What causes a migraine?
More than 26 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches, according to the American Medical Association. But what causes a migraine and its accompanying pain is uncertain. “There is no universally agreed upon cause,” says Parker, a Billings native who has taught at UM since 1993. “There is strong suspicion that certain nerve cells of sufferers may have problems with membrane proteins that regulate ion movements in and out of cells.” Heredity also plays a role in migraine attacks, Parker says. People are more likely to suffer from migraines if other family members get the headaches. Other triggers of migraines include light, sound, certain foods, disrupted sleep patterns, and drugs and alcohol. What are the symptoms of a migraine? Migraine symptoms may vary from person to person. But Parker, who holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Montana State University and a doctorate in pharmacology from the University of California, San Francisco, says one-sided head pain is common am
