Resolution of migraine attacks: sleep and the recovery phase.

A study of 50 migraineurs has confirmed previous observations that sleep is a common way of ending the headache phase. 14 subjects could shorten attacks by going to sleep during the day for an average of 2 1/2 hours. Different methods used by patients to aid falling asleep are described. 47 of the 50 subjects had symptoms after the headache had gone--here called the recovery phase which can double the length of individual attacks. It is suggested that prodromata, some symptoms of the headache and recovery phases, as well as the therapeutic effect of sleep, indicate that migraine is primarily a neurological rather than a vascular disorder.