Migraine Symptoms

A few common migraine symptoms include a moderate-to-severe headache that usually affects one side of the body, sensitivity to light, and a lack of appetite. Some less common symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fainting. A person who has classic migraines will also experience an "aura" -- which is characterized by symptoms such as double vision and speech difficulty -- 10 minutes to 30 minutes before the headache begins. A person with common migraines does not experience an aura.

Migraines

Signs and Symptoms of a Migraine: An Overview

Migraines affect about 10 percent of adults. Women are more likely than men to have experienced this type of headache. Symptoms will vary from individual to individual; however, some of the most common symptoms of a migraine include:

A moderate-to-severe headache that generally affects one side of the body, is described as throbbing or pounding, and may worsen with activity. While migraine headache pain usually starts on one side of the head, in some cases it may eventually spread to the other side. Pain is often felt in the forehead, temple, ear, jaw, or around the eye.
Nausea and/or vomiting.
Sensitivity to light (photophobia).
Lack of appetite.

There are some other symptoms that might occur during a migraine headache. These symptoms, which occur less often than the symptoms mentioned above, can include:

Diarrhea
Abdominal cramps
Increased urination
Lightheadedness
Fainting.

These symptoms are possible regardless of whether a person is experiencing classic or common migraines. However, people with classic migraines also experience an "aura" just before the headache begins. To simplify terminology, healthcare providers now refer to classic migraines as migraines with aura and common migraines as migraines without aura.

(Migraine Symptoms Continued: Page 2)