Migraine and headache: recognizing the pattern can help find the right treatment

🧠 Migraine is more than pain

Migraine is a neurological disorder. It can cause throbbing pain, nausea and sensitivity to light, sound or smells. Some people experience visual, sensory or language aura.

📝 Keep a headache diary

Recording timing, duration, intensity, associated symptoms, sleep, meals and possible triggers can help a healthcare professional identify patterns.

💧 Helpful routines

Hydration, regular sleep and meals, appropriate physical activity and stress management may reduce attacks for some people.

💊 Acute treatment

Treatment of an attack may include over-the-counter medicines or migraine-specific therapies depending on medical history and individual characteristics.

🛡️ Prevention

When attacks are frequent, prolonged or disabling, preventive treatment may be considered. Several medication classes are available, including therapies targeting CGRP.

⚠️ Medication overuse

Frequent use of some headache medicines can contribute to medication-overuse headache. Repeated need for medication should prompt review of the treatment plan.

🚨 Headache red flags

Seek immediate care for a sudden explosive headache, a new headache with weakness or speech difficulty, fever with neck stiffness, loss of consciousness, headache after major trauma, or a new rapidly progressive pattern.

👩‍⚕️ Medical evaluation

A new or different headache, particularly during pregnancy or postpartum, in people who are immunocompromised or have cancer, or with neurological symptoms deserves medical assessment.

📚 Medical references

Institutional references used for this guide:

• NINDS – Migraine