Migraine

Migraine is a severe and disabling brain condition, listed as the sixth most disabling disorder globally by the World Health Organization, and the most disabling of all neurological disorders. In adulthood, migraine is more prevalent in women than in men with a lifetime prevalence of 12¿17% and 4¿6%, respectively. In migraine, there are attacks of moderate to severe, frequently one-sided pulsating-throbbing headache which increase in intensity on physical activity. One-third of the patients suffer holocranial headache. The individual attacks are accompanied by lack of appetite (almost always), nausea (80%), vomiting (40¿50%), photophobia (60%), sensitivity to noise (50%) and hypersensitivity to certain odours (10%). The duration of the attacks, according to the definition of the International Headache Society (IHS), is between 4 and 72 h. Migraines can be severe enough to limit sufferers¿ activities both at work and at home, and there may be significant psychological impact between attacks. Treatment options include acute rescue, lifestyle strategies, alternative remedies, and prophylactic drugs.