Migraine: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Migraines

Migraines usually feel very severe, with a sharp pain on one side. Before a migraine strikes, you may experience other symptoms, such as:

▸ Feeling very tired and yawning frequently

▸ Craving certain foods or feeling thirsty

▸ Mood changes

▸ Stiff neck

▸ Frequent urination

You may also have warning signs of an impending migraine (called an aura), such as:

▸ Vision problems, such as seeing jagged lines or flashing lights

▸ Numbness or tingling that feels like pins and needles

▸ Dizziness

▸ Difficulty speaking

Aura symptoms should not last longer than an hour.

Causes of migraines

It is not clear what causes migraines, and you are more likely to get them if a close relative has them. Some people find that certain triggers can cause migraines, such as:

▸The start of menstruation

▸Anxiety and depression

▸Stress and fatigue

▸Eating irregularly or skipping meals

▸Excessive caffeine intake

▸Lack of exercise

▸Keeping a migraine diary can help you figure out what might be triggering your migraines.

There are many types of migraines, with different symptoms.

Warning signs include jagged lines, numbness or tingling, dizziness, or difficulty speaking before a migraine

▸Migraine with aura

Symptoms include flashes of light but no headache

▸Migraine with aura without headache (silent migraine)

Migraines usually last from 2 hours to 3 days, and some symptoms, such as feeling very tired, start within 2 days before the headache starts and end after the headache stops.

▸Some people have migraines several times a week, while others have them less frequently.

▸It is common to have migraines before or during menstruation, called menstrual migraines.

Most people find that migraines get better as they age.

Treatments for migraines include:

▸Try to sleep or lie down in a dark room during a migraine attack

▸Try to avoid things that trigger migraines, such as certain foods

▸Stay hydrated and limit caffeine and alcohol intake

▸Try to maintain a healthy weight

▸Eat regularly

▸Exercise regularly

▸Get enough sleep

▸Try to manage stress