Any chronic migraine sufferer will tell you the importance of knowing what the individual triggers, warning signs, and symptoms of a migraine are. However, not a lot of migraine sufferers are aware of the different migraine stages that take place during an attack. Just as knowing all of the triggers, warning signs, or symptoms can help with prevention of a migraine attack in the future, it is just as important to know which of the migraine stages are affected by them.
The Four Migraine Stages
- 1. Prodrome – this is the first stage of a migraine attack. Symptoms that occur during the prodrome stage will usually appear one to two days before the actual migraine attack takes place. Symptoms most commonly appearing in the prodrome phase include constipation, depression, diarrhea, food cravings (especially those that are high in sugar or salt), hyperactivity, irritability, as well as neck stiffness. Although some migraine sufferers may experience the opposite and have symptoms such as being giddy, happy, and full of energy during the prodrome stage.
- 2. Aura – the second of the migraine stages, the aura stage is commonly defined as being visual in nature but can also involve sensory, motor, and even verbal disturbances as well. The aura stage usually begins gradually but will build over time and most commonly last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Some of the symptoms associated with the aura stage include Visual occurrences (such as seeing various shapes, bright spots or flashes of light), loss of vision, sensations including pins and needles (usually in the arms or legs), as well as speech or language problems.
- 3. Attack – the third migraine stages is the attack stage. This is the stage where the most discomfort is felt by the individual. Symptoms of the attack stage include pain in the head (usually unilaterally and often either pulsating or throbbing in nature), sensitivity to light, sounds, and sometimes even smells, Nausea, Vomiting, Blurred Vision, Diarrhea, Lightheadedness, as well as sometimes even fainting.
- 4. Postdrome – This is the fourth and final of the migraine stages. In this stage individuals usually have symptoms or feelings of being drained or washed out, they can experience tenderness in the head, neck, as well as the stomach.
Knowing which symptoms occur in which of the migraine stages can help a migraine sufferer to know what may be coming next in the progress of the migraine stages. This can aid in prevention as they may more easily recognize each stage and be able to take proper precautions to help eliminate the migraine before it becomes a full blown attack.
Tags: blurred vision, Chronic migraine, migraine, migraine attack, migraine relief, migraine stages, migraine triggers, neurological condition, treating migraines
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