What Is a Migraine? Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Why It Matters

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves breaks down a question many people ask after years of suffering: What is a migraine — and why does the definition matter? Dr. Taves explains how migraines are diagnosed in today’s healthcare system, what symptoms typically qualify someone for a migraine label, and why migraine is often categorized as a primary headache—meaning it’s treated as something with no clear cause and managed mainly with medication. He also explores why that model can be limiting for patients who want long-term improvement, and why focusing only on the diagnosis can prevent deeper investigation into what may be driving symptoms like head pain, nausea, light/sound sensitivity, and neurological changes. This episode challenges common assumptions about migraines and offers a hopeful perspective: if symptoms have an underlying cause, they may be more treatable than most people realize. Novera: Headache Center