Anyone who has ever experienced a migraine knows how debilitating it is. These headaches often start in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. Most patients experience four stages in the progression of a migraine, although some people may not experience all four. These stages are:
• Prodrome
• Aura
• Attack
• Postdrome
The symptoms for each stage are given with the intention of helping those who suffer from this condition knowledge of what to expect during a migraine. Not all individuals will have all the symptoms each time. Symptoms vary according to the person and to type of migraine.
PRODROME SYMPTOMS
A couple days before having a migraine, you may begin to notice subtle changes that may signal the coming of the migraine. These include:
• Constipation
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Food cravings
• Hyperactivity
• Irritability
• Neck stiffness
AURA SYMPTOMS
Most people experience migraine headache without aura. Auras are usually visual but can also be motor, sensory, and verbal disturbances. The symptoms listed usually begin gradually, build up for several minutes, and then last from 10 to 60 minutes.
• Visual phenomenon such as seeing various shapes, bright spots, and flashes of lights.
• Vision loss
• Pins and needles sensation in arm or leg
• Speech or language problems
Although it is less common, aura can be associated with aphasia or limb weakness. (Hemiplegic migraine)
ATTACK SYMPTOMS
If the migraine headache goes untreated, the pain can last up to 72 hours. The frequency depends on the individual. You may have migraines several times a month or just once in a while. When experiencing a migraine, you may have some of these symptoms:
• Pain on one side of the head
• Pain that has a pulsating, throbbing nature
• Sensitivity to light, sounds, and sometimes smells
• Vomiting and nausea
• Blurred vision
• Diarrhea
• Lightheadedness, sometimes accompanied with fainting
POSTDROME
The last phase, called postdrome, occurs when the migraine finally passes. Usually, it leaves the patient feeling drained and washed out. However, some people report euphoric feelings.
WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR
Many migraines go untreated. If you continue to experience migraine headaches, keep a journal noting when the migraine comes and how long it stays. Also note what you ate before the migraine came. Then make an appointment to see your doctor to discuss these headaches. All the information from your journal will be useful to your doctor in diagnosing the type of migraine and what treatment to establish. Knowing symptoms of your condition will help you realize migraine headache before it starts. Then taking the appropriate actions may successfully side-track the headache before it has a chance to disrupt your day.
Tags: aura, headache, migraine stages, migraine symptoms, migraine treatment, postdrome, prodrome
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