

Many people who experience regular migraines need both acute and preventative treatment. The treatment of migraines depends on frequency, severity, and symptoms of migraine and is individualized based on patient need. In females, migraines can be brought on by the normal decrease in estrogen levels which occur before menstruation each month. Examples include stress, physical exertion, fatigue, lack of sleep, hunger, odors, weather changes, certain foods or medications, and environmental factors. Migraines can be triggered by a variety of things and can vary from person to person. Symptoms may include poor concentration, extreme fatigue, body aches, depressed mood, and confusion. It is often described as a “hangover-like” experience which may take 24 to 48 hours to fully resolve. Postdrome: Also known as the recovery phase, a postdrome occurs after the end of the actual head pain. Some people also feel very sensitive to touch and may find normal activities impossible to perform. Migraines are often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, as well as sensitivity to light and noise. Migraines usually last a few hours, but in some cases, a migraine can last up to 72 hours in duration. Many people try to get relief by lying down in a dark, quiet room. Migraine headaches may be aggravated by light, loud noises, physical activity, and motion. The headache pain is typically dull and steady when mild to moderate in severity but escalates to throbbing and pulsating pain when more severe. It normally affects only one side of the head but can be bilateral. Headache: The pain of the migraine headache usually begins gradually, intensifies over one to several hours, and resolves gradually at the end of the attack. The headache usually occurs soon after the aura stops, although some people experience aura without a headache. Aura symptoms typically last five to twenty minutes and rarely more than an hour in duration. Auras may also involve other senses and can occasionally cause temporary weakness or changes in speech. You may have one or more of these aura symptoms. Flashing lights, bright spots, zigzag lines, changes in vision, numbness or tingling in the fingers, lips, tongue, or lower face are examples of an aura. These may include increased yawning, a feeling of euphoria, depression, irritability, food cravings, constipation, and neck stiffness.Īura: Approximately 25% of people with migraines experience an “aura” before the headache.

Prodrome: Many people start having symptoms 24 to 48 hours before a migraine headache begins. The exact progression and symptoms differ from person to person. SymptomsĪ typical migraine “attack” involves four phases: (1) prodrome, (2) aura, (3) headache, and (4) postdrome. It is estimated that industry loses $31 billion per year due to absenteeism, lost productivity, and medical expenses caused by migraine. The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks migraine as one of the top 10 causes of disability worldwide. It is estimated that 37 million Americans have migraines, with 148 million people worldwide suffering from migraines.

Migraines typically begin in childhood or adolescence and peak in young to mid adulthood but can be a lifelong disease. Risk factors for migraines include family history, age, and female gender. Migraine attacks can last for hours to days, and the pain can be so severe that it interferes with daily activities. It is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. A migraine is a headache that can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head.
