The 411 on Migraines
Jordin Sparks is the face of a new Excedrin campaign.
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Jordin Sparks Gets Them, Too - American Idol alum Jordin Sparks recently spoke out about her struggle with migraines and her new Excedrin campaign to spread awareness about this chronic ailment. Learn more about migraines and how they impact African-Americans.(Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for WebMD)
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What Is a Migraine? - A migraine is a severe, painful headache that is often coupled with sensory warning signs such as flashes of light, blind spots, tingling in the arms and legs, nausea, vomiting and increased sensitivity to light and sound. It is debilitating with 90 percent of people not being able to work when they have an attack. (Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)
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How Is that Different Than a Headache? - A headache can be throbbing, but it normally doesn’t have sensory issues attached to it. Headaches may last for an hour or so, while migraines can last as long as 72 hours.(Photo: Image Source/Corbis)
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What Causes Migraines? - The science around this is fuzzy. Researchers do believe that genetics play a factor. Other data suggests that obesity, changes in the brain stem and serotonin levels may also be behind migraines, too.(Photo: Getty Images)
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How Common Are Migraines? - It’s estimated that between 2–10 percent of Americans suffer from migraines. Most sufferers experience attacks once or twice a month, 14 million people have chronic daily headache, when attacks occur at least 15 days per month, writes the Migraine Research Foundation. (Photo: Getty Images/Blend Images)
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