Migraine Research Fund

About migraine

What is migraine?

Migraine is a complex neurological disease, not simply a severe headache. It can affect pain processing, vision, balance, digestion, concentration, energy, and sensitivity to the surrounding environment.

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Clinician discussing neurological health information for Migraine Research Fund

Symptoms and patterns vary. A qualified clinician can evaluate an individual history and rule out other causes.

Neurological diseaseMigraine involves the brain and nervous system.
More than head painAttacks may include sensory, digestive, and cognitive symptoms.
Individual patternsPresentation can differ between people and between attacks.
Clinical diagnosisAssessment relies on history, symptoms, and appropriate examination.

A changing understanding

A disease of the nervous system

Earlier explanations often focused mainly on changes in blood vessels. Research now supports a broader view: migraine involves altered activity across nerve pathways, brain signaling, and systems that process pain and sensory information. The biology remains under active investigation.

Family history can be relevant, suggesting a genetic contribution, while environmental and other individual factors may also influence when attacks occur. No single cause or pattern explains every person’s experience.

Migraine is more than a bad headache

Head pain is common during migraine, but it is only one possible feature. Pain may be throbbing or pressure-like, affect one or both sides, and worsen with ordinary activity. Some people experience little or no head pain during certain migraine events.

Other possible symptoms include nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, visual disturbances, dizziness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, tingling, or numbness. The combination, intensity, and sequence can change from one attack to another.

Different patterns need individual assessment

Clinicians describe migraine according to features such as aura, attack frequency, duration, and associated symptoms. Some people have occasional attacks, while others experience symptoms on many days. Learn more about chronic migraine and the broader impact of migraine disease.

Seek urgent medical help for sudden or unusual symptoms.A sudden severe headache, new weakness, confusion, fainting, seizure, fever with neck stiffness, symptoms after a head injury, or a major change from a usual pattern requires prompt professional assessment.

Possible features

Symptoms can extend across the body

Not everyone experiences every feature, and these symptoms can also occur with other conditions. Their presence alone does not confirm migraine.

Visual and sensory changes

Light sensitivity, visual phenomena, tingling, numbness, or heightened sensitivity to sound and smell may occur.

Nausea and dizziness

Attacks can involve nausea, vomiting, motion sensitivity, imbalance, or vertigo-like sensations.

Cognitive and energy effects

Fatigue, slowed thinking, difficulty concentrating, language problems, or disrupted sleep may accompany an attack.

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Diagnosis and care

How migraine is assessed

There is no single routine test that confirms every case of migraine. A clinician generally considers the pattern of symptoms, personal and family history, frequency, duration, medications, and findings from an examination.

  • A detailed description of symptoms and their sequence
  • How often attacks occur and how long they last
  • Changes from a person’s established pattern
  • Other health conditions and medicines
  • Whether additional testing is appropriate to investigate another cause
Specialist informationNon-drug approaches

Preparing for an appointment

Turn observations into useful context

Clear notes can help a clinician understand patterns, assess changes, and discuss suitable next steps.

STEP 01

Record the pattern

Note timing, duration, symptoms, and how an episode affects ordinary activity.

STEP 02

List treatments

Include prescription and non-prescription medicines, frequency of use, and response.

STEP 03

Describe changes

Highlight new symptoms, increasing frequency, or a pattern unlike previous attacks.

STEP 04

Prepare questions

Ask about diagnosis, options, risks, follow-up, and circumstances requiring urgent care.

Frequently asked questions

Migraine basics

General answers to common questions. They do not replace diagnosis or individualized medical advice.

Is migraine just a severe headache?

No. Migraine is a neurological disease that may cause head pain alongside sensory, digestive, cognitive, balance, and energy-related symptoms. Presentation differs between people.

Can migraine occur without head pain?

Yes. Some migraine events feature aura, visual changes, dizziness, nausea, or other neurological symptoms with little or no head pain. New symptoms still need appropriate clinical assessment.

What is migraine aura?

Aura refers to temporary neurological symptoms that may occur before or during an attack. These can involve vision, sensation, or language. Similar symptoms may have other causes, particularly when they are new.

How is migraine diagnosed?

Diagnosis is usually based on symptom patterns, medical and family history, and an examination. A clinician may arrange additional tests when the presentation suggests another possible cause.

Does migraine run in families?

Family history is common, and genetics can contribute to susceptibility. Genes do not provide the complete explanation, and patterns can vary substantially within a family.

Should I track possible triggers?

A record may reveal associations, but migraine is not always caused by one avoidable factor. Overly restrictive routines can create other problems, so discuss significant changes with a clinician.

When should I consult a specialist?

Consider professional assessment when symptoms are frequent, disabling, changing, difficult to diagnose, or not responding to the current plan. Urgent warning signs require immediate medical care.

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