What is a migraine?

What is a migraine? It’s safe to say that most of us have experienced a headache of some description. Headaches can vary from a dull ache behind the eyes after a long day in front of the computer, to a sharp pain that comes on suddenly and leaves just as quickly, often with no obvious cause. They resolve after a rest, something to eat or drink, over-the-counter pain relief or a combination of these.

But what happens when your symptoms seem to be out of the ordinary – could it be a migraine? What is a migraine?

There are several characteristic symptoms linked to migraines, any or all of which can occur during an attack, and interestingly, a headache is not always one of them.

The possible symptoms of a migraine include:

* Moderate to severe headache that can change position during the attack

* Blurred vision

* ‘Aura’ – visual effects including flashing lights, blind spots, dots or jagged/wavy lines in the field of vision

* Sensitivity to light

* Sensitivity to noise

* Feeling very hot or cold

* Nausea/vomiting/loss of appetite/abdominal pains

* Fatigue

* Dizziness

* Rarely, fever

If you think your symptoms might be related to migraines, talk to your doctor about diagnosis and management of future attacks.

You might also find our article ‘What type of migraine do I have?‘ useful reading.