| Migraines have been a mystery to doctors and a misery to sufferers for years. No one knows exactly why migraines occur. We do know that the tendency to develop migraines can be inherited. |
Studies have shown that if one parent has migraines, there is a 40% chance that the child will have migraines. If both parents have migraines, there is a 75% chance that their children will have migraines.
The exact cause of migraine is uncertain, although various theories are being studied. One theory favored by many researchers is that migraine is due to a vulnerability of the nervous system to sudden changes in either your body or the environment around you. Many researchers believe that migraine sufferers have inherited a more sensitive nervous system response than those without migraine. During a migraine attack, changes in brain activity produce inflamed blood vessels and nerves around the brain. Migraine medication may produce relief by quieting sensitive nerve pathways and reducing the inflammation response.
Many factors or "triggers" can start a migraine. In people who get migraines, most experts think certain activities or foods may trigger temporary changes in the blood vessels around the brain. Swelling of these blood vessels may cause pain in the nearby nerves.
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