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If you don’t experience migraines personally, you might assume it’s just a bad headache. However, excruciating head pain is only one aspect of the condition known as migraine disorder. Other frequent symptoms include nausea, dizziness, extreme fatigue, heightened sensitivity to light and sound, and sometimes even short-term blindness. The manifestation of migraines varies across individuals, and medical professionals are just beginning to uncover the full scope of the disorder and effective treatment options. Here are some of the most enlightening insights we have on migraine disorder.
1. IT'S THE THIRD MOST PREVALENT DISEASE GLOBALLY.
Even if you don’t experience migraines, it's likely you know someone who does. The disorder affects 14.7 percent of the global population, meaning one in seven people worldwide. In the U.S., approximately 39 million individuals are affected. Chronic migraines, characterized by at least 15 headache days per month, with over half being migraines, are less common, affecting around 2 percent of the global population.
2. WOMEN ARE MORE AFFECTED THAN MEN.
Among the one billion individuals worldwide who suffer from migraine disorder, approximately 75% are women. Experts believe this is linked to the hormonal fluctuations typical in women. Research from 2018 highlights that NHE1, a protein that manages the movement of protons and sodium ions across cell membranes, plays a key role in migraine headaches. NHE1 levels likely fluctuate more significantly in women than in men. Studies on lab rats revealed that NHE1 was lowest when estrogen was highest, and female rats had about four times as much NHE1 in their brains as males. If similar patterns exist in humans, it may explain why women are more prone to migraines, why they experience them more frequently and intensely, and why they face greater challenges in treatment.
3. MIGRAINE TRIGGERS CAN BE HIGHLY VARIABLE.
For both physicians and patients, identifying migraine triggers can be perplexing. These triggers differ greatly between individuals and often originate from unrelated sources. Common triggers include stress, irregular sleep patterns, dehydration, alcohol, and caffeine. Some individuals experience migraines after consuming certain foods like cheese, while others are sensitive to weather changes, particularly fluctuations in barometric pressure. Many people manage their migraines by identifying and avoiding these triggers.
4. AURAS CAN SERVE AS A SIGNAL OF AN IMMINENT MIGRAINE.
Before the dizziness, nausea, and intense headache set in, some individuals experience auras as a warning sign that a migraine is approaching. Fewer than 25% of those with migraines experience sensory disturbances such as tingling or numbness in the face or hands, or flashes of light or dark spots disrupting their vision. Auras typically occur 10 to 30 minutes before a migraine begins and can last anywhere from five minutes to one hour.
5. SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE TEMPORARY VISION LOSS …
Unlike migraines with aura, retinal migraines are confined to just one eye. Symptoms can range from seeing shimmering stars to partial or total loss of vision. The affected eye is almost always the same, and vision typically returns within 10 to 20 minutes.
6. … AND TEMPORARY LOSS OF BODY FUNCTION.
One of the rarest and most frightening forms of migraine is hemiplegic migraine. This type can cause weakness, numbness, tingling, or loss of motor control in one side of the body, including the face, arm, or leg. While these symptoms usually subside within 24 hours, they can persist for anywhere from one hour to several days. Occasionally, they occur with typical migraine symptoms like head pain, but sometimes they appear on their own.
7. MIGRAINES AFFECT CHILDREN TOO.
Migraine is not only an adult issue—up to 10% of school-aged children are affected, with some reports indicating children as young as 18 months suffer from the disorder. According to the 2018 documentary *Out of My Head*, migraines are the third most frequent cause for child emergency room visits. Migraine symptoms in children are similar to those seen in adults, including intense head pain, nausea, blurred vision, and heightened sensitivity to light and sound. However, children's migraines tend to develop suddenly and are often shorter in duration. For many kids, nausea and stomach pain can be more intense than the headaches themselves. While some individuals don’t experience their first migraine until puberty, some children outgrow the condition. A study found that 23% of children who had migraines saw their symptoms disappear by the age of 25.
8. MIGRAINES MAY RUN IN FAMILIES.
For most individuals with migraine disorder, it tends to be hereditary. Between 80 to 90% of those with migraines report having at least one family member who also suffers from the condition. If one parent has migraines, there is a 50% chance their child will experience them as well, and if both parents are affected, the likelihood increases to 75%.
9. MANY VETERANS RETURN WITH MIGRAINES.
Genetics isn’t the only factor influencing the likelihood of developing migraine disorder. A study found that after a 12-month deployment in Iraq, 36% of veterans showed signs of migraine. The primary cause is often head or neck trauma resulting from explosions, falls, or other accidents during their service. While post-traumatic migraines tend to resolve within a few months for most patients, in some cases, they can evolve into a chronic condition.
10. MIGRAINE IS CONNECTED TO THE "SECOND BRAIN" IN YOUR GUT.
Humans not only have a nervous system that reacts to external stimuli, but they also possess an enteric nervous system that governs digestion. Some medical professionals believe migraine is closely linked to this 'second brain.' Those with migraines are twice as likely to experience IBS compared to individuals with tension headaches. Abdominal migraine, where the pain is concentrated in the stomach rather than the head, is one type of migraine. It is more commonly seen in children, though it can affect adults as well.
11. DESPITE THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OF MIGRAINE DISORDER, RESEARCH LACKS ADEQUATE FUNDING.
In 2017, the National Institutes of Health allocated $22 million for migraine research. In comparison, asthma research received $286 million, breast cancer research received $689 million, and diabetes research was allocated $1.1 billion.
12. THE DISORDER COSTS UP TO $13 BILLION ANNUALLY.
Although migraine is not life-threatening like some other conditions, its widespread nature creates a significant societal burden. Workers with migraines frequently take extensive time off, costing employers. *Out of My Head* estimates that 113 million workdays are lost annually due to migraines, leading to an economic loss of up to $13 billion.
13. MIGRAINE MAY HAVE INSPIRED ELEMENTS OF *ALICE IN WONDERLAND* …
In the beloved children’s book, Alice drinks a potion that causes her to grow to enormous size and eats a cookie that shrinks her down to a tiny scale. Those who suffer from migraines may relate to these moments. Symptoms of migraines can include *micropsia and macropsia*, where objects seem either much smaller or larger than they actually are. Some speculate that *Alice in Wonderland* author *Lewis Carroll* may have had migraines and incorporated his experiences into the story. The connection between the book and migraines is so well known that today, these symptoms are commonly referred to as Alice in Wonderland Syndrome.
14. … AND AFFECTED A FOUNDING FATHER.
Another historical figure who likely battled migraines was Thomas Jefferson. His migraines could last for weeks and often flared up during stressful periods. One significant episode occurred during one of the most pivotal moments in his political career. In June 1790, Jefferson hosted Federalist *Alexander Hamilton* and Republican *James Madison* for a dinner, hoping to broker a deal on where to locate the new U.S. capital. Despite battling a migraine that night, he succeeded in striking the compromise that established the capital on the Potomac River, nestled between Maryland and Virginia. As part of the deal, Madison agreed not to block Hamilton's plan for the federal government to assume the states' war debts, strengthening the nation’s financial foundation.
15. MIGRAINE IS LINKED TO DEPRESSION.
In the United States, nearly 40 percent of people with migraines also suffer from depression. The likelihood of developing anxiety, bipolar disorder, and panic disorder is also elevated in migraine sufferers. Researchers are still exploring how these mental health issues relate to migraines. While the constant fear of impending pain can contribute to depression and anxiety, experts believe mental illness in migraine sufferers is often rooted in more complex biological factors. For instance, serotonin, a brain chemical involved in both migraine and depression, plays a key role. As a result, *tricyclic antidepressants*, which boost serotonin production, are sometimes prescribed to treat migraines.
16. A NEW SHOT CAN TREAT MIGRAINE.
Over the past few decades, many migraine treatments have been the result of trial and error. Various medications originally developed for other conditions, such as antidepressants, epilepsy drugs, and even Botox, have been tried for migraines with mixed results. In 2018, a groundbreaking new treatment specifically designed for migraines received *FDA approval*. The injectable treatment, which works by blocking a peptide linked to migraines, is taken monthly and has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms or even eliminate them entirely in some cases. Prior to this, the only migraine-specific medications available were *triptans*, which stimulate serotonin to reduce inflammation and constrict blood flow, helping alleviate symptoms, though they don’t prevent migraines. According to *Out of My Head*, triptans were first approved over 20 years ago, making the new treatment a welcome innovation.
