Migraine Headache Symptoms: Understanding and Treating

Migraine headache symptoms are a part of life for nearly 11 out of 100 people. If you are one of them, or if you live with a sufferer, you know that migraine headache symptoms include much more than the actual headache pain. Migraine headache symptoms affect your entire body in one way or another. In addition to the immediate symptoms, you may experience others that linger for hours or even days after the actual headache subsides.

It is important that you understand what migraine headaches symptoms you may experience. You have various options for treating symptoms, and understanding will lead to proper, effective treatment.

Awful, Throbbing Pain!

Migraine sufferers usually agree on at least one thing - the awful, throbbing pain. That throbbing pain most commonly begins on one side of your head, near the temple. The pain may intensify if you attempt some physical activity, which is the reason most migraine headache sufferers find that lying absolutely still brings a measure of relief.

Other Migraine Headache Symptoms

You may experience these other migraine headache symptoms over the following hours and days:

* your pain spreads from one to both sides of the head
* you become nauseous and vomit
* you have diarrhea and increased need to urinate
* you become dizzy
* your hands and feet become cold
* you find light and sound excruciatingly annoying
* your neck becomes stiff
* you have visual hallucinations such as flashing lights or zigzag lines
* you are more sensitive to cold than usual
* you experience unexplained mood swings
* you become irritable, confused, and tired

Auras

One migraine headache symptom, the “aura”, warns some people that a migraine is beginning. Auras have been described as visual disturbance such as flashes of bright lights or blind spots. Usually occurring at the onset of the headache, auras may diminish once the throbbing pain begins. Auras can be present in one or both eyes. In some cases, they continue beyond the headache itself.

Migraine headaches symptoms can be from 4 to 72 hours in duration.

CAUTION: If you experience frequent pain in one specific part of your head, you should check with your doctor to rule out other serious causes.