Migraine is a common health issue in Australia, with more than 4.9 million people suffering from it: 71% are women, 86% are of working age. A lot worse than your typical headache, a migraine causes severe throbbing pain commonly described by those affected by it as a pulsing sensation on one side of the head.
A migraine attack can also vary in intensity, and it can last for an hour to a few days. Some people even have severe migraine attacks that affect their ability to perform activities of daily living.
What’s worse: an attack can happen at any time, and it usually happens in four stages: prodrome, aura, attack, and post-drome. Although not everyone experiencing a migraine attack goes through all these stages, it’s vital to learn all about them so you can better manage and prevent things from getting worse.
The four stages of a migraine
These are the four stages of a migraine, most commonly reported from onset through to recovery stages.
Prodrome. This usually happens a day or two before the actual migraine attack, where you may experience warning signs like sudden food cravings, constipation, mood changes, frequent yawning, neck stiffness, and frequent urination. According to research, 60% of people who go through a migraine attack experience these prodrome symptoms that warn them of an impending episode.
Aura. This is the most common stage of a migraine attack because most people experience it before or during an episode. Coming from the nervous system, an aura usually involves your vision, and it can last between 5 to 20 minutes. During an aura, you may see flashes of lights, black dots or wavy lines, have hallucinations, feel weak or numb in the face or even have difficulty speaking.
Attack. A migraine attack can happen suddenly, which lasts from 4 to 72 hours if left untreated. Migraines can also occur frequently or very rarely, and it involves a throbbing pain usually on one side of the head, nausea and vomiting, and sensitivity to sound, light, and even touch and smell. A migraine attack can get worse with physical activity, and 80% of those who experience it also complain of nausea and even vomit during an episode. Others even faint due to the pain.
Post-drome. After a migraine attack, you may experience post-drome or the feeling of being completely exhausted and confused because of the pain. You may also need to rest since any sudden head movement could bring back the pain.
Many people who experience migraines don’t seek consultation until the attacks occur more often and get worse. But it’s also crucial to have migraine treated before it starts affecting your daily life. Imigran tablets have been proven to be effective against migraine pain. Imigran helps relieve pain in as fast as 30 minutes. So, if you’re experiencing migraine attacks, it would be smart to seek medical consultation to get the proper intervention for your condition before it gets worse.