Migraine and olfactory stimuli.
Migraine patients often report intolerance to odours. Migraineurs report odours may trigger attacks, that they experience osmophobia during attacks, and olfactory hypersensitivity between attacks. In this paper we discuss olfactory mechanisms in migraine. We also present data from a pilot questionnaire study in a group of young women diagnosed with migraine. The study results confirm that hypersensitivity to odour is a common feature in women with migraine. Migraine pathophysiology likely explains this particular vulnerability. We discuss these pathophysiologic mechanisms and hypotheses relating odour intolerances and migraine.
Sjöstrand
Christina
C
Headache Research Centre, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. christina.sjostrand@ki.se
Savic
Ivanka
I
Laudon-Meyer
Eva
E
Hillert
Lena
L
Lodin
Karin
K
Waldenlind
Elisabet
E
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009812:Odorants; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055696:Olfactory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult