What Are Migraine Headache Symptoms?

Migraine symptoms include pain that is typically limited to one side of the head, although some sufferers experience pain on both sides of the head. You may feel a throbbing or pulsating sensation with the pain and find that light and sound make things worse. The pain may be so severe that you feel nauseous and vomit. Many sufferers prefer to retreat to dark, quiet rooms during these headaches, which can last from several hours to several days. Before the migraine begins, you may experience a warning sign, or aura. The aura may cause tingling in your arm or face and may interfere with your speech or vision. Visual auras usually take the form of blind spots in your eyes, flashing lights, dots or wavy lines. These symptoms may occur 20 minutes to an hour before the migraine starts. You may also experience thirst, sugar cravings, fatigue, irritability or a surge of energy in the hours before the migraine occurs.

While different things trigger migraines in different people, some triggers are common. Hormonal changes seem to cause migraines, with women reporting getting more migraines just before or during their menstrual periods when estrogen levels are lower. Some women notice more migraines during menopause or while pregnant. Drugs containing hormones, such as birth control pills and patches and hormone replacement therapy can also trigger migraines. Stress can trigger migraines, although in many cases the headache does not occur while you are experiencing stress but afterward, when you are starting to relax. Foods, such as caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, marinated items, seasonings, monosodium glutamate, aged cheeses and even processed foods can trigger migraines. Other triggers include exposure to bright light or sunlight, strong odors, physical activities, weather and seasonal changes and changes in sleep patterns.

A diagnosis is made based mostly on the symptoms you report and a physical examination. Your doctor will want to know about your medical history and will ask if anyone else in your family has migraines. According to the National Headache Foundation, 70% to 80% of migraine sufferers have a family history of migraines. Your doctor may recommend that you undergo a computerized tomography (CAT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to rule out other causes for your headaches.

Your doctor may recommend a pain relief medication or a preventive medication, or both, depending on how often you experience migraine headaches. Three over-the-counter-medications have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat migraine pain. They include Excedrin Migraine, Advil Migraine and Motrin Migraine Pain. If these drugs are not effective in treating your pain, your doctor may recommend prescription drugs. There are a variety of drugs available and you may need to try to several before you find a drug that works for you. Prescription drugs work to stop headaches before they become too severe and must be taken as soon as you start feeling migraine symptoms. These drugs are available in pill, nasal spray and injectable forms. Biofeedback, a process that teaches you to control your body's response to stress, may be helpful to some migraine sufferers.

If you have migraines and start experiencing a different kind of headache, it is important to be evaluated by a doctor. See your doctor or go to the emergency room if you have a headache after hurting your head or a headache that is worse after coughing, exertion or movement. Severe headaches that occur very suddenly warrant a trip to the emergency room. A headache accompanied by a fever, rash, confusion, neck stiffness, weakness, seizures, double vision or difficult speaking should also be evaluated immediately.