A migraine is a headache typically affecting just one side of the head. It is a neurological condition and is much more severe than a regular headache. It comes occasionally and feels like a throbbing pain, usually making the affected person unable to get up from bed. An affected person commonly experiences nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, blurry vision, etc.
Migraine headaches can be extremely painful, making you unable to do daily tasks. If you feel a pulsing pain in one side of your head, immediately contact a migraine specialist Alexandria, to get checked and receive immediate treatment to ease the pain. Below are a few symptoms of migraine headaches.
Symptoms of migraines
Migraines occur in four stages: prodrome, aura, headache, and postdrome. Children and adults can be affected by these stages of migraine headaches, but not everyone necessarily goes through all four. It takes from 8 to 72 hours for all four stages to occur and complete their course.
Prodrome
Also known as the ‘preheadache’ stage, this phase can last anywhere between a few hours and a few days, or it might not happen at all. During this period, you may notice a few symptoms, like:
- Extreme mood changes, feeling euphoric at one moment and depressed at another.
- Certain food cravings
- Feeling stiff in the neck
- Peeing more often than usual
- Yawning frequently
- Feeling constipated, unable to empty your bowels properly
Aura
This stage can affect someone either before the attack or during the actual headache. For some people, this phase might not even occur at all. This stage typically lasts up to 60 minutes but can also last for as little as 5 minutes. You may experience:
- Loss of vision
- Seeing flashes of light
- A feeling of needles in your arms and legs
- Finding it difficult to speak correctly
- Numbness in the face
Headache
This stage is when the actual headache that we call a migraine occurs and lasts for about 4 to 72 hours. It is a pounding pain usually occurring on one side of the head, eventually spreading to the other. A migraine can affect someone as frequently as every few days or as rarely as once or twice a year. One of the first symptoms you will most likely notice during this stage is nausea.
Postdrome
The last stage occurs after the migraine attack is over. This stage affects most people and lasts for a day or two. You may feel weak, exhausted, or worn out. During this stage, if the affected person makes any sudden movements involving their head, the pain can come back briefly.
