Migraines, what are they?

A few people I know frequently get migraines, and they often take it lightly, as if it is not a serious problem. However, migraines should be taken seriously, they should never be a regular part of lives. During a migraine, our brain engages in what is called cortical spreading depression, At the beginning of the migraine, chemical imbalances in the brain stem causes a cascade of other chemical changes, causing the brain to response atypically to signals it normally receives. Specifically, there are chemical imbalances in the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine the cause an immune response in which cells flow through the vessels of the brain, causing them to dilate and creating a headache. These severs headaches can cause nausea, vomiting, irritability, low blood pressure, sensitivity to light, sound, and motion, and dark circles under eyes, so don't take it lightly! Sometimes the migraine can be accompanied with an 'aura' which entails visual impairment to a certain extent. Be sure to see your physician if your constantly having migraines, as we do have treatments for it (no cure yet)!