Migraine

MIGRAINES

Nausea is one of the most common symptoms of a migraine, but it’s not the only one. Experts have yet to definitively pinpoint the medical cause of migraines, but knowing the most common symptoms can help you properly diagnose a migraine and determine the best course of migraine treatment.

Major Migraine Symptoms

Aside from the severe head pain that generally has throbbing or pulsating peaks, often on one side of the head, the most common symptom migraine sufferers are hit with is nausea and vomiting. Nausea tends to impact about 80 percent of people who experience migraines, while about half succumb to vomiting — both generally towards the latter end of the migraine attack. Other migraine symptoms include a sensitivity to light or sound called photophobia and phonophobia, respectively, as well as clamminess and light-headedness.

Other Migraine Symptoms

Other symptoms suffered less frequently during a migraine include numbness, weakness or pain on one side of the body. One’s speech or ability to think and communicate clearly can also become limited during a migraine. If a person describes experiencing these symptoms, they should be advised to see their GP to ensure the problem isn’t more serious than a migraine.

Aura Migraines

In the minutes leading up to a migraine, some sufferers experience “aura” — visual symptoms like geometric patterns, flashing lights or possibly a shimmering effect (kind of like heat waves) that indicate a migraine’s about to strike. Less than one quarter of migraine patients ever will experience aura, but those who do often start experiencing this visual impairment anywhere from five to 20 minutes before a migraine strikes.

Most commonly, aura is experienced in both “positive” and “negative” forms. The negative leaves the person with blind or white spots along with tunnel vision, reducing their field of vision. “Positive” means that sufferers will see something added to their field of vision, often a shimmering border or a band of absent vision. Those who experience this type of positive symptom will often see the vision enlarge as time goes on, and will sometimes hallucinate other visions during the lead-up to the migraine headache.

The second-most common aura experienced before a headache is paraesthesia, or the feeling of numbness, tingling or a prickly feeling in one’s skin. Nearly 40 percent of all aura migraine sufferers report paraesthesia as a part of their migraine experience, and numbness or a prickly feeling can often originate in the hands or limbs and then migrate towards the face. Other aura symptoms can include sensory symptoms like heavy-feeling or weak limbs, and those who experience sensory issues often also report language or speech impairment during this same time.

Warning Signs

Many migraine sufferers report experiencing prodrome — early symptoms that can serve as a warning sign of an impending migraine. These premonitory symptoms can take place anywhere from days to hours prior to a migraine, and their frequency and severity can vary depending on many different variables. People may experience irritability, restlessness, depression or a combination of these feelings right before a migraine begins.

Sensitivity to light, sounds and smells – which becomes even more heightened during the migraine – is a common premonitory symptom, while others are impacted by things like excessive thirst, lethargy and constipation or diarrhoea. Some migraine sufferers experience vision impairment or temporary loss (most commonly in aura migraines).

The Aftermath

The duration of a migraine can be excruciating, but even once the worst of the attack has passed, there’s often after-effects to deal with for up to 24 hours later. Following the headache, sufferers often feel depleted of energy and can face a shift in mood (irritability is frequently reported), though for some the opposite happens and they get a surge of energy afterwards. Muscle weakness accompanied by tiredness is also a common post-migraine complaint, with many sufferers needing to sleep following an attack.

In the hopes of helping to prevent future migraines, keeping track of potential triggers and pre-headache symptoms is recommended – as each individual person might experience a different set. People can track any triggers and possible patterns in their migraines by keeping a migraine headache diary. Understanding each individual’s own personal migraine patterns and symptoms will be key to controlling them.

WWho? Anyone - There are half a million migraine sufferers in Ireland

WWhat are the symptoms? Severe head pain that generally has throbbing

or pulsating peaks, often on one side of the head, nausea and vomiting

HHow long have they had the symptoms? Migraines are best controlled

as soon as the warning signs appear. After-effects can last up to 24 hours

AAction already taken? Paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen can be effective

for patients with mild-moderate migraine although the data suggests that their efficacy is limited to about 1/3 of patients