Headache and migraine are often used interchangeably but there is a lot of difference between the two. A migraine is a sharp disabling pain with varying intensity running from sharp head pain to fatigue and more. For anyone who is suffering from a migraine and might not know, some signs would help you tell it apart and there are many, to be honest.
Mood Swings
Perhaps one of the major signs of a migraine will be mood swings. Someone suffering from a migraine can get too excited or irritated or even feel depressed. This occurs mainly with those who have migraines with aura.
Aura
By definition, an aura is a distinct experience of the surroundings produced by a person and there are various forms of aura. You could have visual auras including spots, flickering lights, lines, and even crosshatches. The experience lasts for 5 to 60 minutes or so.
Migraine Triggers
There can be a lot of triggers leading up to migraines such as hormonal changes, menopause, emotional anxiety, alcohol, contraceptives among others.
Eye Pain
Headaches can cause dull or severe pain in the head, however, those suffering from migraines can feel strain behind one or both eyes. You could also suffer pain behind the ear during migraine sensations.
Throbbing Pain in the Head
One of the most common and disturbing signs of a migraine is the throbbing and pulsating pain in one or both halves of the head. Most commonly, the pain is more inclined towards one-half of the head.
Vomiting or Nausea
According to a survey, 3/4th of the people suffering from migraines have suffered from nausea while almost 1/3rd have vomited during such sensations. Thus, one of the most common tell-tell signs of migraine is nausea or vomiting.
Yawning
Yawning is usually tied with wanting to gasp on more air and usually triggers when one feels fatigued. However, it is one of the many tell-tell signs that you might be suffering from migraines. Check if you keep on yawning every few minutes and if you are feeling tired or not.
Frequent Urination
Categorized as a sign in the prodrome phase, frequent urination can be a warning in advance that you might get a migraine. One can experience frequency urination ranging from an hour to two days before the headache begins.
Sensitivity Towards Noise, Light & Smells
For anyone who has suffered a migraine, this is one of the glaring signs to catch. People usually become sensitive towards noises, light, and smells that could intensify the pain. The countermeasure is to stay in a quiet and dark place for a bit until the pain subsides. The smell can become a trigger as well.
Neck Pain
One of the early signs of migraine is the stiffness around the neck and the pain it brings with it. Sufferers could feel a throbbing sensation at the back of their neck and in fact, more than 1/3rd of the migraine sufferers have complained about neck pain.
Vertigo or Loss of Vision
People suffering from basilar-type migraines have complained that they feel dizzy, face loss of vision, or double vision during migraine sessions.
Over-The-Counter Treatments
If you are suffering from migraine or its signs and sensations, over-the-counter treatments can be of great help. Some medicines including ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen can help subside the impending pain of a migraine and its side effects. You can walk into a nearby Rite Choice Pharmacy to get the OTC medications. Seek help from doctors if the pain doesn’t subside.
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