Migraine is one of the most frequent neurological diseases. Around the world about 10 percent of the adults are suffering of migraine, more women than men. The difference between the genders has most likely hormonal and genetic reasons, neurologists assume. For most people, migraines peak between 35 and 40, then taper off and weaken after that. This may not be the case if you’re a woman going through per menopause. If hormones are a trigger, you could have more headaches during this time.

Migraine is a complex condition with a wide variety of symptoms.

For many people the main feature is a painful headache. Other symptoms include :

  • Disturbed vision
  • Sensitivity to light, sound and smells
  • Feeling sick and vomiting

Migraine attacks can be very frightening and may result in you having to lie still for several hours.

  • The symptoms will vary from person to person and individuals may have different symptoms during different attacks. Your attacks may differ in length and frequency. Migraine attacks usually last from 4 to 72 hours and most people are free from symptoms between attacks. Migraine can have an enormous impact on your work, family and social lives.
  • Headache is pain in any region of the head. Headaches may occur on one or both sides of the head, be isolated to a certain location, radiate across the head from one point, or have a viselike quality.
  • A headache may appear as a sharp pain, a throbbing sensation or a dull ache. Headaches can develop gradually or suddenly, and may last from less than an hour to several days.
  • Unlike most other headaches, migraines usually strike on one side of your head. But they don’t always stay still. The pain can move from side to side. Most people describe the pain as throbbing or pounding.
  • Migraines can start any time of day, or they can wake you up in the middle of the night. They can last 4 hours or longer. A really bad migraine can last as long as a week
  • Some foods that have a natural chemical called tyramine may trigger a migraine. Watch out for aged cheese, processed meats, and fermented foods like soy sauce and sauerkraut. There’s no “migraine diet,” but after a while you’ll know if certain foods trigger headaches for you. It might help to avoid things with caffeine, chocolate, MSG, artificial sweeteners, alcohol, and meat with nitrites.
  • About 3 of every 4 people who get migraines are women. In fact, the only time migraines are more common in guys is when they’re young — before puberty hits.
  • Migraine pain typically starts out as a dull ache. It can take an hour or 2 to build into a full-blown headache. Some people can feel an oncoming migraine a day or 2 before it starts.
  • Other warning symptoms include sensitivity to light, sound, and smells, as well as mood changes. Because most migraine medicines work best when taken early, it’s a good idea to take medicine as soon as you feel a headache coming on.

Acupuncture benefits for headaches

Acupuncture seeks to restore the flow of positive energy throughout your body.

It also claims to remove negative energy that is causing you pain. From a modern medical perspective, acupuncture stimulates various systems of your body. This may trigger a healing response.

Acupuncture divides your body into a series of zones and pressure points. Acupuncture needles are inserted into different pressure points, depending on your symptoms. These needle points are usually near nerves in your body. The needle stimulates the nerves to release hormones, such as endorphins, that trigger a response from your body. This immune and circulation system stimulation is what proponents of acupuncture claim relieves migraines and tension headaches.