The Migraine Clinic

General

What is migraine?

Migraine is a brain disease with attacks of severe, often throbbing headache. Your head reacts oversensitively to stimuli such as light, sound and smell. An attack lasts from hours to days.

Migraine in brief

  • Migraine is a brain disease, not an ordinary headache
  • About 10 million people in the UK have migraine
  • Migraine is more common in women than in men
  • The diagnosis is made entirely from your medical history, no scans needed
  • There are good treatments: acute medication and preventive medication
What is migraine?TypesSymptomsCauses

What is migraine?

Migraine is a brain disease in which you usually get attacks of headache that are often severe and throbbing. You may feel sick and be bothered by light or sound. Sometimes you first see flashes or spots. The pain can last from hours to days. It is a condition in which the head reacts extra sensitively to stimuli such as light, sound and smell.

The exact cause of migraine is not known, but we do know how it develops. In migraine, the central nervous system becomes oversensitive. This releases the substance CGRP, which widens blood vessels and activates pain nerves. Hereditary predisposition, hormones and triggers such as stress and sleep also play a role.

If you suspect you have migraine, you are very likely right. Your experiences and feelings matter and deserve the attention of professionals who understand you and your situation. At The Migraine Clinic we offer that personal approach: we listen, and together with you we look for a treatment that suits you.

Which types of migraine do we treat?

Migraine is not a single condition. There are different types, each with its own characteristics. The Migraine Clinic treats them all.

  • Migraine without aura

    The most common type, with throbbing headache and sensitivity to light and sound.

  • Migraine with aura

    Temporary neurological symptoms such as flashes, zigzag lines, tingling or speech problems.

  • Chronic migraine

    Migraine on 15 or more days a month, of which at least 8 are true migraine days.

  • Hormonal or menstrual migraine

    Migraine around menstruation.

  • Vestibular migraine

    Migraine in which dizziness is the main symptom.

  • Ocular migraine

    Temporary loss of vision or flashes in one eye, only when an eye specialist has made this diagnosis.

The main symptoms of migraine

Migraine is a complex condition with symptoms that go beyond headache alone. Below are the five most characteristic symptoms during an attack.

  1. 1.

    Severe headache that gets worse with exertion

    Usually on one side of the head, sometimes on both, and made worse by physical activity such as climbing stairs.

  2. 2.

    Auras

    Temporary neurological symptoms before or during the attack: flashes, zigzag lines, loss of part of the visual field, tingling, speech problems and sometimes signs of paralysis.

  3. 3.

    Sensitivity to light (photophobia)

    Normal light can seem painfully bright during an attack.

  4. 4.

    Sensitivity to sound (phonophobia)

    Normal sound seems extremely loud during an attack.

  5. 5.

    Nausea

    Migraine often comes with nausea and sometimes vomiting.

Possible causes of migraine

Genetics

Migraine is hereditary. If one or both parents have migraine, you are more likely to have it too. The oversensitivity of the nervous system is in the genes; migraine is never caused by lifestyle, stress or diet.

Hormonal changes

Fluctuations in oestrogen can trigger migraine attacks. That is why migraine is more common in women and attacks often occur around menstruation, during the menopause or during pregnancy.

Changes in the brain

In migraine, the central nervous system becomes oversensitive. The substance CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) is released, widens blood vessels and activates pain nerves. Modern CGRP inhibitors act on exactly this mechanism.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is migraine?
Migraine is a brain disease that gives you attacks of severe, often throbbing headache. You may feel sick and be bothered by light or sound, and sometimes you first see flashes or spots (aura). An attack lasts from hours to days.
Is migraine a kind of headache?
No. Migraine is a neurological condition. Headache is one of its symptoms, but migraine also comes with nausea, sensitivity to stimuli and sometimes aura. It is not an ordinary headache.
What causes migraine?
The exact cause is unknown, but migraine is a hereditary condition in which the central nervous system becomes oversensitive. The substance CGRP is released, widens blood vessels and activates pain nerves. Hormones and triggers such as stress and sleep also play a role.
How do I know if I have migraine?
If you suspect you have migraine, you are very likely right. The diagnosis is made entirely from your medical history; no lab tests or scans are needed. Take our migraine test or discuss your symptoms with your GP.
Can migraine be treated?
Yes. There are good treatments: acute medication (triptans and gepants) and preventive medication (gepants and monoclonal CGRP antibodies). Treatment is personal and put together around your situation.

Think you might have migraine? Take the migraine test and find out.

Take the migraine test