Migraines are not as common as other types of a headache, it is mostly associated with severe, throbbing pain at the front or either side of your head. Migraines last couple of hours most times and it keeps them in bed for some days. A lot of people can cure their migraines by getting medication over the counter but if it is severe then a better medication should be sort for. Some of the possible symptoms of migraines are:
These symptoms are mostly noticed before a migraine attack, not the aura or prodrome
- Pain on one side or both sides of your head.
- Pain that feels throbbing or pulsing.
- Sensitivity to light, sounds, and sometimes smells and touch.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Blurred vision.
- Lightheadedness, sometimes followed by fainting
Some people also occasionally experience other symptoms, including:
- sweating
- poor concentration,
- feeling very hot or very cold
- abdominal (tummy) pain
- diarrhea
Not everyone with migraine experiences this additional symptom; it might be partial or selected symptoms.
The symptoms of a migraine usually last between four hours and three days, although you may feel tired for up to a week or more afterward. These symptoms are what you will feel before having a migraine attack, Hence, when you feel some of these symptoms be prompt to get medication for faster healing.
Migraine attack steps:
It is often difficult to predict when a migraine attack is going to happen. However, you can often predict the pattern of each attack as there are well-defined stages. It is these stages and their symptoms which distinguish a migraine from a headache.
In adults, we can divide a migraine attack into four or five stages that lead on from each other:
- The premonitory or warning phase
- A headache or main attack stage
- Resolution
- Recovery or postdrome stage
Recognizing different symptoms at different times during your headache attack can give a doctor information which may help diagnosis. Also, taking medication before the symptoms have fully developed may reduce the effect of an attack. A child’s migraine attack is often much shorter than an adult’s attack, and it may therefore not be possible to fully make out the different headache phases.
Premonitory stage
This describes certain physical and mental changes such as tiredness, craving sweet foods, mood changes, feeling thirsty, and a stiff neck. These feelings can last from 1 to 24 hours.
A headache or main attack stage
This stage involves head pain which can be severe, even unbearable. A headache is typically throbbing and made worse by movement. Some sufferers describe a pressing or tightening pain. A headache is usually on one side of the head, especially at the start of an attack. Some sufferers get pain on both sides of the head, or over the forehead, but not usually at the back of the head. Nausea (sickness) and vomiting (being sick) can happen at this stage, and the sufferer may feel sensitive to light or sound, or both.
Resolution
Most attacks slowly fade away, but some stop suddenly after the sufferer is sick, or cries a lot. Sleep seems to help many sufferers, who find that even an hour or two can be enough to end an attack. Many children find that sleeping for just a few minutes can stop their attack.
Recovery or postdrome stage
This is the final stage of an attack, and it can take hours or days for a ‘hangover’ type feeling to disappear. Symptoms can be similar to those of the first stage, and often they have mirrored symptoms. For example, if you lost your appetite at the beginning of the attack, you might be very hungry now. If you were tired, now you might feel full of energy.