| Abstract | | The field of migraine pathophysiology has been characterized as a battleground for elaborate hypotheses. Cerebral blood flow changes, spreading depression, blood platelets, the blood-brain barrier, neuroendocrine changes, autonomic dysfunction, serotonin, central dysnociception, genetic factors, food allergy etc. have been identified as possible causes. Ideas that migraine is entirely psychological in origin, or caused by magnesium deficiency, excitatory amino acids, or defective pain control mechanisms have been advanced. The most acceptable explanation is that migraine is a neurovascular reaction in response to sudden changes in the internal or external environment.
|