Migraine is a common type of headache and it affects up to 12 percent of adults across the world. It occurs about three times more commonly in women than in men.
A typical migraine “episode” involves four phases: the prodrome, the aura, the headache, and the postdrome.
Prodrome — Some people start having symptoms many hours before a migraine headache comes on. These may include increased yawning, irritability, neck stiffness, etc.
Aura — Some people with migraines experience an “aura” before the headache. Aura symptoms may include flashing lights or bright spots, changes in vision, or numbness or tingling in the fingers of one hand, lips, tongue, or lower face.
Headache — The pain of a migraine headache usually begins gradually, intensifies over one to several hours, and resolves gradually at the end of the attack. It frequently affects only one side of the head. The headache is typically dull, and steady when mild to moderate in severity; it becomes throbbing or pulsatile when more severe.
Migraine headaches may be aggravated by light, sneezing, straining, constant motion, moving the head rapidly, or physical activity. Many people try to get relief by lying down in a dark and quiet room.
Other symptoms — Migraine headaches are often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, as well as sensitivity to light and noise.
Migraines can be triggered by many different things, including stress, physical exertion, fatigue, lack of sleep, hunger, odors, chemicals, oral contraceptive pills, etc. In women, migraines can be triggered by the normal decrease in estrogen levels that occurs before the menstrual period each month.