Migraine Is a Neurological Disease
Migraine is much more than head pain. It is a complex neurological disease that can affect multiple systems throughout the body.
A migraine attack may include symptoms such as:
- Sensitivity to light, sound or smells
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating or cognitive changes
- Visual or sensory disturbances, including aura for some people
- Head pain, which may be moderate to severe
Symptoms vary from person to person and can also change from one attack to another.
For veterans, recognizing these symptoms as part of a neurological disease rather than something they simply need to tolerate can be an important first step toward seeking care.
Traumatic Brain Injury and Migraine
Traumatic brain injury is an important neurological concern among military personnel and veterans.
Military service may involve exposure to blast events, falls, training accidents, vehicle crashes or other situations that can result in TBI, including concussion.
Following a TBI, some individuals may develop symptoms that resemble migraine, including sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and disabling pain. People with a history of migraine may also experience changes in their symptoms following an injury.
Researchers continue to investigate the neurological mechanisms connecting brain injury and migraine-like symptoms. Changes in pain processing, sensory pathways and other neurological systems may contribute.
A history of TBI is therefore important information to share with a healthcare provider when discussing new or changing migraine symptoms.
Sleep and Migraine in Veterans
Sleep and migraine have a close and complex relationship.
Research suggests that the relationship is bidirectional: disrupted sleep can increase susceptibility to migraine attacks, while migraine can make it more difficult to get restorative sleep.
Sleep challenges may be particularly relevant for some veterans. Military schedules, deployment experiences and other factors can disrupt normal sleep patterns, and conditions such as insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea may continue after service.
For veterans living with migraine, addressing sleep health can be an important part of comprehensive neurological care.
Persistent difficulty falling asleep, frequent nighttime awakenings, excessive daytime sleepiness or other significant changes in sleep should be discussed with a healthcare provider.
PTSD, Mental Health and Migraine
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression can coexist with migraine.
This does not mean migraine is psychological. Migraine is a neurological disease with complex biological mechanisms.
However, neurological and mental health conditions can interact. Stress, disrupted sleep and changes in the way the nervous system processes pain may contribute to overall disease burden.
For veterans living with both migraine and a mental health condition, addressing each condition as part of a comprehensive care plan may help improve overall health and quality of life.
Military Environments May Present Unique Migraine Challenges
Military environments can expose service members to conditions that may be challenging for someone susceptible to migraine.
Depending on an individual’s role and experience, these may include:
- Irregular sleep schedules
- Intense or prolonged noise
- Bright or flashing lights
- Physical exertion
- Heat
- Dehydration
- Changes in eating schedules
- Physical and emotional stress
These factors do not necessarily cause migraine. However, some may contribute to migraine attacks in susceptible individuals.
Triggers are highly individual, and an environmental factor that affects one person may have little or no effect on another.
Recognizing Your Individual Migraine Patterns
Because migraine can look different from person to person, tracking symptoms can provide valuable information.
A migraine diary can help record:
- When attacks occur
- How long they last
- Symptoms experienced before, during and after an attack
- Possible triggers or environmental factors
- Sleep patterns
- Medications used
- How well treatments work
Over time, this information may reveal patterns that can help veterans and their healthcare providers make more informed treatment decisions.
Finding the Right Migraine Treatment
Migraine treatment should be individualized.
Depending on attack frequency, severity, medical history and previous treatment response, a healthcare provider may recommend acute treatments, preventive therapies, lifestyle strategies or a combination of approaches.
The migraine treatment landscape has also expanded in recent years, providing additional options for people whose previous treatments have not provided sufficient relief.
Veterans experiencing frequent, disabling or difficult-to-treat migraine attacks may benefit from evaluation by a neurologist or healthcare professional who specializes in migraine.
When Should Veterans Seek Medical Care?
Veterans should talk with a healthcare provider when migraine attacks are frequent, worsening, changing or interfering with everyday life.
New neurological symptoms should also be evaluated, particularly when they occur following an injury.
Seek immediate medical attention for sudden or severe neurological symptoms, including new weakness, confusion, loss of consciousness, difficulty speaking or significant changes in vision.
Veterans Should Not Have to Navigate Migraine Alone
Migraine can affect work, relationships, sleep and the ability to participate in everyday activities. For veterans, these challenges may exist alongside other lasting effects of military service.
Recognizing migraine as a neurological disease is an important part of improving awareness and care.
Veterans experiencing migraine symptoms should not feel that pain, sensory changes, cognitive difficulties or other disabling symptoms are simply something they have to endure.
With appropriate evaluation and an individualized treatment plan, migraine can be managed.
The American Migraine Foundation provides trusted information about migraine symptoms, treatment options and resources for finding healthcare professionals who specialize in migraine care.
References
- American Migraine Foundation. Migraine 101. American Migraine Foundation.
- American Migraine Foundation. Migraine and Sleep. American Migraine Foundation.
- American Migraine Foundation. Migraine Treatment Options. American Migraine Foundation.
- Ashina H, Porreca F, Anderson T, et al. Post-traumatic headache: epidemiology and pathophysiological insights. Nature Reviews Neurology. 2019;15:607–617.
- Goadsby PJ, Holland PR, Martins-Oliveira M, Hoffmann J, Schankin C, Akerman S. Pathophysiology of migraine: A disorder of sensory processing. Physiological Reviews. 2017;97(2):553–622.
