In simple terms, a migraine can be described as a severe headache that presents as a throbbing, sometimes overwhelming pain either at the front or the side of the head. A migraine is a relatively common health condition, which affects about one in every five women, and one in every 15 men. Usually, migraines start to become evident within the early years of adulthood or adolescence, but it is possible for them to start at any point within a person's life.
When it comes to determining migraine headache signs and symptoms, the first thing to understand is that there are a number of different types of migraine. For example, some people experience a migraine with aura, where warning signs appear before the migraine begins, like flashing lights. Other people experience migraines without the aura, where the headache takes place without the warning signs. Sometimes, people even experience the migraine aura without the headache.
The Symptoms of Migraines
Another important thing to note about migraine headache signs and symptoms, is that some people experience migraines frequently, as much as several times a week, whereas other people only experience migraines very rarely. It is also possible for years to pass between each migraine attack.
The main thing to look out for with migraine headache signs and symptoms, is an intense pain that either occurs at the side or front of the head. This pain usually appears as a severe throbbing sensation that gradually becomes worse when you move, or prevents you from carrying out your regular activities. In certain causes, the pain can appear on both sides of your head, and may also impact your neck and face.
Other symptoms that may commonly be associated with a migraine headache include vomiting, nausea, and sensitivity to sound and light. Some people have also reported other symptoms, such as trouble with concentration, feeling very cold or hot, sweating, stomach pain and diarrhea. Not everyone will experience the same symptoms when they have a migraine, and the symptoms can last between four hours and three days at a time, although it is possible that you may continue to feel exhausted and weak for at least a week after the migraine has subsided.
The Symptoms of Aura
According to research, approximately one in every three people who suffer from migraines also experience temporary warning symptoms known as the aura, before they have their migraine, or during the migraine itself. These symptoms can include visual problems, such as seeing strange patterns, experiencing blind spots or flashing lights. Other symptoms include difficulty with speaking, feeling off-balance or dizzy, losing consciousness, and experiencing tingling or numbness within the hand that moves up your arm, affecting your face, tongue and lips. Aura symptoms can emerge over the course of as little as five minutes, and last for up to an hour at a time. Some people can experience their aura followed by an extremely mild headache, whereas others do not experience any headache symptoms at all.
Remember to see your GP if you have severe or frequent migraine signs or symptoms that you cannot manage with over-the-counter solutions such as paracetamol.