Hot Topics Hot Topics Migraine Headache Migraine is more than just a headache. It is a disorder that probably involves chemical changes in the trigeminal nucleus of the brain stem. These nerve cells send signals to blood vessels of the brain and scalp causing the vessels to narrow or stretch.
Migraine hits with or without aura.
The aura often precedes the headache by 15 to 30 minutes, but may occur without a headache. Rarely, the narrowing, or spasm, of blood vessels is so severe that a stroke can occur. This is reported mostly in women who smoke, take birth control pills, and have a history of migraine with aura. Many things can trigger this chemical imbalance. In women, hormone changes, natural or through birth control pills, are the most common culprit.