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Disease

Migraine

Learn about migraine, including its symptoms, diagnosis, laboratory tests, treatment and prevention.

Last Reviewed 30 Jul 2026
Reading Time 8 min read

Overview

A throbbing headache that makes ordinary light and sound feel unbearable, sometimes with strange visual flickers beforehand, is a migraine attack, not just a bad headache. Migraine is often dismissed as something to push through, yet it ranks among the most disabling conditions of any kind worldwide.

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Key Fact

Migraine ranks third among all neurological conditions worldwide for the disability it causes, behind only stroke and a condition affecting newborns. Despite this, headache disorders are often not taken seriously, partly because they are episodic and not contagious, which contributes to many people never receiving an accurate diagnosis or effective treatment.

Warning

A sudden, extremely severe headache unlike any before, a headache with fever and a stiff neck, or a headache alongside weakness, confusion, or difficulty speaking, are not typical migraine symptoms and need emergency care immediately.

AT A GLANCE

Disease Summary

Category Non-Communicable Disease
Cause Not fully understood, but thought to involve the release of pain-producing inflammatory substances around the nerves and blood vessels of the head
Transmission Not applicable; migraine is a non-communicable neurological condition and cannot be spread between people
Body System Nervous System
Preventable Yes
Curable No

Symptoms

Common Symptoms

A typical migraine attack lasts between 4 and 72 hours if untreated.

Throbbing Headache

Often on one side of the head, and typically described as pulsating or throbbing.

Sensitivity to Light and Sound

Ordinary light and noise can feel overwhelming during an attack.

Nausea or Vomiting

Commonly accompanies the headache phase.

Visual Disturbances (Aura)

Some people see flickering lights, zigzag lines, or temporary blind spots shortly before the headache begins.

Worsening with Physical Activity

Routine movement or activity often makes the pain noticeably worse.

Danger Signs

These are not typical of migraine and need emergency medical attention.

Sudden, Extremely Severe Headache

Often described as the worst headache of your life, this needs emergency evaluation to rule out a serious cause.

Headache with Fever and a Stiff Neck

Can indicate a serious infection such as meningitis rather than migraine.

Weakness, Confusion, or Difficulty Speaking

New neurological symptoms alongside a headache need urgent assessment to rule out a stroke.

Headache After a Head Injury

Needs prompt evaluation, particularly if it worsens rather than improves.

Diagnosis

Clinical History

Migraine is diagnosed mainly through the pattern, frequency, and character of headaches, along with associated symptoms like nausea or light sensitivity.

Headache Diary

Recording when headaches occur, how long they last, and possible triggers helps confirm the pattern and guide treatment.

Imaging, When Needed

A CT or MRI scan is not needed for typical migraine, but may be used if certain warning signs are present to rule out other causes.
Important
There is no blood test or scan that confirms migraine directly. Diagnosis relies on recognising a consistent pattern over time, which is why describing your symptoms clearly and consistently to a healthcare provider matters.

Laboratory Tests

Clinical Assessment

The primary way migraine is diagnosed. No blood test can confirm migraine directly.

Sample Symptom history and examination
Time One visit

CT or MRI Brain Imaging

Not routinely needed, but used to rule out other causes if certain warning signs are present.

Sample Imaging, no sample required
Time Same day to a few days

Blood Tests

Not used to diagnose migraine, but may be used to rule out other causes of headache if the pattern is unusual.

Sample Venous blood
Time 24–48 hours

Laboratory Note

Migraine cannot be confirmed with a blood test or scan. These tests are mainly used to rule out other, less common causes of headache when the pattern of symptoms is unclear or atypical.

Treatment

Acute Treatment

Pain relievers and migraine-specific medications work best when taken early, ideally at the very first sign of an attack.

Route Oral
Duration Taken at the first sign of an attack

Preventive Treatment

For people with frequent or severe migraines, regular preventive medication can reduce how often attacks occur.

Route Oral or Injectable
Duration Daily or monthly, for frequent migraines

Treatment Note

In many countries, migraine-specific medications are not consistently available, which is part of why simple, low-cost measures like identifying triggers, keeping a regular sleep schedule, and staying hydrated remain such an important part of managing migraine.

Prevention

Identify and track your triggers

A headache diary helps reveal patterns, such as specific foods, stress, or sleep changes, that come before an attack.

Keep a regular sleep schedule

Both too little and too much sleep can trigger migraines in some people.

Stay hydrated and eat regularly

Skipping meals and dehydration are common, easily avoidable triggers.

Limit alcohol

Alcohol, particularly red wine, is a common trigger for many people with migraine.

Prevention Note

Triggers vary significantly from person to person, which is why a headache diary is often more useful than following generic advice about what to avoid.

Risk Factors

Higher Risk

These factors are linked to a higher likelihood of experiencing migraine.

  • A family history of migraine
  • Being female, particularly linked to hormonal changes
  • Age between puberty and the mid-40s, when migraine is most common

Common Triggers

These factors can trigger individual migraine attacks.

  • Stress
  • Hormonal changes, such as during menstruation
  • Certain foods, alcohol, or changes in caffeine intake
  • Sleep disruption

Related Conditions

Conditions more common in people with migraine.

  • Anxiety and depression
  • Other headache disorders

Risk Note

Migraine most often begins around puberty and is most common between the ages of 35 and 45, though it can occur at any age, including in children.

Complications

Status Migrainosus

A migraine attack that lasts longer than 72 hours, which needs medical attention.

Medication-Overuse Headache

Frequent use of pain medication to treat headaches can, paradoxically, lead to more frequent headaches over time.

Reduced Quality of Life

Frequent migraines can significantly affect work, school, and relationships, and are linked to higher rates of anxiety and depression.

Complication Note

Medication-overuse headache is one of the more common and preventable complications of migraine, which is why using acute pain medication no more than the recommended number of days per month matters.

When to Seek Medical Care

Sudden, Extremely Severe Headache

Needs emergency evaluation.

Headache with Fever, Stiff Neck, or Confusion

Needs urgent assessment to rule out a serious infection.

New Neurological Symptoms

Weakness, difficulty speaking, or vision loss alongside a headache need emergency care.

Headaches That Are Increasing in Frequency or Severity

A changing pattern is worth discussing with a healthcare provider, since treatment may need to be adjusted.

Emergency Advice

Most migraines are not dangerous, but a headache that feels different from your usual pattern is always worth paying attention to.

Prognosis

Often Lifelong, But Manageable

Migraine tends to be a long-term condition, though frequency and severity often change over a person’s lifetime.

Frequency Can Often Be Reduced

Identifying triggers and, when needed, preventive treatment can meaningfully reduce how often attacks occur.

Often Improves With Age

Many people experience fewer or milder migraines as they get older, particularly after menopause in women.

Prognosis Note

Migraine ranks third among all neurological conditions worldwide for the disability it causes, yet with the right combination of trigger awareness and treatment, most people are able to significantly reduce its impact on daily life.

Differential Diagnosis

Tension-Type Headache

The most common type of headache, typically felt as pressure or tightness rather than throbbing, and usually milder than migraine.

Bacterial Meningitis

Can cause a severe headache alongside fever and neck stiffness, and needs to be ruled out urgently, since it is a medical emergency.

Cluster Headache

Causes severe, one-sided pain focused around one eye, occurring in clusters over weeks, and is far less common than migraine.

Clinical Note

Because a dangerous headache can sometimes feel similar to a migraine at first, any headache that feels different from your usual pattern deserves proper evaluation rather than assumption.

References

World Health Organization (WHO)

World Health Organization fact sheet on migraine and other headache disorders, including prevalence, types, treatment, and barriers to care.

WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, 24th List (2025)

WHO’s list of minimum medicine needs for headache disorders required for a basic health-care system.

WHO Atlas of Headache Disorders and Resources in the World

WHO’s global assessment of the burden of headache disorders and the resources available to address them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is migraine just a bad headache?
No. Migraine is a distinct neurological condition, not simply a severe headache. It involves specific patterns of pain, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and sometimes visual disturbances, and ranks among the most disabling conditions worldwide.
Can migraine be cured?
There is currently no cure, but migraine can often be well managed. Identifying personal triggers and using appropriate treatment can significantly reduce how often and how severely attacks occur.
What is a migraine aura?
An aura is a temporary set of sensory disturbances, most often visual, such as flickering lights or blind spots, that some people experience shortly before a migraine headache begins.
When is a headache an emergency?
A sudden, extremely severe headache, one with fever and a stiff neck, or one accompanied by weakness, confusion, or difficulty speaking, are not typical of migraine and need emergency care.