Migraine

Symptoms

The main symptom ofa migraine is usually an intense headache on one side of the head.

The pain is usually a moderate or severe throbbing sensation thatgets worse when you move and prevents you from carrying out normal activities.

In some cases, the pain can occur on both sides of your head and may affect your face or neck.

Additional Symptoms

Other symptoms commonly associated with a migraine include:

Nausea
Vomiting
Increased sensitivity to light and sound which is why many people with a migraine want to rest in a quiet, dark room

Some people also occasionally experience other symptoms, including:

Sweating
Poor concentration,
Feeling very hot or very cold
Abdominal (tummy) pain
Diarrhoea

Not everyone with a migraine experiences these additional symptoms and some people may experience them without having a headache .

The symptoms of a migraine usually last between four hours and three days, although you may feel very tired for up to a week afterwards.

Symptoms of Aura

About one in three people with migraines have temporary warning symptoms, known as aura,before a migraine.

These include:

Visual problemssuch as seeing flashing lights, zig-zag patterns or blind spots
Numbness or a tingling sensation like pins and needles which usually starts in one hand and moves up your arm before affecting your face, lips and tongue
Feeling dizzy or off balance
Difficulty speaking
Loss of consciousness although this is unusual

Aura symptoms typically develop over the course of about five minutes and last for up to an hour. Some people may experience aura followed by only a mild headache or no headache at all.

When to seek medical advice

You should see your GP if you have frequent or severe migraine symptoms that can't be managed with occasional use of over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol .

However, be careful not to take too many painkillers as this could make it harder to treat headaches over time.

You should also make an appointment to see your GP if you have frequent migraines (on more than five days a month), even if they can be controlled with medication, as you may benefit from preventative treatment.

You should call 999 for an ambulance immediately if you or someone you're with experiences:

Paralysis or weakness in one or both arms and/or one side of the face
Slurred or garbled speech
A sudden agonising headacheresulting in a blinding pain unlike anything experienced before
Headache along witha high temperature (fever), stiff neck, mental confusion, seizures, double vision , and a rash

These symptoms may be a sign of a more serious condition, such as a stroke or meningitis , and should be assessed by a doctor as soon as possible.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 29 Nov 2016

Articles for migraine

Introduction

A migraine is usually a severe headache felt as a throbbing pain at the front or side of the head. Many people also have symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and increased sensitivity to light or sound. Migraine is a common health condition, affecting around one in every five women and around one in every 15 men. They usually begin in early adulthood.

Symptoms

The main symptom of a migraine is usually an intense headache that occurs at the front or on one side of the head. Other symptoms commonly associated with a migraine include: nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light and sound which is why many people with a migraine want to rest in a quiet, dark room. Some people also occasionally experience other symptoms, including: sweating, poor concentration, feeling very hot or very cold, abdominal (tummy) pain, diarrhoea.

Causes

The exact cause of migraines is unknown, but they're thought to be the result of abnormal brain activity temporarily affecting nerve signals, chemicals and blood vessels in the brain. It's not clear what causes this change in brain activity, but it's possible that your genes make you more likely to experience migraines as a result of a specific trigger.

Diagnosis

There's no specific test to diagnose migraines. For an accurate diagnosis to be made, your GP must identify a pattern of recurring headaches along with the associated symptoms. Migraines can be unpredictable, sometimes occurring without the other symptoms. Obtaining an accurate diagnosis can sometimes take time.

Treatment

There is currently no cure for migraines, although a number of treatments are available to help ease the symptoms. It may take time to work out the best treatment for you. You may need to try different types or combinations of medicines before you find the most effective ones. If you find you can't manage your migraines using over-the-counter medicines, your GP may prescribe something stronger.

Complications of migraine

Migraines are associated with a small increased risk of ischaemic strokes, and a very small increased risk of mental health problems. Studies have shown that people who experience migraines (particularly migraine with aura) have about twice the risk of having an ischaemic stroke at some point compared to people without migraines.

Prevention

There are a number of ways you can reduce your chances of experiencing migraines. One of the best ways of preventing migraines is recognizing the things that trigger an attack and trying to avoid them. You may find you tend to have a migraine after eating certain foods or when you're stressed and by avoiding this trigger, you can prevent a migraine.