Migraine is a condition that reflects the way your nervous system functions or, at times, malfunctions. Learning about your migrainous nervous system gives you insight about your migraines.

What is Migraine?

Today's fast-paced lifestyle demands much from our nervous system. For many it seems we are in a constant state of alert. The nervous system is adjusting to the lights, sounds, and activities of our environment. It adapts to weather, wind and humidity. It constantly accommodates changes in hormones, emotions, and thoughts as well as the many chemicals in our food and beverages. Considering this, is it any wonder that at times, the nervous system overloads? And when it does, there is a change in brain chemicals, rendering the brain unable to slow down. Eventually, the brain loses the ability to inhibit sensory information such as light, sound and odors. The thinking process slows down. Muscles become tight and tender, blocking the message from the brain to relax. Ultimately, blood vessels lose their regulation, swell and become inflamed, producing the headache associated with migraine. Interestingly, the Center for Disease Control has reported that over the past ten years, the prevalence of migraine has increased by almost 60%.