Migraine headaches can cause pulsing or throbbing on one side of the head and are usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light, sound, and smells. Migraines can cause pain that is so severe that all you think about is finding a dark, quiet place to lie down. Some migraines are accompanied by sensory warnings (aura) like flashing lights, blind spots, or tingling in an arm or leg.
Medications can help the severity and frequency of migraine headache. However, you need to find the correct one for you. Your doctor will be the one who will work with you to provide the right medication to suit your particular case of migraine. That combined with self-help treatments and lifestyle changes can make a real difference in quality of life.
SYMPTOMS
Migraines often begin in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. There are four stages to migraines, although you may not experience all four. These are prodrome, aura, attack, and postdrome.
• Prodrome – One or two days before the migraine, you may notice subtle changes that signal a migraine is on the way. These include constipation, depression, diarrhea, food cravings, hyperactivity, neck stiffness, or irritability.
• Aura – Most people experience migraines without aura. Auras are usually visual but can be sensory or motor disturbances. The symptoms of aura normally last from 10-30 minutes and can include flashing lights, vision loss, pins and needles in arm or leg, or speech and language problems.
• Attack – When left untreated, a migraine can last from 3-72 hours. The frequency of the migraines varies from person to person. During the attack phase you may experience any or some of these symptoms: pain on one side of the head, throbbing or pulsing quality of pain, sensitivity to lights, sounds, and smells, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, diarrhea, lightheadedness or fainting.
• Postdrome – This is the final stage in the migraine syndrome. It occurs after the migraine leaves. Many people feel drained or washed out during this time while others feel mildly euphoric.
WHEN TO GET HELP
Most people try to use self-help treatments for coping with migraines. However, there comes a time when you need to get help with this condition. If the frequency of your headaches increases or the severity levels get to where it interferes with your work or social life, then it is time to take action. Keep a diary of when the headaches occur, what symptoms you experience, what you ate prior to the headache, the length of the headache, and anything else you think would benefit your doctor in making treatment plans. Share the diary with your physician. As a team, you both will be able to implement a plan that will greatly reduce the symptoms of migraine and increase your quality of life.
Tags: blurred vision, dizziness, head pain, lightheadedness, migraine symptoms, nausea, vomiting
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