Migraine Awareness and University Life

Did you know that about 1 in 7 people experience migraine attacks regularly in the UK? This is around 10 million people, which is more than the number of people living with diabetes, epilepsy and asthma combined[1].

Despite being a prevalent condition, there remains a lot of myths around migraine. The National Migraine Centre conducted a survey this year and found that some common misunderstandings among survey participants are[2]:

• 71% characterised migraine as merely a ‘bad headache’

• 88 % believed a headache is always present during an attack, despite many experiencing migraine without head pain

• 96% did not know that abdominal pain or stomach upset can be a migraine symptom

• 23% didn’t know migraine can be legally classed as a disability, and 54% were unsure

So what is migraine? It is a neurological disorder where the nerves in your brain become over-stimulated and cause a cascade of chemicals to be released. Whilst throbbing ache on one side of the head is a common feature, migraine comes with a collection of varying symptoms. To name a few:

• Nausea or vomiting

• Sensitivity to light, noise, movement, or smell

• Visual disturbances, or "aura", for example: seeing flashing or flickering lights or zigzag patterns

• Muscle weakness or numbness

• Brain fog, speech difficulties, and other cognitive difficulties

Plus, a migraine "attack" often happens in stages and can last from hours to days from beginning to recovery[3].

See a GP if you experience migraine symptoms.

Treatment for migraine includes medicines[4], such as painkillers, Triptans and anti-sickness medications, as well as lifestyle management, where you and your doctor work on identifying and managing your migraine triggers. For example, some people experience migraine attacks more frequently when their blood sugar level drops, which means skipping meals would be their trigger, so it would be helpful to eat at regular intervals to manage the symptom[5].

For King's students, if you have a migraine diagnosis and need support for your academic learning, you can contact the University's Disability & Inclusion Support to discuss your needs. The University has a guide: KA-02154  · Student Services Online (kcl.ac.uk) on the adjustments and support provisions for students with a disability or long-term health condition.

Bonus points, listen to the migraine specialists from the National Migraine Centre, Dr Jessica Briscoe, Dr. Katy Munro and Professor Paul Booton, discuss good practices to manage migraine at university:

And treat yourself to a brief guided relaxation session with retired GP Ann Williamson:

References:

1. The Migraine Trust Report TMT-Heading-In-The-Wrong-Direction-2023-FINAL.pdf (migrainetrust.org)

2. Migraine Awareness Week 2025 - National Migraine Centre

3. What is migraine? - National Migraine Centre 

4. Migraine - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

5. Migraine triggers - National Migraine Centre