Your questions answered - these will be regularly updated.
1. How do I know if I suffer from migraine?
Migraine can affect people in different ways. A general rule of thumb is that if a headache and other associated symptoms prevent you from continuing with normal daily activities, you could be suffering from migraine. For details about symptoms associated with migraine, click here.
2. I used to get a migraine once or twice a year, but now I seem to be getting them every month.
Migraine tends to evolve over your lifetime. Try keeping a diary to see if there is any reason for this recent change ( click here to download a diary sheet). If your headache changes in any way, in type, symptoms, severity or frequency, please seek medical advice to confirm the diagnosis and discuss appropriate treatment.
3. My mum has always suffered from migraine for as long as I can remember, does this mean I will too?
There may be a genetic predisposition to migraine, as it does tend to run in families. However, not everyone in the family will get it. Fortunately there are now some very effective treatments available and research is continuing to improve our understanding of the condition. For leaflets about migraine management click hereTo find more about the latest developments in research, click here.
4. I've heard that if I stop eating chocolate I should be able to control my migraines?
It is a well known myth that if you avoid chocolate, cheese and red wine, you won't get migraine. In fact, triggers for migraine are numerous and varied and what may start an attack in one person, may not for another. Additionally, for most people it is not just one trigger but a combination of factors which triggers an attack. Click here to read more about triggers.
5. I have always suffered from migraines, does this make me prone to suffering from a stroke?
Migraine sufferers have a very small increased risk of stroke, especially if they have migraine with aura. This risk is not as great as other factors such as smoking, high blood pressure or being overweight. Women who have migraine may also increase their risk of stroke by taking oral contraceptives.
Migraine sufferers should be aware of the various potential risk factors and make lifestyle decisions accordingly.
6. I prefer not to take pills to help relieve my migraine pain, are there any alternative treatments I could try?
7. My 8 year old often complains of bad headaches, do children also get migraine?
Yes, children do get migraine but it can present differently than in adults. Children often report a headache that is more in the forehead or the middle of the head rather than on one side, and attacks may be shorter. Sometimes in younger children the predominant symptoms are abdominal pain. For more information about Migraine in children, click here.
8. My doctor has suggested that I try a course of preventative treatment, but I don't really understand what they are and how they will work.
Generally, if you are experiencing more than 4 migraine attacks every month, preventative treatment may be suggested by your GP. This type of medication is taken every day to reduce the severity and / or frequency of attacks. For more information on Preventative treatments, click here.
9. My family and work colleagues think I use my migraine to get out of doing things at home or at work. This is not true but how do I make them understand what I go through?
As migraine patients are normally quite well between attacks, non-sufferers find it difficult to understand how a sufferer can quickly become so severely debilitated. It is important for them to understand more about the condition and how it affects you. The Migraine Action Association has numerous leaflets available to increase awareness of this much mis-understood condition. Please click here to find out more.
10. I have suffered with migraine since my late-teens. I am now going through the menopause and have noticed that my migraines are getting worse, and the treatment I take makes no difference at all when it used to. Why is this?
Many women report that their migraine gets worse around the time of their menopause. As your current treatment is no longer providing relief you should consult your GP to discuss other options. Click here for leaflets about treatment options. For leaflets about Migraine and hormones, click here.
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