Migraine can start when the patient is a child, a teenager or an adolescent. It is often triggered by stress, connected to the monthly period or provoked by food (e.g. cheese, red wine, chocolate). About 10-15% of the patients have visual sensations (sparks, flashing lights) prior to the headache.
In a significant proportion of the cases, the headache is unilateral (one sided), spasmodic, pulsating but the side might change and it might be bilateral. Migraine headache can be intensified by physical exertion (e. g. taking the stairs). Nausea and vomiting are often the concomitant of migraine but bloating and constipation or, contrarily, diarrhea and excessive urination follow the migraine attack.
The pain could be so strong that noises and lights disturb the patient. The patient would like to be in a dark and noiseless room.
Patients who have migraine are usually valuable members of the society. Migraine more likely occurs with people who would like to match expectations in all fields of life, who would like to perform at the highest level and who are often stressed because it cannot always be accomplished.
Frequent migraine that affects work, makes human relations more difficult and hinders spending one’s free time pleasantly must be treated because nowadays, migraine attacks can be soothed effectively, their number can be reduced and they can be prevented or even terminated.
