Migraine & Headache Disorders

What is a Headache disorder?

Headache disorders, characterized by recurrent headache, are among the most common disorders of the nervous system. Headache itself is a painful and disabling feature of a small number of primary headache disorders, namely migraine, tension-type headache, and cluster headache. Headache can also be caused by or occur secondarily to a long list of other conditions, the most common of which is medication-overuse headache.

Types of headache disorders

Migraine, tension-type headache and medication-overuse headache are of public health importance since they are responsible for high population levels of disability and ill-health.

Migraine

• A primary headache disorder.
• Migraine most often begins at puberty and most affects those aged between 35 and 45 years.
• It is more common in women, usually by a factor of about 2:1, because of hormonal influences.
• It is caused by the activation of a mechanism deep in the brain that leads to release of pain-producing inflammatory substances around the nerves and blood vessels of the head.
• Migraine is recurrent, often life-long, and characterized by recurring attacks.