La migraine is a particular form of had de tete (headache). It manifests itself by crises which can last from a few hours to a few days. The frequency of seizures varies greatly from one person to another, ranging from several seizures per week to one seizure per year or less.

Migraine is distinguished from an “ordinary” headache, in particular by its duration, its intensity and various other symptoms. Thus, a migraine attack often begins with a pain felt fromonly one side of the head or localized near an eye. Pain is often seen as pulsations in the skull, and it is made worse by light and noise (and sometimes smells). Migraine can also be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

Surprisingly, in 10% to 30% of cases, migraine are preceded by physiological manifestations that are grouped together under the name ofhate. Auras are essentially visual disturbances which may take the form of flashes of light, brightly colored lines, or temporary loss of sight. These symptoms go away in less than an hour. Then comes the headache.

Prevalence

La migraine affects about 12% of adults, women being 3 times more affected than men³⁹. A recent study found that 26% of Canadian women had migraine³⁸, the frequency of seizures being very variable. Migraine is also prevalent in children and adolescents (5% to 10%), in whom it is often underdiagnosed. According to Uptodate, in the general population, 17% of women and 6% of men suffer from migraine. Among 30-39 year olds, it would be 24% of women and 7% of men.

Evolution

The frequency of migraine attacks varies a lot from one individual to another. Some people have a few a year, while others have 3 or 4 a month. In some cases, seizures can occur several times a week, but rarely every day.

The first attacks usually appear duringchildhood or young adulthood. Migraine headaches become rarer over the age of 40 and often disappear after age 50.

The mechanisms of migraine

It is not known why some people have headaches, tension headaches (caused by nervous tension or anxiety) or migraines and why others just never have them, even if they are exposed to the same triggers.

From the 1960s to the 1990s, it was believed that migraines were primarily caused by vascular changes: a constriction of the blood vessels (vasoconstriction) that surround the brain, followed by swelling (vasodilation). However, subsequent research shows that the origin of migraine is much more complex. Indeed, it is a whole cascade of reactions in the nervous system which would cause this intense headache. A neurological mechanism has recently been discovered to explain why light exacerbates migraine pain while darkness calms it down.³³These chain reactions have effects not only on the blood vessels, but also on inflammation, neurotransmitters and other elements.

Without a thorough understanding of the mechanisms of migraine, we still know more and more about them. triggers (see Risk factors) and the means to combat it.

Complications

Even if the pain that they cause are very intense, the migraine have no immediate health consequences. However, recent studies have shown that migraine, especially one accompanied by aura, is associated with a long-term increased risk of cardiovascular disorders.^41,42. The risk of myocardial infarction would thus be multiplied by 2 in migraine sufferers. The mechanisms are not yet well understood. It is therefore important to adopt a healthy lifestyle to reduce cardiovascular risk: do not smoke, eat well and exercise regularly.

In addition, migraine can significantly affect the quality of life of people who suffer from it. It is also a major cause of absenteeism at school and at work. Hence the importance of consulting a doctor to find an effective treatment.