Migraine is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent moderate to severe headaches often in association with a number of autonomic nervous system symptoms. The pain of a migraine headache is often described as an intense pulsing or throbbing pain in one area of the head. Part of the criteria of diagnosing migraine  is by its pain and the number of attacks (at least 5 attacks, lasting 4-72 hours if untreated), as well as additional symptoms including nausea and/or vomiting or sensitivity to both light and sound. Migraine is three times more common in women than in men and affects more than 10 percent of people worldwide. Roughly one-third of affected individuals can predict the onset of a migraine because it is preceded by an "aura."  An aura can be a visual disturbances that appear as flashing lights, zig- zag lines or a temporary loss of vision. An aura can also include sensory or speech disturbances.  Individuals with migraine tend to have recurring attacks triggered by a number of different factors including stress, anxiety, hormonal changes, bright or flashing lights, lack of food or sleep, and dietary substances.  Migraine in some women may relate to changes in hormones and hormonal levels during their menstrual cycle.  For many years, scientists believed that migraines were linked to the dilation and constriction of blood vessels in the head. 1  Investigators now believe that migraine can have a genetic cause and both the vascular system and the nervous system play a role in the pathophysiology of migraine.

Chronic Migraine

Criteria define Chronic Migraine (one type of Migraine) as headache that occurs 15 or more days a month with headache lasting 4 hours or longer for at least 3 consecutive months in people with a current or prior diagnosis of migraine. BOTOX ® is one of the FDA approved treatments for Chronic Migraine and is a treatment administered by the providers at Summit Headache and Neurologic Institute. 1 - Content taken from the NIH.Gov NINDS Migraine Information Page