Migraine is familial and often hereditary. Migraine affects 26 million Americans and can strike anyone at any age, but is most is most common between the ages of 25-55. Three times as many women than men suffer from migraines. The exact cause is uncertain. One theory is that migraine is due to a vulnerability of the nervous system to sudden changes in either your body or the environment around you.
Many researchers believe that migraine sufferers have inherited a more sensitive nervous system.
Certain things may trigger a migraine like diet, sleep patterns, hormones, stress and anxiety, and environmental factors. There is evidence of gender-related factors, although it is not strictly cyclical or hormones that are the cause. Something happens in puberty or at age of menarche that changes the risk in women. In fact, before puberty, migraines are as common in men as they are in women. Although they are not curable, they are manageable with motivation and proper medical care.