Migraine Symptoms
The Four Stages Of a Migraine
People start experiencing migraine symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light in adolescence or their 20s. Your migraines may go through a few stages. Many migraine sufferers may not experience all four of the following stages:
- Prodrome
- Aura
- Headache
- Post-drome
The Prodrome Stage
Some signs that you could get a migraine in the next or day or two include the following symptoms:
The Aura Stage
You might experience auras either before or during your migraine attack. Auras act as symptoms from your body’s nervous system. An aura usually presents itself as changes in vision such as light flashes or wavy light.
Auras can also come as sensory disturbances, issues with motor skills, or speech issues. Some people have weak muscles. Others might feel that someone is touching them on their body. These particular symptoms can last up to an hour. Some examples of an aura include the following:
The Migraine Attack
If you don’t get your migraine treated, it can last up to 72 hours. While some people may rarely get migraines, others may get them a few times a month. You might experience the following symptoms:
The Post-Drome Stage
The post-drome stage comes after the migraine. While some people may feel fatigued, others may feel a sense of elation. For the next 24 hours, you may feel the following:
When You Should See a Physician
Many migraines don’t get diagnosed or treated. If you experience migraines on a regular basis, write down the frequency of your attacks and what you did to treat them. Then you should see your physician to talk about this health problem. Even if you have experienced migraines for most of your life, you should make an appointment with your doctor if the pattern of your attacks change in any way.
If you experience any of the signs and symptoms in the list below, you should immediately get to the nearest emergency room:
You can treat most migraines with some rest, a dark room, and over-the-counter pain relievers. But if you experience attacks that seem out of the ordinary, you should always make an appointment with your physician at the earliest opportunity.
