Are Migraine Headaches Inherited?

Medical researchers have recently come to believe that heredity is indeed a factor in a patient’s predisposition to getting migraine headaches. It’s estimated that close to 60% of migraine sufferers have a close relative who also have the same condition. Of that number:

  • 40-50%: have mothers with the condition
  • 10-15%: have fathers with the condition
  • 12-17%: have sisters with the condition
  • 10-12%: have brothers with the condition

Researchers believe that a predisposition for the condition is passed from parent to child. This evidence is in no way conclusive though, but there does seem to be a connection. It should also be noted that even if one’s tendency to get migraines is linked to a similar condition in a parent, migraine triggers (the conditions that cause an attack) are probably not inherited. This is because migraine triggers vary from person to person and are linked to each person’s sensitivity to the triggers themselves. Because of this, the triggers and your body’s reaction to them can change over time. For example your body may react a certain way depending on your exposure to a particular condition. If you work in a department store you may become sensitive to certain perfumes or fragrances. Or you could become sensitive to a certain combination of fragrances instead of one in particular. Additionally, you may only show signs of sensitivity if you’re tired or rundown.

Within families that suffer from migraines the triggers will vary even if all of the family members live in the same dwelling. A mother may get a migraine from drinking coffee whereas her son never gets migraines from drinking coffee; instead, he gets a migraine after eating foods containing MSG.

It’s important to develop the ability to identify your triggers and understand how they affect you. This is an important step in the migraine preventative process and something that will be examined in-depth at this site.

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One Response to “Are Migraine Headaches Inherited?”

  1. What Is A Migraine? | Migraine Symptoms Guide on July 5th, 2008 9:57 am

    [...] You have close family members that suffer from migraines. See the article “Are Migraine Headaches Inherited?” [...]

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