A wellness guide to migraine — symptoms, causes & triggers

Migraine affects hundreds of millions of people globally and is one of the most common neurological disorders. It is more common in women than men, frequently begins during teenage years or early adulthood, can occur in children, often runs in families, and may improve or change over time. Because symptoms vary so widely, many people remain undiagnosed or mistake migraine for sinus headaches, eye strain, or ordinary headaches.

How migraine affects the brain

Migraine is not simply a blood vessel problem — modern research indicates it involves complex communication between the brain, nerves, and chemical messengers.

• Changes in nerve activity
• Fluctuations in neurotransmitters
• Increased sensitivity of pain pathways
• Genetic predisposition
• Brainstem involvement and sensory processing changes

Common symptoms

Head pain is the most recognizable symptom — often throbbing or pulsating, moderate to severe, one-sided or on both sides, and worse with movement.

Sensitivity to light, sound and smell is common: bright light, conversation, traffic noise, or perfumes and cooking smells may intensify symptoms.

Nausea, dizziness and vision changes frequently accompany migraine, including flashing lights, zigzag lines, blind spots, or blurred vision — commonly associated with migraine aura.

Difficulty concentrating and fatigue are also widely reported, along with early warning signs (prodrome) hours or days before the headache begins: mood changes, food cravings, increased thirst, frequent yawning, neck stiffness, and irritability.

What causes migraine

Migraine does not have one single cause — it develops through a combination of genetic, neurological, hormonal, and environmental factors, including brain chemistry (such as serotonin), nervous system activity, hormonal fluctuations, weather changes, and lifestyle factors like poor sleep, dehydration, and stress.

Common triggers

A trigger does not necessarily cause migraine on its own but may increase the likelihood of an attack in someone who is susceptible: emotional stress, sleep changes, skipping meals, dehydration, certain foods (alcohol, aged cheeses, processed meats, MSG, artificial sweeteners), bright light, strong odors, hormonal changes, and weather changes.

Types of migraine

• Migraine without aura — the most common form, with moderate to severe throbbing pain, nausea, and light/sound sensitivity.
• Migraine with aura — temporary neurological symptoms such as flashing lights, blind spots, or tingling before the headache phase.
• Chronic migraine — headache on 15+ days a month for more than three months, requiring specialist evaluation.
• Vestibular migraine — primarily affects balance and spatial orientation.
• Hemiplegic migraine — a rare subtype causing temporary one-sided weakness; because it can resemble a stroke, urgent medical assessment is essential.
• Menstrual migraine — closely linked to hormonal changes around the menstrual cycle, sometimes more severe or longer lasting.

Understanding migraine's symptoms, causes, and triggers is an important first step toward supporting overall well-being. While no single strategy works for everyone, identifying personal triggers and adopting healthy daily habits — alongside a calming, consistent hair and scalp care ritual — can be a meaningful part of a holistic self-care routine.