It is important for those people who suffer from migraine headaches to learn to identify the phases of migraine headache so they can better adapt and manage the pain before it begins.
Patients who recognize early symptoms can treat them at the start and hopefully ward off pain that would otherwise be severe. Early treatment of symptoms could involve simple things such as:
●Drinking a caffeinated beverage
●Taking medication immediately
●Resting
●Taking a relaxing shower or bath
Doing these things could ward off the progression from what starts as a headache to a severe, full on migraine.
Stereotypical Migraines Have Four Distinct Phases And These Are:
●Aura
●Pain and nausea of the headache
●Postdrome
Not all patients who suffer from migraines experience all of these phases, and it is true that each migraine occurrence can be different than the previous one that the patient experienced.
The prodrome phase is where the patient experiences food cravings and mood swings. The aura phase is where the patient experiences visual distortions. The fatigue that the migraine patient experience is known as the postdrome phase.
Studies have shown that migraine patients who are able to recognize the pattern of their migraines and how their bodies react following the start of a migraine, have been successful in preventing a migraine or avoiding them altogether. Research has also shown that those patients that knew their patterns have high percentages of predicting when their migraines were on their way, resulting in better treatment of their symptoms.
Prodrome Phase
A small percentage of migraine sufferers experience the prodrome phase. When experiencing this phase, symptoms can occur 24 to 48 hours before the person actually starts the onset of the headache pain. In fact, only approximately 30 to 40% off people with migraines experience this phase. Some symptoms of the prodrome phase include:
●Fatigue
●Muscle stiffness
●Diarrhea or constipation
●Depression
Aura Phase
An even smaller percentage of migraine sufferers experience the aura phase. Approximately 15 to 20% of people suffer these visual distortions which precede the headache. There are some people that experience the aura phase and never experience any of the other phases of a migraine headache. Some visual symptoms that occur during the aura phase can include:
●Flashes of color or light
●Blurred vision
●Blind spots in one eye
Headache Phase
The most commonly associated migraine phase is known as the headache phase. This is the phase most commonly associated with migraines. The duration of the headache phase can be anywhere between 4 to 72 hours of pain that can be moderate to severe pain. Headaches that last longer than 72 hours require medical attention. It’s best when a person is experiencing this headache phase to lie down in a dark room and eliminate any stimulation.
Postdrome Phase
At a percentage of approximately 68%, patients who suffer from migraine headaches can continue to notice quite a bit of symptoms that are still present even after the headache has subsided. These symptoms that continue are known as the postdrome phase and these symptoms can last anywhere from hours to even days. Some of these postdrome symptoms can include:
●Irritability
●Weakness
●Fatigue
●Anxiety
●Depression
Patients who experience any of these phases or symptoms and suffer from migraine headaches should consult their physician so that he or she can guide them into the best plan of treatment.
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