Migraine is more common than asthma, diabetes and coronary artery disease combined. In fact, some 28 million Americans—approximately 13 percent of the population—suffer from migraines. Roughly three out of four migraine sufferers are female.

Attacks occur sporadically and can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours. They may occur only once or twice a year, or as often as daily. Severe, often debilitating pain, may be accompanied by a variety of symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.

While the exact cause of migraine is unknown, migraine symptoms may result from a series of reactions in the central nervous system caused by changes in the body or in the environment. Sensitivity to certain triggers produces inflammation in the blood vessels and nerves around the brain, causing pain. Migraine sufferers often have a family history of the disorder.