Migraine is a throbbing pain in the head, usually accompanied by vomiting, nausea and visual problems such as extreme sensitivity to light. Migraine attacks can be quite debilitating, making the sufferers bedridden for days. Migraine is a common health problem, affecting a significant number of adults globally. At times, the headache is present in only side and is pulsating in nature.

Migraine is often preceded by an aura, characterized by light flashes, blind spots and a tingling sensation in your arm or leg. It is quite possible that one may experience with little or no accompanying headache. A mix of genetic and environmental factors is believed to be behind migraines. Around two-thirds of the patients have a family history of migraine. More boys are affected by the condition than girls before the onset of puberty, but two to three times women are affected by it than men.