Every time Vivien Haigh felt that familiar ache behind her eyes and stiffening of the neck, she would lie down and wait for the inevitable.

For the next 24 to 36 hours she would often be prostrate, lying in a dark room and vomiting until her throbbing headache subsided.

But thanks to the huge developments made in the field of migraines, a lot of the anguish has since been removed.

"The pain was immobilising. I first got them when I was studying for my O-levels aged 15," she said. "At first my doctor ignored it, but I kept going back and he diagnosed migraines. It runs in my family. Both my mother and grandmother suffer, too.

"It is totally debilitating. Any noise or light is horrendous and you can't make a decision about anything because the pain is so bad. "It always used to happen when we went on holiday.

"I would race around for days packing, organising the kids and the dogs and when we finally reached our destination I would relax and get a migraine."

This is fairly common. Many migraines are brought on by stress and tension.

Vivien added: "The worst time to get it is when I'm driving because I have to stop quickly and find somewhere to go. Last time that happened I had to drive to a friend's house until it was over." Vivien, who runs a B&B business near Wantage, has also had to stop work on occasions. "If it's bad, you can't work through it," she said.

Although the 52-year-old still suffers, she now knows what her symptoms are, and more about how to control the attacks. She was referred to the Migraine Clinic at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital several years ago by her GP, where her attacks were analysed. Vivien now takes care to avoid chocolate and alcohol - two well-known triggers for the condition - and she also avoids late nights and smoky rooms.

She uses complementary therapy in the form of acupuncture and homeopathy and special migraine drugs.

But, she warns, these factors are particular to her because her migraines are hormonal. Other sufferers may experience different symptoms from different causes, such as eating cheese, tomatoes or potatoes. National migraine awareness week runs from August 31-September 6.

There are an estimated 47,000 migraine sufferers in Oxfordshire alone.

And an estimated 60 per cent of them do not consult their doctor because they believe - quite wrongly in most cases - that nothing can be done to help them. Advice of an expert Dr Andrew Dowson, medical adviser to the Migraine Action Association, offers the following advice:

Enlist the help of your GP who will follow a step-by-step treatment plan

Try over-the-counter remedies. If they don't work, try stronger painkillers which can stop the sickness

Then try 5HT tablets, injections or nasal spray. These replace Serotin which is in short supply during attacks

Complementary therapies such as acupuncture, relaxation techniques and herbal remedies may be useful

Keep a migraine diary. Record what you eat, drink and do. A pattern or common feature will soon become evident

Try to eat and sleep regularly, reduce stress and learn to relax. Signs to watch for Migraines can last from four to 72 hours. Only one in ten sufferers experiences an aura, such as ziz-zag lines, flashing lights or blind spots in the vision.

A throbbing pain on the side of the head, sickness, vomiting and sensitivity to light, sound and smell are more common symptoms.

Warning signals, known as prodromal symptoms, include immense tiredness, yawning, boundless energy, food craving although sufferers are often not aware of these until they are pointed out.

Only 20 per cent of sufferers know what triggers their migraines.

It could be hormonal reasons such as menstruation, menopause, the Pill or pregnancy, emotion - such as stress - missed meals, specific foods, too little or too much sleep, environmental factors like travel, loud noises, bright or flickering lights or over-exertion.

Some are things you can control and others you can't.

The average sufferer loses 11 days a year to migraines.

Over half say they do not feel in control between attacks. Migraines run in the family

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