Migraine Myth Buster

  • 1. Migraine always includes Aura
    In fact Migraine comes in many forms and only about 20% of Migraine sufferers experience them. Yes, that’s right. Migraine with Aura is only one of many different types of Migraines and only accounts for about 20% of cases.
  • 2. Aura is a purely visual phenomenon
    It can affect vision but is by no means limited to it. Aura can be experienced in all the senses like feeling pins and needles, feeling dizzy and even hearing noises that are not there. Correct. An aura is a wave of electricity crossing the brain and can therefore affect different parts causing different effects like flashing lights, pins and needles or hearing noises that aren’t there.
  • 3. Migraine is a headache
    It’s true that a headache is one of the most common symptoms of migraine, but it is not always present and even if it is, it may not be the most painful symptom. Migraine is a neurological disorder, which means the brain is affected. Sometimes this can cause the blood vessels in the brain to change, and this can trigger pain, but Migraine has many symptoms. Actually, although Migraine is commonly thought of as a headache it is in fact a complex neurological condition. It triggers changes in the brain, and this can cause pain, but Migraine has many other symptoms.
  • 4. Female hormones can affect migraine
    Hormonal fluctuations or changes throughout a girl/woman’s life can influence migraine type, migraine symptoms, severity and frequency. Due to hormonal factors, migraine is three times more common in women than in men. They actually do, making women three times more likely to suffer with migraine than men.
  • 5. Worrying about headaches is a good enough reason to go to the doctor
    Yes, a headache or migraine is a serious condition and can be severe enough to go to the GP. However, many people try to manage it themselves, this can make things worse. If you experience regular or frequent headache, you should make an appointment with your GP. It is. Headaches are a neurological condition and should not be passed off as ‘just a headache’, especially if severe. In these cases it it certainly justification to visit a GP.
  • 6. Migraine can be cured by drinking lots of water
    This is not true. There is currently no cure for Migraine. Dehydration is often a trigger factor for migraine attacks and flare-ups but drinking plenty of water alone cannot cure a migraine. However, drinking plenty of water throughout the day can help to keep your personal threshold high and prevent attacks or flare-ups. Indeed, water alone is not a cure for migraine although it helps. Dehydration is actually one of the triggers of migraine, so proper hydration should be a priority in migraine sufferers.
  • 7. All migraine is the same
    No, there are many variations of migraine, some people get attacks a few time a year, other live with symptoms every day. Symptoms can include body and face pain, nausea, temporary paralysis, vertigo and many other frightening and disabling symptoms. That’s right, there are so many different types of symptoms around migraine and people experience a combination of these symptoms differently than others. The only commonality is that migraine is a frightening and disabling condition.
  • 8. Migraine is just an excuse to miss work
    Migraine is not ‘just a headache’. Despite its prevalence, migraine remains under-recognised in most areas of society because of its non-fatal nature and invisibility*. Many people who don’t live with it believe it’s a simple headache and do not understand why the person can’t take a tablet and get rid of it. It is not. Migraine is as bad as many other debilitating conditions that would seem acceptable to take time off for. Migraine remains under-recognised in most areas of society because of its non-fatal nature and invisibility*, but is never-the-less a medical condition that needs to be taken seriously.
  • 9. Only women experience migraine
    Anyone, no matter their gender, nationality, age, socio-economic status can experience migraine. It is more prevalent in women due to hormonal changes, but it is not exclusive to women. All genders, nationalities, ages can experience migraine. It is more prevalent in women due to hormonal changes, but it is not exclusive to women.
  • 10. Migraine is psychological not actually a disease
    Migraine is a complex, disabling, neurological (brain) disorder, that affects 1.16 billion people worldwide. It ranks first among children and adolescents and second among adults aged under 60 years*. It is a serious and severe medical condition and not psychosomatic or exaggerated. Migraine is neurological not psychological. It affects brain function and is suffered by 1.16 billion people worldwide.
  • *1. Peres MFP, Sacco S, Pozo-Rosich P, et al. Migraine is the most disabling neurological disease among children and adolescents, and second after stroke among adults: A call to action. Cephalalgia. 2024;44(8). doi:10.1177/03331024241267309

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