The 411 on Migraines
Jordin Sparks is the face of a new Excedrin campaign.
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Jordin Sparks Gets Them, Too - American Idol alum Jordin Sparks recently spoke out about her struggle with migraines and her new Excedrin campaign to spread awareness about this chronic ailment. Learn more about migraines and how they impact African-Americans.(Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for WebMD)
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What Is a Migraine? - A migraine is a severe, painful headache that is often coupled with sensory warning signs such as flashes of light, blind spots, tingling in the arms and legs, nausea, vomiting and increased sensitivity to light and sound. It is debilitating with 90 percent of people not being able to work when they have an attack. (Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)
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How Is that Different Than a Headache? - A headache can be throbbing, but it normally doesn’t have sensory issues attached to it. Headaches may last for an hour or so, while migraines can last as long as 72 hours.(Photo: Image Source/Corbis)
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What Causes Migraines? - The science around this is fuzzy. Researchers do believe that genetics play a factor. Other data suggests that obesity, changes in the brain stem and serotonin levels may also be behind migraines, too.(Photo: Getty Images)
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How Common Are Migraines? - It’s estimated that between 2–10 percent of Americans suffer from migraines. Most sufferers experience attacks once or twice a month, 14 million people have chronic daily headache, when attacks occur at least 15 days per month, writes the Migraine Research Foundation. (Photo: Getty Images/Blend Images)
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Blacks and Migraines - While anyone can suffer from migraines, a 2011 study found that Blacks are more likely to report chronic migraine pain than whites, as were people who live in households with lower salaries.(Photo: Jeremy Woodhouse/Blend Images/Corbis)
Photo By Photo: Jeremy Woodhouse/Blend Images/Corbis
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What Triggers Them? - If you are prone to migraines, there are plenty of factors that can trigger an episode. Allergies, smoking, emotional and physical stress, hormone changes (menstruation, pregnancy and birth control pills), eating certain foods and taking certain meds, drinking alcohol and certain smells and odors can set one off. But even if you avoid these things, that doesn’t mean you won’t get a migraine, MNT writes.(Photo: Andrew Parfenov/Getty Images)
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Risk Factors - Anyone can get migraines, but there are certain factors that put you at a higher risk. Having a family history, age (people ages 25-55 are more prone), gender (women are three times more likely to suffer from migraines) and hormonal changes. A 2014 study found that women, regardless of race, were twice as likely to have a migraine that lasted for more than a day compared to men. (Photo: Peathegee Inc/GettyImages)
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Diagnosing Migraines - Most likely a neurologist will determine if you are experiencing migraines. Common tests include an MRI, cat scan, testing blood glucose levels, spine screenings and X-rays. (Photo: ERproductions Ltd/Getty Images)
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Treatment Options - There are over-the-counter meds that you can take for migraines and meds to treat the side effects, too. Other possible options include surgery, spinal cord implantation, Botox injections, hypnosis, special diet and acupuncture.(Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez, Inc./Corbis)