Migraine

A recurring headache caused by constriction and expansion of the blood vessels in the head, with intense pulsing or throbbing pain in one area of the head which can last for a number of hours, often accompanied by extreme sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and vomiting.  About 1/3 of people suffering from migraines also experience and aura, a type of warning in which they see flashing lights, zigzag lines, or temporary loss of vision before the onset of a migraine headache.  Women tend to have migraines more often than men, and it often seems to run in families.     Treatment is by drugs to relieve pain and preventive drugs to reduce the frequency of attacks.