People experience migraines differently. The symptoms that follow are “typical” features of a migraine but not everyone will have all of them during each migraine. The chief symptom is head pain that has the following qualities:
- ranges from moderate to excruciating
- affects the temple or the area behind the eye or ear
- is confined to one side of the head or it may affect both sides
- pulsates or throbs
- worsens with physical activity
- interferes with your regular activities
- accompanied by nausea with or without vomiting
- accompanied by extreme sensitivity to light and sound
Around 30% of migraine sufferers experience an “aura” that precedes their migraine symptoms. If you experience auras, you will likely have one every time before you have a migraine; if your migraines are not normally preceded by an aura, you are unlikely to ever experience one. An aura usually begins about 15 to 30 minutes before a headache begins and the symptoms of the auras may continue after your headache starts. Symptoms of an aura may include:
- seeing sparkling flashes of light
- seeing zigzag lines in your field of vision
- blind spots in your vision
Regardless of whether or not you experience auras, about 60% of migraine sufferers experience a “prodrome” stage that starts several hours or even a few days before the headache actually strikes. Prodrome symptoms can be subtle or debilitating and may include:
- feelings of elation or intense energy
- cravings for sweets
- excessive thirst
- drowsiness
- difficulty concentrating
- fatigue
- sensitivity to light and sound
- irritability or depression
- tingling sensations in one arm or leg