Understanding the Signs of True Migraine Pain

Those who have never had a migraine have a hard time imagining the suffering that comes with a migraine attack. They are often confused with other types of headaches and dismissed as not real or important enough to warrant treatment. This article will help you understand what it feels like to have a migraine so that you can better advocate for yourself when seeking treatment for your symptoms. It can also help you attain an online medical certificate which you can use to stay home from work or school.

A migraine is characterised by an excruciating, pounding headache that can continue for several hours or even days. Pain on the front or side of the head or circling the eyes is a common onset location for migraines. Almost everything exacerbates the pain, including motion, exercise, strong light, and noise. Intense nausea and vomiting are typical migraine symptoms.

Migraines are a complex condition that can range from mild to severe. The severity of migraine depends on their symptoms and duration.

Migraines can last anywhere from four hours to three days, with the majority of sufferers experiencing symptoms for between two and three days. Some people experience recurrent episodes of migraine headaches, while others may have chronic migraines that occur on an almost daily basis.

Migraines usually develop during adolescence or early adulthood. Migraines usually come with an "aura”, which can best be described as a warning sign before the pain hits. Symptoms of an aura include seeing flashing lights, blind spots, or wavy lines; tingling feelings in your arms, legs, and face; difficulty speaking; numbness on one side of your body; and/or confusion.

Migraines are not just a headache — they're a severe neurological condition that impacts some 4.9 million Australians.

Although a headache is a common migraine symptom, it is not the only one. Some of the symptoms of a migraine episode include:

One in four people who get migraines experience some kind of nausea. The severity of nausea can vary. While some people feel slightly nauseated when they get a migraine, others may feel so sick to their stomach that they vomit.

Mild to severe throbbing pain in half the head is a frequent sign of a migraine attack. When compared, the throbbing pain of a tension headache is often felt on both sides of the head, and it often spreads to the temples, eyes, cheeks, and forehead.

Sensory auras occur in certain persons who suffer from migraines. Temporarily, they may feel numb or have tingling or pins and needles down one side of their body, starting at the tips of their fingers and progressing up the arm and into their face. They may also start feeling weak or as if they have lost feelings in their extremities.

You might also notice increased sensitivity to sound during your migraine attack — especially loud noises like sirens or construction equipment. You may find yourself avoiding watching TV or listening to music during this time as well because certain sounds will irritate you more than normal and make your headache worse.

About 80 per cent of people with migraines say they're sensitive to light during an attack. Some may even have to lie in a dark room. And about half of all migraine sufferers can smell odours that generally don't bother other people — like perfume or cigarette smoke, or even the smell of floor cleaner.

One of the most common symptoms of migraines is dizziness, but it can also include loss of balance or vertigo. This symptom can make it difficult for you to stand up straight or walk steadily.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition of the large intestine that typically results in constipation and other gastrointestinal issues, has been linked to migraines. Sometimes, the brain's synthesis of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that constricts blood vessels, is disrupted during a migraine episode. However, with constipation, serotonin levels in the intestines may rise.

Migraines can endure from a few hours to many days, and their effects are felt for the duration. Migraine can cause a broad variety of symptoms, and it can be exhausting to deal with them all. The conclusion of a migraine attack sometimes coincides with a period of acute exhaustion.

During the prodrome period, which typically precedes a migraine attack, you may experience sudden cravings for chocolate, cheese, and other strange foods. But, if you start feeling discomfort in your head, you will probably stop wanting to eat.

Blurred vision or visual disturbances occur before an attack. These may include temporary blind spots (scotomas), zigzag lines (fortification spectra), or other shapes in your vision; flashing lights (photophobia); seeing bright colors when there are no colors present (chromatopsia); wavy lines or dots in front of your eyes (aura).

It can be challenging to identify the cause of a migraine, and even more so to find effective treatment. But some telltale signs can help you determine if your headache is caused by a migraine or another condition.

If you have been diagnosed with a migraine by a qualified physician, then you may be able to get an online doctor’s certificate in Australia. This online medical certificate can be used for school or work absences related to migraines.

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