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An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of migraine.
About 30 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches. They affect up to 18% of women and 6% of men. In fact, 70% of all migraine sufferers are women. This significantly greater incidence in women holds true throughout the world and in every culture. Although the incidence of migraine is similar for boys and girls during childhood, it increases in girls after puberty.
Hormone Fluctuations in Women. Most migraines in women develop during the hormonally active years between adolescence and menopause. Fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone, rather than their presence, appear to increase the risk for migraines and their severity in some women.
General Age of Onset. More than 20% of adults with migraines report that their headaches started before age 10, and over 45% say they started before age 20. The prevalence of migraine declines in both men and women after age 40.
Migraine in Children. Migraine headaches occur in all ages and can appear in children as young as 4 years of age. Migraines in children are equally prevalent in boys and girls. Studies estimate that about 4 – 10% of all children suffer from migraine. Research indicates that overweight children may be especially susceptible to headaches, although this association is most likely due to poor nutrition and lack of exercise than excess weight. Children who have sleep problems, especially difficulty falling asleep, may also be more prone to migraines.
Migraine Onset in Older Adults. Although uncommon, late-life migraine occurs in about 1% of the population, usually in men. In such cases, it often occurs as migraine with visual disturbances but without headache.
Migraine headaches can be inherited. If both parents suffer from migraines, their children have a 75% chance of getting them. When only one parent gets migraines, there is a 50% chance that children will be afflicted.
Caucasians have a higher risk than either African Americans or Asians. Worldwide, one study reported that migraines are most common in North America. They are slightly less prevalent in South America and Europe and far less common in Asia and Africa. Investigators believe that the differences are due to genetic variations, not lifestyle factors.
People with migraine have a higher incidence of other medical conditions, including:
One study suggested that women with migraines tend to over-respond to stressful situations. In the study, they were more likely than other women to be diligent, conscientious, and overly sensitive to pressure from others. More likely, however, a person's family history of migraine, rather than any personality trait, is the important risk factor.
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