Millions of people suffer from headaches every day, and many people believe that they are suffering from a migraine headache. However, a migraine headache is something far more intense and debilitating than the common headaches that everyone has from time to time. Recognizing true migraine symptoms can help a sufferer know when they are having just a headache or something far worse.
Early Migraine Symptoms
For many people, the first migraine symptom that occurs is disturbances in their vision. This migraine symptom usually begins about 10-15 minutes before the migraine headache actually occurs, but in some cases it can begin as much as 24 hours before.
The sufferer may experience some or all of the following early migraine symptoms:
- blind spots
- blurred vision
- pain in the eyes
- bright specks
- loss of peripheral vision
In addition the vision problems, the migraine sufferer may experience other symptoms that are much more unusual and normally not associated with headaches. These symptoms change the over all mood or state of the individual.
Other early migraine symptoms which may occur up to a day before the migraine begins include:
- drowsiness
- cravings for sweets
- euphoria
- thirst
- irritability
- depression
- increased energy level
General Migraine Symptoms
Two main differences between a migraine headache and a normal tension headache are the intensity and location of the pain. In a tension headache, the pain may be annoying but it is rarely debilitating. In the case of a true migraine headache, the sufferer is usually unable to function normally due to the pain. A tension headache usually feels like it is all over the head, while a migraine headache feels confined to one area or side of the head.
Most migraines do not feel dull or steady like a tension headache (although some do). Most often a migraine headache is marked by intense throbbing or stabbing pain in the region affected. Usually this pain will start off dull, then intensify quickly until the pain becomes unbearable.
Once the migraine has set in, the sufferer will become extremely sensitive to light and noise. Office lighting, televisions, and car headlights will become a source of extreme pain for the migraine sufferer. Loud noises will also intensify the pain of the migraine, so the best course of action when these symptoms occur is for the sufferer to remove himself to a dark, quiet room.
Sensitivity to light and noise and the intense pain are two of the most telling signs that a sufferer is having a migraine and not a tension headache. However, there are still many more migraine symptoms that may be experienced during the migraine and for several hours afterwards. These symptoms include:
- sweating
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- vomiting
All of these migraine symptoms, combined with the general lack of focus and concentration that the sufferer can maintain while experiencing them, combine to make a migraine headache truly unbearable. While most people can live with a tension headache, a migraine is something that often causes the patient to lose hours, if not days, of productivity.
Migraine Relief
There is no treatment for the actual migraine headache, instead sufferers have to treat the symptoms as best as possible. Removing themselves to a quiet and dark location can help reduce the pain brought on by light and noise. Some over the counter pain relievers can help with the head pain, but most often a medicine for migraines specifically is required.
The best treatment for a migraine is prevention, but again there is no general strategy that works for all sufferers. The reasons and triggers that bring on the migraine headache can vary from patient to patient and from day to day. Relaxation, exercise, and generally improving overall health can reduce the number and intensity of migraine headaches in some cases.
Migraine headaches are a serious medical condition. If the sufferer has repeated migraine headaches, particularly to the point where he is truly debilitated, then consultation with a physician is critical. While there are many "home remedies" and over the counter drugs that can help alleviate the migraine symptoms, only a physician can help develop a long-term course of treatment and determine if the migraines are the signs of an even more serious condition.
Article sources:
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Migraine Information Page (accessed August 1, 2010).
Mayo Clinic. Migraine Symptoms (accessed August 1, 2010).
Office on Women's Health. Migraine Frequently Asked Questions (accessed August 1, 2010).
Eric Summers - Eric Summers is a freelance writer and software quality assurance analyst from Southern Indiana. Summers has been writing for over 20 ...
