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The word "migraine" is Greek (from hemikrania, pain on one side of the head; hemi-, half, + kranion, skull). It indicates a type of headache that affects only one side of the head, or is bilateral. In migraine, pain is bilateral in only 20% of cases.
Migraine is cyclical. It reoccurs at regular intervals with varying frequency, ranging from a few episodes over the course of a year to 3 within 1 week. Each attack can last from 2 hours to 2 days.
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Migraine headache affects more women than men, and 3 out of 4 people who suffer from migraines are women. For them, the onset of migraine is often associated with menstruation, beginning at some time during the first 2 days before the cycle, and on the day after its completion. In 50% of cases, migraine tends to be hereditary. The disorder is most prevalent among young adults under 30-40 years of age.
There are two forms of migraine: with or without aura.
Migraine with aura affects about 1--2% of the world's population. Pain is preceded or accompanied by a series of signs called an "aura". The aura is a group of temporary neurological features, mostly visual disturbances, bright, shining flashes; partial loss of vision; and dimming or blurring of vision. Other symptoms include a sensation of numbness or tingling of the arms or loss of consciousness. Usually, the aura lasts 10 to 30 minutes before the onset of the migraine attack.
Migraine without aura is more common and occurs in about 80% of cases. In women its onset is often associated with the menstrual cycle
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