Vascular changes within the brain cause alterations in function and usually headache. Often runs in family. May be identifiable triggers to an attack such as cheese, chocolate or wine.
Clinical Features
Often from adolescence, first episode very rare after 40s.
Episodic attacks.
Many different variants; typically an aura of flashing or zig-zag lines with temporary, often patchy, loss of vision in both eyes and photophobia, followed by headache with nausea or vomiting.
Return to normal within hours.
Variants include symptoms from other senses eg hearing or smell, visual symptoms without headache, or repeated attacks usually centred around one eye over a period of weeks (cluster headache).
Management
Simple painkillers during attack.
If ineffective see GP for more specific treatments to abort or prevent attacks.
