vessels that places pressure on the nerves near the brain that actually causes the awful pain. More women suffer from attacks and they comprise 75 percent of reported cases; only one in twelve men will experience an attack in their lives.
Some people with the complaint are able to sense when an attack is imminent; this is called migraine with aura. The signs for this attack seem to affect the senses and can include:
Sickness
Enlarged blind spots
Reduction in the sensations of taste
Problems speaking
These are the most commonly experienced symptoms. Migraine sufferers who do not have any warning are said to have attack without aura but still suffer extreme pain; this progressively builds up to full excruciating intensity which is aggravated by continuous motion, light or noise often causing nausea and vomiting.
It is believed that conditions that cause the blood vessels in the brain to contract could be an explanation for migraine but this still hasn't been proved so the search for cause continues. Some suggest that it is the rapid expansion after this narrowing that causes the awful headaches; however, all suffers say the attack knocks them out and they are unable to carry out even the most simple of daily tasks. There are many possible triggers for an attack some of which are shown below:
Poor weather conditions
Certain types of food
High altitude
Particular drinks
Powerful bright lighting
Not enough food
Work related stress
Learning how to cope with anxiety and migrains means monitoring and recording the triggers in a diary can help avoid future attacks so it is something that all sufferers must learn to carry out.