A migraine is a type of headache causing throbbing, intense pain, usually on one side of the head. The pain can vary in intensity and last up to several hours. Some patients have severe, debilitating head pain. The American Council for Headache Education estimates 25 to 30 million Americans suffer from migraines. They affect six percent of men and about 18 percent of women.
Susceptibility seems to run in families.
According to the National Headache Foundation, if just one parent has migraines, a child has a 50 percent chance of also getting them. The cause of migraines is unknown. Certain things are known to trigger them in susceptible people. About 65 percent of women with migraines suffer symptoms immediately before, during or after their period, suggesting hormones may trigger the pain. Several different medications are used to treat migraines.