MIGRAINE WITHOUT AURA

5 million Australians suffer with migraines and 2% of the worldwide population sufferers from chronic migraines. They are an extremely common yet traditionally poorly managed condition leaving people frustrated and in pain for years longer than necessary. 

70-90% of migraines are accounted for by migraines without aura. Approximately 20% of the population will experience a migraine at some stage in their lives. In adolescents, migraines affects boys and girls equally however in adults they disproportionately affect women greater than men. Migraines can affect people at any age in life however they have the greatest prevalence between the ages of 35 to 45 years of age. Migraines become less common after the age of 50. 

A migraine without aura is diagnosed by the International Headache Society as:
  A) Having at least 5 attacks fulfilling criteria B-D
  B) Headache attacks lasting 4-72 hours (left untreated)
  C) Headache has at least two of the following four characteristics:
       i) unilateral location
       ii) pulsating quality
       iii) moderate or severe intensity
       iv) aggravated by or causing avoidance of physical activity
  D) During the headache having one of the following:
       i) Light and sound sensitivity
       ii) Nausea and/or vomiting
  E) Not accounted for by another condition

There are many things that have been identified to trigger migraines including environmental, food, emotional, physical and chemical triggers. Identifying your triggers and eliminating them can help to reduce your migraine frequency however to truly seek long term results, addressing the underlying cause is the key. In order to do that, you/we must be able to identify the key factors that have contributed to YOUR individual migraines and change them for the better.