Migraine

A migraine is a headache so intense it can cause nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine headaches can last from 4-72 hours. Nearly 12% of people in the United States experience migraine, but it is 3 times more likely to affect women than men.

Migraine headaches can be a challenge to diagnose and manage without expert help. Our doctors specialize in offering the leading migraine treatments at The University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City.

Migraine affects 39 million people in the United States and up to a billion people worldwide. These severe headaches are most common among those aged 25-55 and tend to run in families.

More than just a bad headache, a migraine is considered a neurological disease and carries with it serious symptoms. 90% of people who have migraines have a headache-related disability. Often, warning signs – like visual disturbances and auras – precede the migraine itself. Migraines can also occur in stages.

There are several different types of migraine headache.

Properly treating a migraine depends upon accurately diagnosing it. Migraines are different from other headaches. They last longer than 4 hours and include at least 2 of the following:

• Moderate to severe pain
• Pain that's more intense on one side of the head
• Pulsating and/or throbbing
• Symptoms severe enough to cause the avoidance of daily activities

The migraine must also meet 1 of the following criteria:

• Causes intolerance of light and/or sound
• Causes nausea and/or vomiting

Finally, the headache must not be caused by something else. This often presents the greatest challenge. Some red flags suggesting other causes include:

• Headaches in people who have cancer, are pregnant or who are immunocompromised
• Headaches that wake you from sleep, are worse when lying down or are associated with focal neurological signs
• Headaches with high fever
• Pain described as the worst headache of your life
• Sudden onset of headache at age 50 or older

These situations suggest the possibility of a tumor, infection, aneurysm or intracranial hypertension. For these cases, the interdisciplinary approach we practice can be valuable in determining the cause of pain.

If you’re suffering from migraines, a medical history and description of your symptoms may be enough for your doctor to determine a diagnosis. However, your doctor may also recommend imaging tests such as an MRI or a CT scan to rule out other possible causes for your migraine symptoms.

Half of migraine patients do not seek medical help. However, there are many treatment options available. Migraine treatments typically focus on either preventing the onset of a migraine, minimizing the effects of a migraine once it’s already occurred or a combination of both. Possible treatments include:

• Injectable medications, like BOTOX® and CGRP monoclonal antibodies
• Lifestyle changes, such as ensuring a regular sleep schedule or avoiding certain foods that you’ve identified as migraine triggers
• Taking an oral medication every day to prevent the onset of a migraine
• Taking medication at the onset of symptoms to limit the length and severity of your migraine

Depending on your personal history with migraines and the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may recommend one or several of these treatments.