Migraine Headaches: Symptoms
Posted on February 24, 2009
Filed Under Headache Remedies, Migraine Remedies, Symptoms |
What is a migraine headache?
A migraine headache is a severe type of headache that can be disabling to the patient. It is experienced by about 17% of women and 6% of men. There’s been humorous anecdotes about women having a special place in their heads for the production of migraine headaches. But migraines are no laughing matter. It can greatly affect the quality of life of the patient.
Some migraine patients would experience warning signs before the onset of these painful headaches. The technical term used by doctors for these warning signs is “aura”. This is because a migraine patient can sometimes see flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in the arms or legs. Aside from that, migraine is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and high sensitivity to light and sound.
The good news is that over the years, pain management for migraine patients have greatly improved. There’s still no proven cure for migraine headaches but current available medication can now help minimize how often migraine headaches attack and can even stop the pain. Although migraine headaches can be very painful and debilitating, the right medication, some self-help remedies and perhaps a change to a more healthier lifestyle can help you manage migraine headaches better. This could great improvement in the quality of life of the patient.
What are the symptons of migraine headaches?
Below are migraine headache signs and symptoms that can help warn you of a migraine attack:
- Pain on one side of the head or both sides of the head.
- Pulsating or throbbing pain in the head like huge speakers are blowing loud music straight at you.
- The more you move, the greater the pain becomes.
- You can not proceed with daily activities you normally do.
- You feel dizzy and possibly throw up, or not.
- You become very sensitive to light and sound.
If you don’t do anything to stop migraine headache, it could last to up to 72 hours (3 days). The intensity and frequency of the headaches will vary. One person may experience migraines several times a month while another might just have one or two migraine attacks a year.
Symptoms vary from one individual to another. It is very common for most people with migraines to experience the painful headaches without ever seeing the auras. This kind of migraine is often referred to as “common migraines” in the past. The one with the aura used to be called “classic migraine”. If you experience auras, these warning sign usually appears 15 minutes to half an hour before the pain begins. You may continue to experience auras after the pain started or after the pain has disappeared.
Auras may be some or all of the following:
- Flashes of light.
- Dazzling jagged lines.
- Blind spots that slowly spread.
- Tingling sensations as if you’re stuck with pins in an arm or leg.
- Sometimes, you could experience weakness or communication impairment.
The following symptoms are experienced both by those who see auras and those who don’t. These premonitions or “prodrome” as doctors like to call them are often experienced hours before the pain begins.
- A state of elation or happiness and high energy.
- Craving for sweets.
- Thirst
- Drowsiness
- Irritability or depression.
What are the migraine headache symptoms in children?
Often, migraine patients start experiencing the pain when they are children, adolescents or young adults. The common trend is that the migraine attacks become less frequent and less painful as one gets older. Migraines in children, aside from pain, often means missed classes and lost work time for parents.
Migraines in children commonly last for a shorter period of time. However, the pain can be severe and is oftentimes accompanied by dizziness, vomiting, light-headedness and sensitivity to light and sound. Children with migraine often experience pain on both sides of the head.
Another type of migraine that can difficult to diagnose is the “abdominal migraine”. This type of migraine exhibits all the other symptoms - dizziness, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light - but without the pain in the head.
Fortunately, we know the same treatment used for adults are also effective in children. That means migraine headaches in children can now be manageable. You may need the help of your doctor to better diagnose migraine in children.
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i have had severe migraines all my life. am 45 now. started to take melatonin about 8 months ago and after a couple weeks have not had a migraine since not a one for 7 months. i used to have them 2 times a week. could not work took meds from doc. would vomit forget things miss work could not drive or make plans ever. i wake up every morning and no migraine. its wonderful like a new life. i missed so much these past 45 years. i believe its the melitonin. i will not stop tking.