Symptoms of a Migraine Headache:
Headache vs. Migraine Headache

There are many different symptoms of migraine headaches and identifying these symptoms is very important. By identifying these symptoms you will help in determining whether you have just a headache or a migraine headache. This is very important because migraine headaches are a much more serious condition which will require you to seek medical help.

Headaches can be caused by many different conditions and environment but they all involve pain. There are sinus headaches which are caused by sinus pressure and the pain is primarily in the forehead and nose area. There are tension headaches, which cause throbbing pain in the front parts of the head. Tension headaches are usually brought on by stress and reoccur frequently. These headaches are usually not a sign of a serious condition.

Migraine headaches are very serious and can be very hard to live with. Many times these do not come on with a warning, but for some people they will experience warning symptoms before a migraine. Each person is different and these symptoms will vary. Also the type of migraine headache will determine the type of symptoms.

Some people will have very intense feeling right before feeling their migraine headaches. One intense feeling that some people feel right before feeling a migraine headache is depression. For some people this feeling can come only a few minutes before their migraine headache but others will feel this symptom for hours before the onset of the actual migraine. Some people will also experience a long period of irritability before their migraine headache. This makes it difficult to function in everyday life because they make become irritated with other people. On the other end of the spectrum some people get an intense feeling of euphoria.

An aura is something that many people with migraine headaches will see before the migraine begins and sometimes during the migraine headache experience. Usually this will happen during a migraine headache and will not last very long. An aura is a symptom that will vary by person but in many cases people will see an intense light, while others will be subjected to a strange smell, and some even experience temporary blindness. This can be a very disturbing experience because some people even hear voices that are not there. Auras will begin very slowly but some of the effects are similar to what a stroke victim feels, although they are temporary.

Another symptom of migraine headaches is photophobia. Photophobia is not being afraid of something like many will think due to the name. Instead, photophobia is a condition associated with migraines, it is a symptom that causes a person to be very sensitive to light.

Hyperacusis is another symptom of a migraine headache that affects a persons senses. Hyperacusis is a symptom that makes a person extremely sensitive to certain sounds. This can be certain frequencies and can make noises a person is used to seem overly loud. This symptom will cause a person pain even with sounds that most people would not consider loud.

Nausea and vomiting is another symptom that people with migraine headaches may experience. Nausea and vomiting may begin even before a migraine begins. For many people this symptom will last through the entire migraine headache experience. This will make it very difficult for people to function because it will interfere with their work and family lives. Some people may become dizzy during a migraine headache. This symptom may even lead to the person fainting. Fainting can cause even more problems for these people because they are at risk of falling and hurting themselves.

A person having a migraine headache may feel weak and unable to sit up or stand for any period of time. This will typically happen towards the end of a migraine headache. Specifically a persons arms and legs may begin to feel weak. They may even experience a numb or tingling feeling in their arms, legs, and face. Along with this a person may have difficulty speaking during a migraine headache. They may become confused during the migraine headache which poses a risk when they are alone.

After a migraine headache some people will still experience the effects of the condition. Some people will have a strong feeling of exhaustion for even days after the migraine headache. Others will continue to feel confused for anywhere from a few hours to several days. They may even continue to feel depressed or irritable during the days after a migraine headache. Depending on the frequency of the persons migraine headaches this can leave them in a constant state of depression and irritability.

On the next page we will talk about the Stages of  a Migraine Headache.