If you suffer from migraine headaches, can you tell if you’re about to experience one? Signs of a migraine can include sensitivity to light, throbbing pain, and nausea. These symptoms can start as early as 24 hours before any head pain. For those who have not experienced a migraine, this can be confusing and sometimes frightening. Dawn C. Buse, Ph.D., associate professor of neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and the director of behavioral medicine at Montefiore Headache Center says “While it’s disturbing, it’s not dangerous”.
While everyone might not experience all four stages of a migraine, it is important to understand how they work. The Prodrome stage is the first. This can occur 12-24 hours before any head pain. Symptoms include fatigue, depression or euphoria, uncontrollable yawning, irritability, confusion, restlessness or difficulty concentrating. The second stage is called Aura. Aura can bring on symptoms of vision loss, spots or flashes of light and shimmering stars. The Aura stage can last from 5 to 60 minutes. The third stage is the headache itself. This can last up to 72 hours. After the intense throbbing pain subsides, the final stage called Postdrome begins. According to The Mayo Clinic, after the pain subsides, some people may feel drained of energy, while others have reported feeling joyous. Others may still feel foggy or confused, says Buse.
There are treatment options that allow individuals with migraines to live comfortably. “It’s very common that people are living with migraine and don’t realize it,” Buse says, treating themselves with over-the-counter medications that aren’t specifically targeted to migraines. More than half of all people living with migraines have never been diagnosed or even seen a healthcare provider about head pain, she says. At AZTMJ, Dr. Stan Farrell focuses on the treatment of all types of headaches including migraine. Dr. Stan Farrell is Board Certified and a member of the American Headache Society and a Diplomate with the American Board of Orofacial Pain, making him one of the best choices for your migraine headache treatment. If you or someone you know is experiencing the signs and symptoms of headache and or migraines, please schedule an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Farrell at 480-945-3629 or visit us online at www.headpaininstitute.com
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/09/migraine-symptoms-signs-aura_n_3518213.html
