- It's horrible.
- It's horrible.

- It's truly miserable.
- It's truly miserable.

- It's so awful.
- It's so awful.

- Migraines are by far the biggest burden of my life.
- Migraines are by far the biggest burden of my life.

- [Narrator] If you're a human being living on planet Earth
- [Narrator] If you're a human being living on planet Earth

chances are you've probably experienced a headache
chances are you've probably experienced a headache

at some point in your life. (quirky music)
at some point in your life. (quirky music)

But have you ever experienced a migraine?
But have you ever experienced a migraine?

- Makes pretty much everything more difficult.
- Makes pretty much everything more difficult.

- I mean every single, there's not
- I mean every single, there's not

a part of my brain that does not hurt.
a part of my brain that does not hurt.

- I would rather have someone ghost me
- I would rather have someone ghost me

than ever get a migraine again.
than ever get a migraine again.

- I would rather wax my eyebrows off
- I would rather wax my eyebrows off

than ever have a migraine again.
than ever have a migraine again.

- I would rather be tragically hungover
- I would rather be tragically hungover

for a week straight than have a 20 minute migraine.
for a week straight than have a 20 minute migraine.

- I would rather clean the floor with my toothbrush
- I would rather clean the floor with my toothbrush

than have a migraine again.
than have a migraine again.

I would probably give up pizza if they were like,
I would probably give up pizza if they were like,

hey, you'll never have a migraine again.
hey, you'll never have a migraine again.

And I love pizza.
And I love pizza.

- [Narrator] So what exactly is a migraine?
- [Narrator] So what exactly is a migraine?

According to the Mayo Clinic, migraines are not
According to the Mayo Clinic, migraines are not

well understood and may be caused by a variety of things,
well understood and may be caused by a variety of things,

including changes to the brain stem,
including changes to the brain stem,

or chemical imbalances in the brain.
or chemical imbalances in the brain.

And it's important to understand
And it's important to understand

that a migraine is not just a regular headache.
that a migraine is not just a regular headache.

Tension headaches are the most common,
Tension headaches are the most common,

making up about 90% of the headaches that people experience.
making up about 90% of the headaches that people experience.

And they're usually described
And they're usually described

as causing mild to moderate pain.
as causing mild to moderate pain.

Migraines, while less common,
Migraines, while less common,

are (banging) much more intense.
are (banging) much more intense.

Migraines are typically divided into two main categories,
Migraines are typically divided into two main categories,

those with auras, and those without.
those with auras, and those without.

Aura can actually cause people to have difficulty speaking,
Aura can actually cause people to have difficulty speaking,

hear sounds or music, shake uncontrollably.
hear sounds or music, shake uncontrollably.

Experience visual disturbances like bright spots,
Experience visual disturbances like bright spots,

zigzag vision, light flashes, or even vision loss.
zigzag vision, light flashes, or even vision loss.

And can even cause people to go numb in the face and body.
And can even cause people to go numb in the face and body.

And while the statistics vary, it's estimated
And while the statistics vary, it's estimated

that 15% of the US population deals with migraines.
that 15% of the US population deals with migraines.

They can cause a pulsing, throbbing pain
They can cause a pulsing, throbbing pain

that ranges from moderate to severe.
that ranges from moderate to severe.

Think of it this way, people can usually function
Think of it this way, people can usually function

through a headache, but a migraine
through a headache, but a migraine

can make daily life incredibly difficult,
can make daily life incredibly difficult,

or even impossible.
or even impossible.

The pain is usually centered on one side of the head.
The pain is usually centered on one side of the head.

And can be coupled with pain in the temples,
And can be coupled with pain in the temples,

eye area, and back of the head.
eye area, and back of the head.

Migraines can also cause nausea, light-headedness,
Migraines can also cause nausea, light-headedness,

sensitivity to light, sound, smell and touch.
sensitivity to light, sound, smell and touch.

They can make it difficult to move or even speak.
They can make it difficult to move or even speak.

Migraines may even take you out of commission entirely.
Migraines may even take you out of commission entirely.

And can last anywhere from four hours to three days.
And can last anywhere from four hours to three days.

And even after it's over, a migraine can leave you
And even after it's over, a migraine can leave you

feeling dizzy, confused, weak, and moody.
feeling dizzy, confused, weak, and moody.

But what does a migraine feel like?
But what does a migraine feel like?

- (rock music) A migraine, for me, I feel like it's almost
- (rock music) A migraine, for me, I feel like it's almost

like a steamroller just rolling over my head continuously.
like a steamroller just rolling over my head continuously.

- Having a migraine feels like somebody scooping out
- Having a migraine feels like somebody scooping out

my eyeballs with a spoon made of spikes.
my eyeballs with a spoon made of spikes.

- It feels like my entire head is being squeezed
- It feels like my entire head is being squeezed

by a trash compactor.
by a trash compactor.

Very, very slowly.
Very, very slowly.

- Kinda like having a lot of little angry men
- Kinda like having a lot of little angry men

just stab you in the forehead with ice picks.
just stab you in the forehead with ice picks.

- But at the same time you're also feeling like
- But at the same time you're also feeling like

there are like hyenas ripping at each side of your head
there are like hyenas ripping at each side of your head

from both sides, and pulling it apart
from both sides, and pulling it apart

while this elephant is sitting there.
while this elephant is sitting there.

- They hurt like to the touch.
- They hurt like to the touch.

Like if I, I can't like put makeup on,
Like if I, I can't like put makeup on,

I can't like touch my eyes when I have a migraine.
I can't like touch my eyes when I have a migraine.

My eyelashes hurt.
My eyelashes hurt.

- You cry.
- You cry.

You look at the light, you cry more.
You look at the light, you cry more.

- I just wish that I knew what caused it
- I just wish that I knew what caused it

and how to stop it. (calm music)
and how to stop it. (calm music)

- [Narrator] Unfortunately, right now,
- [Narrator] Unfortunately, right now,

the cause of migraines is still not fully understood.
the cause of migraines is still not fully understood.

But we do know some things that can be triggers.
But we do know some things that can be triggers.

Foods like aged cheeses and other dairy,
Foods like aged cheeses and other dairy,

meats with nitrates like cured salami,
meats with nitrates like cured salami,

nuts and seeds, and even chocolate.
nuts and seeds, and even chocolate.

And don't forget the salty processed foods.
And don't forget the salty processed foods.

Onions, pickled or fermented foods.
Onions, pickled or fermented foods.

Even foods containing gluten.
Even foods containing gluten.

And foods containing tyramine like smoked fish.
And foods containing tyramine like smoked fish.

And even red wine.
And even red wine.

Migraines can also be triggered by changes in your diet,
Migraines can also be triggered by changes in your diet,

like skipping a meal.
like skipping a meal.

And things like aspartame or artificial sweetener.
And things like aspartame or artificial sweetener.

MSG, caffeine, sensory stimulants like strong scents,
MSG, caffeine, sensory stimulants like strong scents,

bright lights, loud noises, certain medications,
bright lights, loud noises, certain medications,

and even hormone fluctuations.
and even hormone fluctuations.

Making women three times more likely
Making women three times more likely

to have migraines than men.
to have migraines than men.

Stress, too little sleep, too much sleep,
Stress, too little sleep, too much sleep,

strenuous activities like sex.
strenuous activities like sex.

Migraines can even be triggered by weather events
Migraines can even be triggered by weather events

and changes in barometric pressure.
and changes in barometric pressure.

(popping)
(popping)

And while researchers agree that there's probably a link
And while researchers agree that there's probably a link

between migraines and anxiety and depression,
between migraines and anxiety and depression,

no one knows for certain whether one causes the other.
no one knows for certain whether one causes the other.

Though it's estimated that between 30% and 50%
Though it's estimated that between 30% and 50%

of people who have chronic migraines
of people who have chronic migraines

also experience anxiety.
also experience anxiety.

And about 40% have also dealt with depression.
And about 40% have also dealt with depression.

So once a migraine hits, effective treatment
So once a migraine hits, effective treatment

can really vary from person to person.
can really vary from person to person.

But there are a few things you can do regularly
But there are a few things you can do regularly

to help prevent or relieve migraine pain.
to help prevent or relieve migraine pain.

Such as going to bed and waking up on a schedule.
Such as going to bed and waking up on a schedule.

Muscle relaxation and massage.
Muscle relaxation and massage.

Acupuncture, yoga, and even meditation.
Acupuncture, yoga, and even meditation.

And if you're someone suffering from migraines
And if you're someone suffering from migraines

you already know it sucks.
you already know it sucks.

But we want you to also know, you are not alone.
But we want you to also know, you are not alone.

(upbeat music)
(upbeat music)