Migraine however, is a biological disorder of the central nervous system, involving a complicated relationship between the blood supply to the brain and its nerve network. The most common symptom associated with migraine is throbbing head pain made worse by routine activities like climbing stairs or bending over. The pain is often felt on one side of the head, although it can switch sides during an attack or from one attack to the next. People afflicted with migraine describe the pain as hammering or pulsating. But migraine is more than a headache.
Some migraine sufferers feel nauseous or vomit during an attack.
Many are extremely sensitive to light, sounds and smell, making ordinary events unbearable. The mere sound of running water can be grating, the faint smell of perfume oppressive, or the flame of a candle piercing. These symptoms characterize one of two main types of migraine, migraine without aura. Approximately 20 percent of migraineurs have the second type of migraine, migraine with aura. An aura is a visual or sensory disturbance that acts as a warning sign to the oncoming headache.