Why evolution gave us migraine

Stress is a major trigger for headaches and migraines — but it affects everyone differently. The good news: better stress management can reduce their frequency and intensity.

To work well and stay healthy, a migraine brain needs a lot of energy. If the brain of a person with migraine enters an energy deficient state, migraine attacks can occur – these are intense headaches

Comorbidities are especially common when headaches are chronic or severe. There is a large body of medical research on how neurological disorders in particular often seem to overlap. One particularly

Medical doctors and scientists alike recognize a strong link between sleep and headaches – but what is actually happening in the body that could explain this? Let’s take a look at the latest

Myths about headaches are extremely common. Back in April 2024, we took a closer look at some popular myths about headaches and examined what science has to say about them. But there were too many to

Migraine is often labeled a "women's disease,' and it’s true that migraine is more common in women than men. The fact that men can get migraines too is something that tends to fly under the public

The headache type most people are familiar with is “tension-type headache”. Tension headaches are the most widespread form of headache – but because they’re so common, people tend to dismiss them as

Some people with headaches or migraines notice their symptoms worsen during autumn and winter. Is it because everything just feels more intense when it’s cold and dark outside, or are there ‘real’

How caffeine and headaches interact is among the most common questions asked in the headache community. It’s worth taking a look at the latest research findings and asking what they mean for headache

Our perception of the world relies on a complex interaction between our brain and our sensory organs. Sensory stimuli that we receive through our eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and skin are converted into

Our bodies are engaged in countless processes around the clock. Most of these happen without us consciously initiating them, and many go completely unnoticed. We breathe in and out all day long

Headaches affect almost everyone. With their widespread prevalence comes a remarkable array of myths surrounding their causes. Let’s delve into some “classic” headache myths and see if there’s any

Many people believe their headaches are directly related to the weather. We explored the connections in a previous article. The verdict: the science so far has not uncovered any mechanisms that would

How do migraine headaches feel? Are they the same for everyone affected by them? How severe is my pain and how much does it limit me?

People who want to measure pain are faced with a significant

The medication-overuse headache (referred to hereafter as MOH) has been well-known for a relatively long time. It was first described as an independent phenomenon in 1951. According to its definition,

For many of us, the summer holidays are the best time of year. We have put together several tips in this article on how to achieve real relaxation – regardless of whether you want to take some time

Our genes are subject to the laws of evolution. Since the beginnings of humanity, they have undergone constant change, and still do to this day. We know that the course of evolution intends for traits

In our last article, we presented several explanatory approaches to the connection between blood pressure and headaches. In this continuation, we will be explaining a further, much-discussed

If you sleep badly, you have a higher risk of getting headaches. At the same time, headaches often bring about sleeping problems. It is undisputed that both headaches and bad sleep influence each

Stress is an undisputed factor in the development of headaches and migraine. Relaxing and calming measures are important pillars of migraine and headache prevention, and current research supports this

Migraine is a neurological disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Centuries-worth of research into this complex clinical entity is continuing to give birth to new hypotheses. The last few

Holistic management of migraine and other types of headache now offers a treatment arsenal that is about much more than medication alone. In fact, it embraces many elements of behavioral therapy.

The classic advice from experts in headache prevention is to drink regularly. Boozing every night? Well, no. They mean staying hydrated and giving your body the fluids it needs. Specialists recommend

The diet-headache connection is one of the hottest of topics for patients and experts alike. Migraine sufferers often see a direct link between how and what they eat and a migraine attack. This

Humans are hard-wired to follow a routine. Your natural 24-hour cycle (circadian rhythm) governs many of the physiological processes in your body, including brain activity, blood pressure, hormones

Many people with a migraine will try to get out of the light. Often they have no choice but to go into a dark room and wait for the attack to end. Increased sensitivity to light is common in people

Digital stress (or technostress) is a burgeoning area of interest in medical and social science research. How does it affect us to be surrounded by digital media in almost every area of our lives?

Where would we be without our smartphones? Life these days is hard to imagine without a phone to plan the day, find information we need right this second, keep up with hobbies or just to pass the

Do short, gray, sunless winter days get you down? You’re not alone. The science is clear: daylight-deprived winter days affect our mood. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors would say it’s time to retreat

The most strenuous events are not usually distributed evenly across the week. Monday mornings (that notorious 8. a.m. lecture...) can frazzle your nerves and set the week off to a highly stressful

Coffee ranks high on the headache triggers list. The ingredient that gives you the buzz – caffeine – is one of the best-loved psychostimulants (uppers) ever. As a pick-me-up at work or just to hang

Teeth grinding (bruxism) has been commonly linked to headache. Bruxism is not a niche phenomenon. One in five female college students and one-tenth of their male peers are aware that they clench or

Migraine is not an allergic disorder, but migraine is more common in people with allergies. Doctors noticed the link more than a century ago. Individual case reports dating mainly from the first half

Headaches make it harder to think, reason and remember – so when you need to be on top of your game, pampering your brain is crucial. Proactive headache prevention is essential, because you need to be

Your brain produces large amounts of waste products (cellular detritus; remnants of dead cells, proteins and much more) that need to be cleared away to keep your brain healthy.

One example of harmful