Migraine is not just a passing headache, it is a complex neurological condition that greatly affects the quality of daily life, and those suffering from it suffer from disturbing symptoms, which may begin with early warnings and escalate to severe headaches accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and visual disturbances. Al Mousa Specialist Hospital provides you with accurate medical knowledge to understand the symptoms of migraine, diagnose it, and ways to deal with it effectively.

What are the symptoms of ocular migraine?

Ocular migraine, also known as visual migraine or migraine with visual aura, is a type of migraine accompanied by temporary visual disturbances. These symptoms occur with or without a headache. The following are the most prominent symptoms of migraine in detail:

Visual symptoms

These symptoms often precede a headache attack, and last from ten minutes to half an hour, and the most prominent of them are as follows:

• Seeing flashes or flashes of light.
• Seeing black spots or blind spots in the field of vision.
• Blurred or rippled vision, such as looking through water.
• Seeing geometric shapes or squiggly lines.
• Partial or complete temporary loss of vision in one eye, rarely both eyes.
• In some cases, a visual aura can occur without a headache at all.

Headache symptoms

A migraine occurs and is characterized by:

• Throbbing or throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head.
• Pain increases with movement or physical activity.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Sensitivity to light, sounds or smells.

Neurological symptoms

Sometimes neurological symptoms may occur, which are as follows:

• Numbness or tingling in the face or extremities.
• Difficulty speaking.
• Dizziness or disturbance in balance.

It is important, in the event of sudden vision loss or permanent visual confusion, to consult a doctor immediately because some similar conditions, such as stroke or eye diseases, require urgent evaluation.

Symptoms of migraine

Migraine or hemigraine الصداع النصفي It is one of the types of chronic headaches. It is characterized by pulsating pain mostly in one half of the head. It may be accompanied by neurological, digestive, or visual symptoms. It is more common among women. It is classified into two main types:

• Migraine with the condition, preceded by neurological symptoms such as visual or speech disturbances.
• Migraine without a condition, which is the most common.

The symptoms of migraine occur in several stages, as follows:

• The preliminary stage, a day or two before the headache:
  • Mood swings.
  • Food cravings.
  • Neck stiffness.
  • Frequent urination.
  • Fatigue or lethargy.

• Aura, which usually lasts from 10 to 60 minutes:
  • Flashes of light or squiggly lines.
  • Blurry vision or partial loss of vision.
  • Numbness or tingling in the face or arm.
  • Difficulty speaking or talking.

• Headache stage, which lasts from 4 to 72 hours:
  • Throbbing or throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head.
  • Pain worsens with movement or physical activity.
  • الغثيان أو التقيؤ.
  • Excessive sensitivity to light or sound.

• Later stage:
  • Feeling extremely exhausted or mentally foggy.
  • Difficulty concentrating.
  • Mood swings.

If the headache is new, gets worse quickly, is accompanied by very high pressure or temperature, or is accompanied by sudden muscle weakness, and occurs after the age of 50 for the first time, you should Book your consultation immediately at مركز العلوم العصبية At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital To rule out serious diseases such as stroke or brain hemorrhage.

Migraine symptoms in children

Migraines in children differ slightly from adults, both in symptoms and the duration of the attack, and are often less clear, which makes diagnosis more difficult. They are more common than believed, and they may begin at the age of five years or even younger. Usually, the attack in children lasts from one hour to 24 hours, and sometimes they are shorter. The symptoms of migraine in children are as follows:

• Headache: You feel moderate to severe pain, usually on both sides of the head, unlike adults, who usually suffer from headaches on one side. The pain may be pulsating or pressing, and lasts from two to 72 hours, and is often shorter than adult attacks.
• There are also accompanying symptoms, which are nausea or vomiting, sensitivity to light or sounds, paleness of the face or the appearance of dark circles under the eyes, weakness in concentration or general fatigue.
• Seeing flashes of light or blind spots, feeling dizzy or numb in the face or hands, and temporary difficulty speaking.
• Some behavioral signs, for example, the child asks for sleep or isolation, and may become more nervous or agitated, and you may find him placing his hand on his head or eyes, and he may also ask to sit in a dark and quiet room.

Migraine symptoms in women 

Migraine symptoms in women are similar to general migraine symptoms, but they differ in severity, frequency, and relationship to hormones, especially estrogen. Women are more susceptible to migraine than men, and symptoms often worsen during certain periods of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause. The symptoms of migraine in women are as follows:

• Migraine headache and feeling of pain on one side of the head, and the pain is moderate to severe.
• The pain increases with movement or physical activity, and the pain may last from four to 72 hours.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Excessive sensitivity to light.
• Extreme fatigue or desire to sleep.
• Visual disturbances such as flashes, black dots, or ripples in the vision.
• Numbness or tingling in the limbs or face.
• Difficulty speaking or concentrating.

There is also hormonal migraine in women, which is linked to fluctuations in estrogen levels, and often occurs in the following cases:

• Before or during the menstrual cycle: It is known as menstrual migraine, and it occurs within two days before or in the first two days of the menstrual cycle.
• During pregnancy, it may improve in the second and third trimester, and for some women the pain becomes more severe at the beginning of pregnancy.
• While using birth control pills or hormone therapy, this may stimulate or relieve migraines depending on the type of medication.
• During menopause, i.e. menopause, migraine improves or worsens depending on hormonal changes.

Migraine symptoms in men 

Migraines in men are similar to the symptoms in women, but they differ in the pattern, severity, and frequency of attacks. Although migraines are more common in women, men also suffer from them, and they are often related to stress, lack of sleep, or environmental factors more than hormones. The symptoms of migraines in men are as follows:

• Migraine headache and feeling of pain on one side of the head and sometimes both sides. It is moderate to severe in intensity and gets worse with movement or physical activity. The pain may last from 4 hours to 72 hours.
• Symptoms accompanying the pain are nausea, vomiting, excessive sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sounds and smells, mental confusion or difficulty concentrating, and feeling exhausted and nervous.

You can also browse what they are Causes of eye headache؟ وكيف يمكن تشخيصها وعلاجها؟

When do migraine symptoms begin to appear?

Migraine symptoms begin to appear in stages, and may differ from one person to another. Some people feel that the attack is coming hours or even a whole day before, but symptoms may appear suddenly in others, and migraine symptoms come in the following stages:

Introductory stage

It begins 24 to 48 hours before the headache, and presents early warning signs such as changes in mood, nervousness or depression, feeling a desire to eat certain foods such as salt or chocolate, fatigue or insomnia, stiffness in the neck, and frequent urination or thirst.

Corona stage

They begin 20 to 60 minutes before the headache, and include:

• Visual disturbances such as flashes, blind spots, and squiggly lines.
• Numbness or tingling in the face or extremities.
• Temporary difficulty speaking or thinking.

Headache stage

It begins after the aura or immediately after the introductory stage, and includes pulsating pain on one side of the head, increases with movement, light, or sound, and can last from 4 to 72 hours.

Post-seizure stage

It begins immediately after the headache ends, and may last for an entire day with a feeling of fatigue or mental confusion, residual sensitivity to light or sound, and mood changes or dull pain in the place of the previous headache.

It is worth noting that from the first early symptom, i.e. the preparatory stage, until the end of the seizure, the seizure may extend from one to 3 days, depending on its severity and methods of dealing with it.

How to deal with migraine symptoms in the morning

Dealing with migraine symptoms in the morning requires a combination of prevention and immediate measures when symptoms appear. Many people suffer from migraine attacks upon waking up, due to various factors such as lack of sleep, low blood sugar, or muscle tension during sleep. The following are immediate steps when waking up with migraine symptoms:

• Take the migraine medication your doctor prescribed, such as sumatriptan, naproxen, or paracetamol. The earlier the intervention, the greater the effectiveness.
• You should sit or lie down in a dark, quiet room and place cold compresses on the head or neck.
• Drink water. Morning dehydration increases the severity of migraines. Drink a glass of water if you feel thirsty or dehydrated.
• You should avoid triggers, do not drink coffee or fatty foods immediately, and avoid strong smells or loud noises.

You must regulate your sleep and wake up at the same time every day, avoid staying up late or oversleeping, and avoid night hunger by eating a balanced light meal before bed. Low blood sugar at night may cause a morning migraine attack. You must choose an appropriate sleeping position, avoid sleeping on the stomach, use a pillow that supports the neck well to avoid muscle tension, and be sure to avoid caffeine before bed, as caffeine in the evening weakens the quality of sleep and thus causes morning migraine.

اسئلة شائعة 

How does a migraine begin?

Migraine usually begins with a preliminary stage known as the prodromal stage, which appears hours or even a day before the headache, and includes various symptoms such as mood swings, fatigue, intense desire to eat certain foods, and neck stiffness. After that, aura may come in some patients, which is a temporary disturbance of vision, sensation, or speech, and immediately precedes the headache. Then comes a pulsating headache on one side of the head, often accompanied by nausea and extreme sensitivity to light and sound, and it can last from 4 hours to 72 hours, and then it ends.

Is vomiting a symptom of migraine?

Yes, vomiting is considered a common symptom of migraine, and it often occurs alongside nausea during a migraine attack, especially when the headache is severe. This is linked to the effect of migraine on the centers of balance and control of the digestive system in the brain, which leads to an upset stomach. Some patients may also feel better after they vomit, but others find that the symptoms become more severe because of it.

Is tinnitus a symptom of migraine?

Yes, tinnitus can be a symptom that accompanies migraine in some people, although it is not one of the main or most common symptoms. Tinnitus occurs as part of an aura or during a headache attack, as a result of the hearing centers in the brain being affected or changes in blood flow within the inner ear. Tinnitus appears in the form of a whistling or buzzing sound, and then gradually disappears with the end of the attack.

If you suffer from recurring or severe migraine symptoms and are looking for specialized treatment, you can book an appointment at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital, where there is a medical team specialized in diagnosing and treating migraines and migraines. The hospital provides comprehensive services that include careful examinations, drug treatments, and preventive advice that helps control attacks.

Medical references

Migraine Headaches – clevelandclinic

Symptoms of a migraine – nhs