Where does migraine come from?

Last Updated on August 28, 2025 by Sunit. S. Ekka

If you suffer from very painful headaches and have done so since you were young, you might be asking yourself, where does a migraine come from? Migraines are a complex neurological condition, and those who suffer from attacks are often between the ages of 10 and 40.

The exact cause of migraines is unknown, but by the time someone reaches fifty, attacks become rare. According to neurologists, factors like weather changes can trigger migraines. As migraines often run in families, there is believed to be a hereditary link, although a specific genetic factor has not been definitively proven.

Where does migraine come from & how it feels?

1. More often, a migraine only affects one side of the head, unlike headache due to neck pain which feels on the front of the forehead.
2. It usually causes unbearable pain that can make you irritable and can last anywhere from 4-72 hours if not treated, and requires you to stay in your bed.
3. An attack is debilitating, and sufferers are usually left feeling crippled and exhausted after the head pain has passed.
4. For some people, there can be long periods without headache, and not others.
5. Other symptoms, similar to those of flu, are experienced by the patient, like light sensitivity and chills, and a feeling of lightheadedness.
6. A distinct warning called an aura usually happens before the migraine attack by 10-30 minutes.
7. Migraines can also attack even without the aura, and build up to an extreme intensity which is provoked more by continuous motion, light and noise, and often results in nausea and vomiting.
8. Those who are afflicted say a headache is often so intense that it impedes their regular routine, disrupting daily activity and often keeping them awake at night.

Signs that you are experiencing the aura mostly involve the senses and can include (it’s different from vertigo)

1. Queasiness
2. Problems with vision
3. Reduction in the sensations of taste
4. Difficulty with verbal skills

Cause of migraine headache

A condition that causes an inflammation of blood vessels in the brain is said to be a factor in migraine attacks. People with sensitivity in this area normally suffer from migraines.

Also, women have a three times greater chance of having migraine, while men have an eight percent chance of suffering from the problem.

Science can’t yet explain why this is so. Some medical experts believe it is the contracting blood vessels that are responsible for the migraine with aura effect. It might be that it is the expansion of the blood vessels afterwards that causes a headache.

Is it a Migraine or a Regular Headache?

Many people confuse migraines with severe headaches. The key difference is that migraines are a neurological disorder with a wide range of symptoms, while headaches are usually just pain in the head. The presence of an aura, nausea, and sensitivity to light/sound are strong indicators of a migraine.

Final word

You may experience one or more triggers with each attack. The most common complaints are bad weather, particular foods and beverages, being at a great height, bright lights, insomnia, and stress.

Keep Reading: Vertigo & migraine has new hope: place this device on neck

Sunit. S. Ekka

The author is a physiotherapist who has been practising for the last 17 years. He holds a Bachelor's in Physiotherapy (BPT) from SVNIRTAR (Swami Vivekananda National Institute of Rehabilitation and Research), one of the prestigious physiotherapy schools in India.

Whatever he learns dealing with his patient, he shares it with the world through blogs and e-books. He also owns a YouTube channel, "Sunit Physiotherapist" with over 8 lakh active subscribers. Here, he shares everything he gets to learn serving the patient.