Migraine Doctor Irving
A migraine headache is a neurological condition that can cause multiple symptoms. It can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on just one side of the head. It is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine attacks can cause significant pain for hours to days or can be so severe that the pain is disabling. Warning symptoms known as aura, may occur before or with the headache. These can include flashes of light, blind spots, or tingling on one side of the face or in your arm or leg. Medications can help prevent some migraines and make them less painful.
Symptoms and phases of Migraine:
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- Prodrome phase occurs one or two days before a migraine that may warn of an upcoming migraine. These include mood changes, constipation, food cravings, neck stiffness and increased thirst and urination.
- Aura may occur before or during the migraine. Auras are symptoms of the nervous system and include visual disturbances such as flashes of light or wavy or zigzag vision. You may also experience numbness and weakness in the face or one side of body, and uncontrolled jerking or other movements. Most people do experience migraines without aura.
- Attack. A migraine usually lasts from four to 72 hours if untreated. The frequency varies from person to person. During the migraine you may experience pain on one side or both sides of your head, pain that feels pulsing or throbbing, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light, sounds, and sometimes smell. Also you may experience lightheadedness, followed by fainting.
- Post-drome. The final phase is known as post-drome and occurs after a migraine attack. You may feel drained and washed out. For the next 24 hours you may also experience confusion, dizziness, moodiness, weakness and sensitivity to light and sound.
If you have a family history of migraines you have a good chance of developing them also. Women are three times as likely to have migraines. Migraines usually tend to peak during your 30’s and gradually become less severe and less frequent in the following decades.
If you regularly experience signs and symptoms of migraine attacks, keep a record of your attacks and how you treated them. Then make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your headaches.
If you experience an abrupt, severe headache like thunderclap, or after a head injury, have mental confusion, seizures or double vision, go to the emergency room immediately.