Find out! What is a Migraine?

What is a migraine?

These headaches are intense or severe and often have other symptoms in addition to head pain. Symptoms associated with a migraine headache include:

• nausea
• pain behind one eye or ear
• pain in the temples
• seeing spots or flashing lights
• sensitivity to light and/or sound
• temporary vision loss
• vomiting

When compared with tension or other headache types,  this headache pain can be moderate to severe. Some people may experience headaches so severe they seek care at an emergency room.
Migraine headaches will typically affect only one side of the head. However, it is possible to have it affecting both sides of the head. Other differences include the pain’s quality: A migraine headache will cause intense pain that may be throbbing and will make performing daily tasks very difficult.
Migraines are typically divided into two categories: with aura and without aura. An “aura” refers to sensations a person experiences before they get a migraine. The sensations typically occur anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes before an attack. These can include:

• feeling less mentally alert or having trouble thinking
• seeing flashing lights or unusual lines
• feeling tingling sensations or numbness in the face or hands
• having an unusual sense of smell, taste, or touch

Some sufferers may experience symptoms a day or two before the actual migraine occurs. Known as the “prodrome” phase, these subtler signs can include:

• constipation
• depression
• frequent yawning
• irritability
• neck stiffness
• unusual food cravings

Migraine triggers

People who experience migraines report various factors that are associated with them. These are called triggers and may include:

• emotional anxiety
• contraceptives
• alcohol
• hormonal changes
• menopause

To add to, sufferers also report the onset of migraines occurring after a period of continued stress and lack or inadequate amounts of sleep. A simple tip to avoid migraines and headaches in general is to have enough sleep.