What Really Causes a Migraine?

Migraines are more than just headaches. They’re pre-headaches, post-headaches, sensitivities, nausea, fatigue, and can even bring on food cravings. But most of all they are painful and frustrating for those who suffer from them. For years they were misunderstood, but now we know it comes down to two main things, your genes and your brain.

Migraines are a result of brain dysfunction. It is a problem that originates in the brain itself and is an abnormality with pain processing. There are four stages to the migraine, and only one is the headache itself.

A person starts out experiencing prodrome, this stage can last an entire day and can include yawning, trouble concentrating, increased urination, and cravings for things like chocolate. Then comes the aura, which means the migraine sufferer will see light spots, jagged lines, things like that in their vision or people might have a sensory aura like a pins and needles tingling sensation up one limb. This can last 5 to 60 minutes and is followed almost immediately by a headache.

People then can experience a headache hangover of sorts, or a postdrome, which is somewhat of a recovery phase.

Genes play a role in migraines. There are migraine causing genes and you can be genetically predisposed to having painful migraine headaches. Research has found that a reduction in a protein called CGRP, or calcitonin gene-related peptide, has been shown to correlate with migraine improvement and this research has led to more effective treatment for those who experience migraines.
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SICK is a new series that looks at how diseases actually work inside our body. We'll be visiting medical centers and talking to top researchers and doctors to uncover the mysteries of viruses, bacteria, fungi and our own immune system. Come back every Tuesday for a new episode and let us know in the comments which diseases you think we should cover next.
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Read More:
The Genetics of Migraine

The diagnosis and treatment of chronic migraine

The International Classification of Headache Disorders
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[schuletrip]

People who have never had a migraine don’t know how lucky they are!!

[assaultflamingo.]

The only good thing about having migraines that last for days, is the feeling you get the day when you wake up and take a deep breath and say to yourself "I'm alive again!"

[dmv]

The graphics of the brain being drummed on, etc. almost made my head hurt.

[SooperMoojer]

Stress, lack of sleep and being around certain people will bring them on.

[AzlianaLyana]

Every time I had a migraine, I feel want to crack my skull and take out that damn brain for a while.

[Tanuki-Sama]

I've had migraines since I was 3 and now I'm so used to the pain I don't even realize a migraine is coming until it's too late and I'm writhing in pain.
The worst is waking up like that and everyone telling you to suck it up when sometimes even lifting yourself up is too painful.

[QueenB]

There is no better feeling in the world than when a migraine that has lasted for days finally ends!!! It's almost like being brand new.

Some of us are extra sensitive and anything that smells too strong, is too loud or is too bright can bring a headache on instantly! There have been times that i coughed and gave myself a headache.

[bluewarm]

What's worse than migraine is that when you tried to explain it to people (employers, friends) that you may not be productive or you need to cancel plans due to migraine, and they responded with "really, migraine again??"

Then i'd have both migraine pain and guilt

[hoff]

"It's a really exciting time within the migraine world" such a weird sentence for those of us who suffer from them

[goodn]

*Me sees auras

Ahhh yess....my time has come

[zakiNBG]

yeeees please, finally get some working medication on the way. I'm sick of eating painkillers like candy some days x_x

[jaydentrostle]

As a high schooler that suffer migraines with insanely intense jaw pain, and eye pain behind my right eye since 2nd grade, my condolences go out to all of you. I know it sucks, but sometimes you still gotta get shit down. Good joo joo your guys’s way :)

[leocordero]

My mom gets this a lot, she would stay in bed since she got from work just to wake up the next day help me dress up for school and go to work again. I’ve been experiencing them lately and now I know how she felt. You seriously have to love your mom.

[InfansDeAter]

Man, having a brain must really suck. I feel so much better without mine.

[tonedeafbard]

Who’s watching this while having a migraine?

[James-ooyq]

I have had these migraine headaches for 35 years, sometimes I get two a month..other times 2 a year. I wish there was more knowledge and effective medication. They floor me for 2-3 days :(

[snwblind]

Is it just me or is the music abnormally loud compared to the voice? Like annoyingly big difference

[Chuloon]

My boyfriend suffers from nasty migraines many times a month, I wish I could take his suffering away ... I used to get horrible migraines as a child & in my 20s but now that I am in my early 30s somehow they have decreased dramatically. This was a great video, loved the graphics!

[genkidamatrunks]

I get all the worse symptoms. Only thing that ever helped me was a quiet dark room and ice pack over my eye. Always got them right behind my left eye.
On a few occasions i even thought about shooting myself. Somr of the worse pain I've ever dealt with.

[SusiBiker]

Great. Thank you. But please consider reducing the volume/losing the 'music'.