{"id":34129,"date":"2021-06-16T09:30:23","date_gmt":"2021-06-16T13:30:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=34129"},"modified":"2023-04-17T08:59:42","modified_gmt":"2023-04-17T12:59:42","slug":"migraine-definition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/migraine-definition\/","title":{"rendered":"What is migraine? Your guide to talking about the condition"},"content":{"rendered":"

Migraine definition<\/a> | Migraine vs. headache<\/a> | Migraine vs. migraines<\/a> | Stages of a migraine<\/a> | Types of migraine<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Chances are if you don\u2019t live with migraine headaches yourself, you know someone who does. About 39 million Americans experience migraine in some form, according to the<\/span> Migraine Research Foundation<\/span><\/a>. The medical condition affects women, men, and children\u2014and is even known to run in families.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If migraines are totally new to you, don\u2019t worry: June is<\/span> Migraine and Headache Awareness Month<\/span><\/a>. Now is the perfect time to learn more about the definition of \u201cmigraine\u201d and other common terms. Read on to find out what migraines are, how they differ from normal headaches, and the many ways they present.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a migraine?<\/h2>\n

Migraine is a neurological condition characterized by intense, throbbing head pain and, typically, includes other physical symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, or smell. It\u2019s not simply a bad headache, but a full-body event that, by definition, is a recurrent event.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Migraine headaches don\u2019t have one cause. Migraines often run in families. <\/span>The common forms of migraine are thought to be complex genetic disorders\u2014such that multiple genes at different gene sites act with environmental factors to make the patient susceptible to migraines. <\/span>The triggers are different for everyone, and include hormonal changes, stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, and environmental risk factors such as weather changes, certain foods (like aged cheeses), drinks, and exposure to allergens. Whatever the specific cause, though, people with migraine all have abnormal activity in the area of their brain that regulates pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe trigeminal nerve of the brain has terminal fibers that conduct pain signals,\u201d says <\/span>Medhat Mikhael, MD<\/span><\/a>, pain management specialist and medical director of MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center’s Spine Health Center.<\/span><\/p>\n

When these terminal fibers, which act like messenger neurons, get irritated by a trigger, the fibers release a protein called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). CGRP causes<\/span> inflammation in the mast cells of your brain<\/span><\/a>, Dr. Mikhael explains, which then triggers the signature intense throbbing pain of a migraine.<\/span><\/p>\n

This pain is often, but not always, unilateral. In other words, it usually affects one side of the head. In fact, unilateral pain is one of a handful of signs that you\u2019re experiencing a migraine, not a typical tension or sinus headache.<\/span><\/p>\n

In short, migraine headaches happen when nerves in your brain responsible for sending pain signals become irritated, releasing a protein that inflames the brain and causes intense pain, a.k.a. a migraine headache.<\/span><\/p>\n

Migraine vs. headache symptom comparison<\/h2>\n

Common migraine symptoms and other types of headaches may have the following characteristics.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Migraine<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nHeadache<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Unilateral pain<\/span><\/td>\nPain on both sides of head; may feel like a band around the whole head or may only affect temples, back of head, forehead, etc.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Throbbing, pulsing pain<\/span><\/td>\nTight, aching pain<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Moderate to severe<\/span><\/td>\nMild, moderate, or severe<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nausea and\/or vomiting<\/span><\/td>\nMild nausea possible<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sensitivity to light, sound, or smell<\/span><\/td>\n–<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gets worse with movement or physical activity<\/span><\/td>\n–<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Has known triggers (hormones,<\/span><\/p>\n

change in temperature, strong smells, etc.) as well as unknown ones<\/span><\/td>\n

Usually triggered by sleep deprivation, excessive caffeine or alcohol, stress, illness, poor posture, etc.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

RELATED: <\/b>More about migraine: Types of headaches and treatment options<\/b><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Migraine vs. migraines<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve ever talked to someone about their migraine headaches, they might have said \u201cI get migraines.\u201d Or, they might have said \u201cI have migraine.\u201d And you…well, you might have been confused. Is there really a difference, or is this just a \u201cYou say po-TAY-to, I say po-TAH-to\u201d kind of situation?<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, there <\/span>is <\/span><\/i>a difference! It\u2019s fairly easy to understand, too, says <\/span>Deborah I. Friedman, MD<\/span><\/a>, professor of neurology and ophthalmology at UT Southwestern Medical Center.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe use <\/span>migraine<\/span><\/i> to describe the overall disorder and <\/span>migraines<\/span><\/i> to describe the actual episodes [of headaches],\u201d Dr. Friedman explains. \u201cSo we would say \u2018The patient has migraine,\u2019 just like we would say \u2018The patient has hypertension [high blood pressure].\u2019\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So your hypothetical friend would be right either way: If you\u2019re telling someone you live with recurring episodes of migraine headaches, you can use the plural and say \u201cI get migraines.\u201d The singular use of migraine, on the other hand, can be used to describe your neurological disorder (\u201cI have migraine.\u201d) or a single headache attack (\u201cI have a migraine right now.\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n

Want to know more about migraine? These terms will give you a more complete picture of this condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chronic migraine<\/span><\/h2>\n

Chronic migraine means you have 15 or more migraine days per month, says Dr. Mikhael. Less than that, and you\u2019re classified as having episodic migraine.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChronic migraine headaches not only happen frequently but last much longer, sometimes more than one day, and don\u2019t ease up or go away [without intervention],\u201d he adds.<\/span><\/p>\n

The distinction between episodic and chronic migraine is especially important when it comes to treatment; typically, once your migraines become chronic, you meet the diagnostic criteria for being <\/span>prescribed a preventive medication<\/span><\/a> instead of relying only on acute treatment of migraine. Meaning, your physician may prescribe you daily medicine to take prophylactically to prevent attacks rather than only treating attacks after they start.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are four main ways to approach treatment of migraine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Avoid triggers: <\/b>The best defense is a strong offense. So, take note of your migraine triggers. Avoid them. Change your diet. Decrease stress. Sleep more. Limit use of acute headache medicine to decrease overuse headaches.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Preventive medications: <\/b>These daily medications stop a migraine headache before it starts. They can include:<\/span>\n
      \n
    1. Beta blockers such as <\/span>Inderal (propranolol)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
    2. Anticonvulsants\u2014also used to treat epilepsy\u2014such as <\/span>Depakote (divalproex sodium)<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Topamax (topiramate)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
    3. Antidepressants such as <\/span>Elavil (amitriptyline)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
    4. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists such as <\/span>Emgality (galcanezumab-gnlm)<\/span><\/a> and Aimovig<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n
    5. Botox (botulinum toxin)<\/span><\/a> injections<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
    6. Abortive medications:<\/b> Designed to stop migraine pain in its tracks, these prescriptions can include triptans such as <\/span>Imitrex (sumatriptan)<\/span><\/a>, ergotamines such as <\/span>Migranal (dihydroergotamine nasal spray)<\/span><\/a>, and CGRP antagonists such as <\/span>Ubrelvy (ubrogepant)<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Nurtec ODT (rimegepant)<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n
    7. Rescue medications:<\/b> These medications are used if abortive treatments fail, or can\u2019t be taken. They include prescription medications such as <\/span>Zofran (ondansetron)<\/span><\/a> or Toradol (ketorolac), and over-the-counter pain relief meds like <\/span>Tylenol (acetaminophen)<\/span><\/a>, or <\/span>Advil (ibuprofen)<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Many people with migraine need more than one kind of meds to prevent and treat migraines.\u00a0 Lifestyle change can decrease the frequency and severity of episodes\u2014allowing you to be more reliable at work and more involved in your relationships.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      RELATED: <\/b>More migraine treatments and medications<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

      Migraine attack<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

      People use the term migraine attack to refer to the<\/span> stages of having a migraine<\/span><\/a>. The term episode can be used interchangeably with attack. Someone who says they are having a migraine attack means they are somewhere in the timeline of starting, experiencing, or recovering from a migraine. If they say they had an attack in the past tense, try to understand that they may not\u00a0 have a headache only for a few hours\u2014they may have been in various stages of a migraine for days!<\/span><\/p>\n

      Phases of migraine<\/h2>\n

      There are four parts to a migraine. Not everyone will experience all four phases with every attack and the duration of each phase can differ with each migraine attack.<\/span><\/p>\n

      1. Prodrome<\/span><\/h3>\n

      This is the early warning stage of migraine: you don\u2019t have a headache yet, but it\u2019s coming. The prodrome phase can start anywhere from minutes to days before the actual headache begins, according to Dr. Friedman.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Typical symptoms of migraine prodrome phase include:<\/span><\/p>\n