Everyone has heard of migraines, and everyone seems to have a different definition of what they really are. The truth about migraines is they are less a type of headache, and more the mechanism behind almost all headaches. Headaches are caused by the swelling and inflammation of the blood vessels in the head, and migraine is the term given to this inflammatory response. This size of this response varies between person to person, and can even vary within a single person depending on the situation. A small response can cause just general discomfort, while a large response will bring severe symptoms such as severe pain, nausea, vomiting, sensory sensitivity and visual disturbances.

The pain from the migraine mechanism occurs when the inflammation of these blood vessels becomes so large that it stimulates the pain receptors on the nerve endings that surround the blood vessels. Your brain receives these messages and you are suddenly aware, that “ow, that hurts!”

It has been hypothesized that the part of your brain that is responsible for triggering the migraine mechanism is the hypothalamus, also known as the sensory switchboard of the brain. All of your five senses report to the hypothalamus, and it also regulates your sleep-wake cycle, hunger and satiety systems, and the endocrine (hormone) system. Therefore, all potential migraine triggers are directed to the hypothalamus, and the overload likely triggers the mechanism.

Learn more about migraine triggers.