Migraine is a primary headache that is manifested by recurrent attacks of moderate to severe headaches, varying in duration from 4 to 72 hours, interspersed with symptom-free periods.
Sometimes migraine takes on an “evolutionary” pattern, moving from low frequency to an almost daily presentation of attacks (chronic migraine), resulting in a significant impact on social and work life and related direct (expenses for doctor’s visits, medications, and laboratory and instrumental tests) and indirect (loss of work days and reduced productivity) costs.
There are two main forms of migraine: migraine “with aura,” in which the actual headache attack is preceded by transient and reversible neurological symptoms, termed “migraine aura,” and migraine “without aura,” in which these prodromal symptoms are not found.
Rarer forms of migraine include: hemiplegic, familial and sporadic migraine; retinal migraine; and migraine equivalents (such as “migraine vertigo,” in which the balance disorder replaces all or part of the headache).
The prevalence of migraine ranges from 15% to 18% in females and 6% to 12% in males, with a women:men ratio of 2-3:1. The peak prevalence is reached in adulthood, between the ages of 20 and 40.
