Migraines are intense, recurring headaches that often cause throbbing pain, typically on one side of the head. They can last for hours or even days and are often accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines can affect anyone, but they are more common in women, people with a family history of migraines, and individuals prone to stress or hormonal fluctuations.

Migraines are typically triggered by several factors, including: 

• Hormonal changes: Especially in women during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause.
• Stress: Physical or emotional stress can lead to migraines.
• Sensory stimuli: Bright lights, loud noises, or strong smells may trigger a migraine.
• Diet: Certain foods like aged cheese, caffeine, or alcohol can cause migraines.
• Environmental changes: Sudden weather changes, such as temperature shifts during Chinooks in Calgary, can trigger what’s known as “Chinook migraines,” where rapid barometric pressure changes lead to headache onset. 

Types of Migraines:  

• Migraine with aura: Often includes visual disturbances, like seeing flashes of light, before the headache begins.
• Migraine without aura: The most common type, characterized by throbbing pain without preceding sensory symptoms.
• Weather-triggered migraines: These are often linked to changes in temperature, humidity, or barometric pressure, such as the Chinook migraines that many in Calgary experience. 

Symptoms of Migraines: 

• Severe headache: Intense, throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head, but it can affect both sides.
• Sensitivity to light and sound: Bright lights and loud noises often worsen migraine symptoms.
• Nausea and vomiting: Many migraine sufferers experience nausea, and some may vomit during an attack.
• Aura (in some cases): Visual disturbances such as seeing flashes of light, zigzag lines, or blind spots before the headache begins.
• Dizziness or lightheadedness: Migraines can cause a feeling of unsteadiness or even fainting in some cases.
• Fatigue: Migraines are often followed by extreme tiredness or a "migraine hangover" as the pain subsides.
• Neck stiffness or pain: Some experience stiffness or pain in the neck either before or during a migraine attack.
• Tingling or numbness: Some people report tingling in the face or hands before the onset of a migraine.
• Difficulty concentrating: Brain fog or difficulty focusing can occur during or after the migraine.