Most people with a migraine get a moderate to severe headache, which can last for anything between four hours and three days. The headache can occur on one or both sides of your head and is a throbbing, pulsating or banging pain. Activity usually makes the pain worse, for example walking or climbing stairs. You may also feel sick or vomit during a migraine, and you may find you’re more sensitive to light and noise.
You might get aura symptoms that affect your vision or other senses. For example, you may temporarily see flickering lights, spots or lines, or you may lose areas of your vision. You may also get pins and needles, or conversely, may get numbness. Some people also have disturbed speech.
Some people have migraines once a year or less, whereas other people have them as often as several times a week.
One of the things that make a migraine different from other types of headache is that it has clear stages. Most people will have the following stages, although not all have an aura stage.
Premonitory stage. You may feel tired, crave sweet foods, have mood changes, feel thirsty or have a stiff neck. These feelings can last up to 24 hours.
Aura stage. About one in three people have aura symptoms (visual or sensory changes). These may last from a few minutes up to an hour.
Main attack stage. This is when you will have a headache and other symptoms such as nausea. This stage can last anywhere from four hours up to three days.
Resolution and recovery stage. This is when the migraine fades. This usually happens slowly, although a migraine can sometimes stop suddenly, if you vomit for example.
Most people don’t need to see their GP when they get a migraine. However, you should see your GP if:
your migraines become more frequent or get worse over time
you’re over 50 and you have never had a migraine before
you have a child under the age of 10 that develops a migraine
you get migraines with aura and are taking the combined oral contraceptive pill
you get a headache when your posture changes
you have had cancer or have HIV and are getting new headaches
You should get immediate medical advice if:
you have a sudden and very severe headache
you get aura symptoms that last for more than an hour or make it harder to move