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How common are migraine headaches?

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By Monica Rhodes

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Approximately 28 million people suffer from migraines in the United States alone.1 Worldwide, migraines occur in up to 25% of women and up to 10% of men.2

Females are about 3 times more likely to develop migraines than males. Migraines are most common in adults (between ages 20 through 50) but become less severe and less frequent with age.1 Migraines often begin in early to mid-adolescence.3 Even very young children can get migraines, both with and without an aura (neurological disturbance). Your risk of having migraines is greater if you have a family history of migraines.

References

Citations

  1. Lipton RB, et al. (2002). Migraine in the United States: Epidemiology and patterns of health care use. Neurology, 58(6): 885–894.

  2. Morillo LE (2006). Migraine headache, search date August 2003. Online version of Clinical Evidence (15): 1–16.

  3. Wood AJJ (2002). Migraine: Current understanding and treatment. New England Journal of Medicine, 346(4): 257–270.

Credits

Author Monica Rhodes
Editor Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Colin Chalk, MD, CM, FRCPC - Neurology
Last Updated July 3, 2007
Last Updated: 07/03/2007