Migraines are headaches that only occur on one side of the head. They are usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, light sensitivities, and in some cases, hallucinations.

No one knows what the exact causes of a migraine is, but they have found common things that can trigger it. Factors such as stress, lack of sleep, a reaction to food, or as in most cases, migraines are simply hereditary. Other physicians will tell you that a migraine is caused by a restricted flow of blood to the head.

Migraines are different from a common headache, in that headaches are just one of the common symptoms of a migraine. Some people do not even get headaches, but instead, experience other symptoms. One sign that you might be getting a migraine headache is if you start seeing ‘auras’, little cris-crossing lines that momentarily suspends your ability to see. You can also get mood swings prior to an attack.

Research shows that about 10-20% of the population suffer from migraines worldwide. Within that statistic, women are proven to have it more than men, and mostly happen to younger, and not older people. People report getting one, or even as much as ten migraine attacks in a month.

Westerners are more predisposed to having migraines compared to Asians. Of those that do get them, as much as 50% have a family history of migraine sufferes.

There are many factors that can cause a migraine attack. One way of finding out what causes you migraine, is to jot down possible triggers in a notebook, right before an attack. It could turn out to be something avoidable, such as a particular food, or something totally out of your contral, such as a change in weather.

There are a number of ways that you can do to avoid getting migraines, such as exercising regularly and getting enough sleep. Having a healthy and balanced diet, as well as reducing the amount of stress is also key to keeping migraines at bay.