- It's horrible.
- It's truly miserable.
- It's so awful.
- Migraines are by far the biggest burden of my life.
- [Narrator] If you're a human being living on planet Earth
chances are you've probably experienced a headache
at some point in your life. (quirky music)
But have you ever experienced a migraine?
- Makes pretty much everything more difficult.
- I mean every single, there's not
a part of my brain that does not hurt.
- I would rather have someone ghost me
than ever get a migraine again.
- I would rather wax my eyebrows off
than ever have a migraine again.
- I would rather be tragically hungover
for a week straight than have a 20 minute migraine.
- I would rather clean the floor with my toothbrush
than have a migraine again.
I would probably give up pizza if they were like,
hey, you'll never have a migraine again.
And I love pizza.
- [Narrator] So what exactly is a migraine?
According to the Mayo Clinic, migraines are not
well understood and may be caused by a variety of things,
including changes to the brain stem,
or chemical imbalances in the brain.
And it's important to understand
that a migraine is not just a regular headache.
Tension headaches are the most common,
making up about 90% of the headaches that people experience.
And they're usually described
as causing mild to moderate pain.
Migraines, while less common,
are (banging) much more intense.
Migraines are typically divided into two main categories,
those with auras, and those without.
Aura can actually cause people to have difficulty speaking,
hear sounds or music, shake uncontrollably.
Experience visual disturbances like bright spots,
zigzag vision, light flashes, or even vision loss.
And can even cause people to go numb in the face and body.
And while the statistics vary, it's estimated
that 15% of the US population deals with migraines.
They can cause a pulsing, throbbing pain
that ranges from moderate to severe.
Think of it this way, people can usually function
through a headache, but a migraine
can make daily life incredibly difficult,
or even impossible.
The pain is usually centered on one side of the head.
And can be coupled with pain in the temples,
eye area, and back of the head.
Migraines can also cause nausea, light-headedness,
sensitivity to light, sound, smell and touch.
They can make it difficult to move or even speak.
Migraines may even take you out of commission entirely.
And can last anywhere from four hours to three days.
And even after it's over, a migraine can leave you
feeling dizzy, confused, weak, and moody.
But what does a migraine feel like?
- (rock music) A migraine, for me, I feel like it's almost
like a steamroller just rolling over my head continuously.
- Having a migraine feels like somebody scooping out
my eyeballs with a spoon made of spikes.
- It feels like my entire head is being squeezed
by a trash compactor.
Very, very slowly.
- Kinda like having a lot of little angry men
just stab you in the forehead with ice picks.
- But at the same time you're also feeling like
there are like hyenas ripping at each side of your head
from both sides, and pulling it apart
while this elephant is sitting there.
- They hurt like to the touch.
Like if I, I can't like put makeup on,
I can't like touch my eyes when I have a migraine.
My eyelashes hurt.
- You cry.
You look at the light, you cry more.
- I just wish that I knew what caused it
and how to stop it. (calm music)
- [Narrator] Unfortunately, right now,
the cause of migraines is still not fully understood.
But we do know some things that can be triggers.
Foods like aged cheeses and other dairy,
meats with nitrates like cured salami,
nuts and seeds, and even chocolate.
And don't forget the salty processed foods.
Onions, pickled or fermented foods.
Even foods containing gluten.
And foods containing tyramine like smoked fish.
And even red wine.
Migraines can also be triggered by changes in your diet,
like skipping a meal.
And things like aspartame or artificial sweetener.
MSG, caffeine, sensory stimulants like strong scents,
bright lights, loud noises, certain medications,
and even hormone fluctuations.
Making women three times more likely
to have migraines than men.
Stress, too little sleep, too much sleep,
strenuous activities like sex.
Migraines can even be triggered by weather events
and changes in barometric pressure.
(popping)
And while researchers agree that there's probably a link
between migraines and anxiety and depression,
no one knows for certain whether one causes the other.
Though it's estimated that between 30% and 50%
of people who have chronic migraines
also experience anxiety.
And about 40% have also dealt with depression.
So once a migraine hits, effective treatment
can really vary from person to person.
But there are a few things you can do regularly
to help prevent or relieve migraine pain.
Such as going to bed and waking up on a schedule.
Muscle relaxation and massage.
Acupuncture, yoga, and even meditation.
And if you're someone suffering from migraines
you already know it sucks.
But we want you to also know, you are not alone.
(upbeat music)