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Migraine Signs & Symptoms
Migraine is more than just a headache, it’s a complex group of symptoms that are unique to you. Understanding your symptoms and triggers is key to managing your migraine so you can get back to living your life to the fullest.
WHAT IT IS LIKE TO EXPERIENCE MIGRAINE
Despite migraine being one of the world’s most common health conditions, many people living with this disease know that no two migraine experiences are the same. Symptoms can range from light sensitivity and dizziness to food cravings or body chills. Knowing how to identify your unique symptoms will help you talk to your doctor and get an accurate diagnosis.
Common Symptoms:
Common Symptoms:
- Depressed mood or changes in mood
- Increased sensitivity to light, sound or smells
- Yawning, fatigue or difficulty sleeping
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Moderate or severe head pain
- Depressed mood or changes in mood
- Increased sensitivity to light, sound or smells
- Yawning, fatigue or difficulty sleeping
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Moderate or severe head pain
Phases of Migraine
Timeline of a Migraine Attack
Migraine attacks have distinct phases, and understanding them is the first step toward advocating for your needs. Additionally, being able to identify and treat a migraine attack early on can help you prevent or minimize symptoms.
Prodrome
The beginning of a migraine attack, which can start several hours or even days before the headache.
Aura
Only 20% of people with migraine experience aura. Its effects last between 5-60 minutes and are completely reversible.
Headache
The third phase of a migraine attack that can last several hours or up to three days.
Postdrome
The final phase of a migraine attack which is often called the “migraine hangover.”
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- PRODROME
- FEW HOURS TO DAYS
- IRRITABILITY
- DEPRESSION
- YAWNING
- INCREASED NEED TO URINATE
- FOOD CRAVINGS
- SENSITIVITY TO LIGHT/SOUND
- PROBLEMS IN CONCENTRATING
- FATIGUE AND MUSCLE STIFFNESS
- DIFFICULTY SPEAKING AND READING
- NAUSEA
- DIFFICULTY SLEEPING
- NECK PAIN
- AURA
- 5-60 MIN
- VISUAL DISTURBANCES
- TEMPORARY LOSS OF SIGHT
- NUMBNESS AND TINGLING ON PART OF THE BODY
- HEADACHE
- 4-72 HRS
- THROBBING
- DRILLING
- ICEPICK IN THE HEAD
- BURNING
- NAUSEA
- VOMITING
- GIDDINESS
- INSOMNIA
- NASAL CONGESTION
- ANXIETY
- DEPRESSED MOOD
- SENSITIVITY TO LIGHT, SMELL, SOUND
- NECK PAIN AND STIFFNESS
- POSTDROME
- 24-48 HRS
- INABILITY TO CONCENTRATE
- FATIGUE
- NUMBNESS AND TINGLING ON PART OF THE BODY
- DEPRESSED MOOD
- EUPHORIC MOOD
- LACK OF COMPREHENSION
Diagnosis & Treatment
If you live with migraine, receiving a diagnosis will help you take the first step in looking for the answers you deserve.
Learn More
The Interictal State
- The interictal state is defined as “the period between episodes.”
- Symptoms can be psychiatric, like changes in emotional state, or sensory, like heightened sensitivity to light and sound.
- If you are experiencing interictal symptoms, track them in your headache diary to find patterns and share with your doctor.
- Research is underway to help us better understand and treat interictal symptoms.
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- 929-376-1333
- american migraine foundation
1177 6th avenue, 5th floor
New York, NY 10036
You should not have to deal with migraine—or pregnancy—alone. It’s critical to have a support network of understanding people who can not only check in on you but also empathize with your experience. Read this article to learn about building a support system. Then consider joining our Move Against Migraine support group on Facebook so you can connect with others who live with migraine.
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This will be helpful in guiding conversations with your doctor about your symptoms. Bring your notes to your next appointment. Here is a guide to having that conversation.
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Don’t give up on your search to find an integrative treatment that works for you. Here are some alternative therapies to look into. Our Resource Library is another great place to find information on these treatments.
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As you work with your doctor on next steps, it will be important to maintain access to reliable resources on migraine. We recommend taking a look at our patient guides, which include useful information like how to talk to your doctor about migraine.
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Treatment options vary, from acute treatment to relieve symptoms to preventive treatment to reduce the number of attacks you experience. There are also behavioral treatment options and lifestyle changes that can help. Learn more on this page.
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Start here. This Diagnosis & Treatment page walks you through next steps after a diagnosis. You could also search our Resources Library to learn more about symptoms, triggers and treatments.
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It will be crucial to have access to reliable resources on migraine as you work to manage this disease. The American Migraine Foundation offers extensive resources to help you explore your symptoms and treatment options.
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It may be worth considering some treatment options to help you manage your symptoms. Here are 5 common alternative treatments for migraine.
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There may be some treatments you haven’t tried. Consider these complementary and integrative treatments, and search our Resources Library for more.
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No matter what you call it—a headache journal, migraine diary, headache tracker—keeping track of your symptoms can be a versatile tool to help better manage your health. It can help you identify patterns over time and help your doctor identify if you are experiencing migraine. Learn more about tracking your symptoms here.
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Nausea and/or vomiting is just one of many symptoms a person living with migraine might experience. Because migraine is a highly nuanced disease, it is important to learn about all possible symptoms that may appear before, during or after a migraine attack, including less common ones such as aura. You can start with this resource.
Whether you have lived with migraine for a few months or a few decades, you know migraine can be a challenging experience. You should continue to seek proper medical attention and access information to help alleviate the burden.
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Yawning and fatigue are typical symptoms of prodrome, the first phase of a migraine attack. Other symptoms can include food cravings and difficulty concentrating. If you think you may have migraine, these answers to common questions can help you further investigate this possibility with a doctor.
Migraine is a complex disease with a range of symptoms that vary from person to person. Common symptoms such as vertigo and dizziness are also associated with vestibular migraine. Learn more about migraine symptoms in our Frequently Asked Questions to see if you may be living with migraine.
Light sensitivity is a common symptom of migraine (as is sensitivity to sounds or smells), but not everyone who has the disease will experience it. Identify other symptoms of migraine and find answers to Frequently Asked Questions to help you start the conversation about migraine with your primary care provider.
While migraine is a common disease that affects 39 million Americans, no two migraine experiences are the same. Symptoms can vary from light sensitivity and dizziness to food cravings or body chills. Explore these Frequently Asked Questions about migraine symptoms to see if you might be experiencing migraine.
Northeast Regional Champions
Ashley Crane (NY)
“To ignore the plight of those one might conceivably save is not wisdom—it is indolence. And such a passive stance will not, I fear, take us far upon the path to progress.”
– Final Fantasy XIV
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Kelly Amspacher (PA)
“Maybe you’ve been assigned this mountain to show others it can be moved.”
– UNKNOWN
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Southeast Regional Champions
Christine Cottrell (LA)
“I am working my happiness like a full time job.” – Gabrielle Bernstein
Cherise Irons (FL)
“As iron sharpens iron so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17
Elisabeth Walker (FL)
“I am a Registered Nurse who is very passionate about helping others and advocating for the migraine community. I have had migraine with aura since I was in my teens and want to work towards a better future for all.”
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Southwest Regional Champions
Rainy Travis (TX)
“The best decision I ever made was to love myself as I am.”
Angela Rutherford (TX)
“Having lived with migraine since age 2, today we are living in an amazing time for advances in migraine treatment. Some of the newer medications don’t work for everyone, but finding relief in my lifetime gives me real hope for current and future generations living with migraine.”
Pacific Regional Champions
Kelsey Feng (CA)
“Advocacy is to reduce healthcare disparities in marginalized communities.”
Victorina Andrade (CA)
“When life gives you rain, play in the puddles.” – Winnie the Pooh
MidWest Regional Champions
Sarah Arndt (WI)
“Nobody knows ‘better’ than you. You have always been and continue to be the expert of your own body.”
Michele Mayer (MI)
“Thank yourself for how far you’ve come. Life hasn’t been easy, but you’ve always found the strength to face another day.” – Roger Lee
We recommend exploring complementary treatments such as biofeedback, green light therapy and aerobic exercise. Learn how these common therapies can help you manage migraine.
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You might have tried some alternative therapies, but did you know about these complementary and integrative treatments? They may be worth exploring. For more information on alternative migraine treatments, visit our Resource Library.
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Finding people whom you can lean on for support can help lift some of the burden of managing migraine before, during and after pregnancy. Our Move Against Migraine Facebook group is full of mothers with migraine who can offer encouragement and support throughout your journey. Join the community today.
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Mounting evidence suggests there may be a connection between migraine and mental health. Anxiety disorders and depression are two of the most commonly reported mental illnesses among people who are diagnosed with migraine. By learning how migraine and mental health impact one another and ways to manage both, you can improve your quality of life. Learn more about the relationship between migraine and mental health in this AMF webinar.
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We are happy to hear this! Pregnancy can add another complicated layer to your migraine journey, but having a strong support system will make it easier to navigate the ups and downs. You can find additional support from people in your position and those who have already experienced pregnancy with migraine in our Move Against Migraine Facebook group.
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Already pregnant? Congratulations! Consider taking a moment to learn about the relationship between migraine and hormones. Did you know 50% to 80% of pregnant people with migraine actually experience a reduction in migraine attacks during their pregnancy?
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Did you know that 20% of women say they avoid pregnancy because of migraine? While migraine thankfully does not affect fertility, it can complicate conversations about family planning and infertility treatments. Learn more about the relationship between migraine and family planning.
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It’s important to work with your obstetrician and your headache doctor when you have migraine to establish a safe treatment plan. If you’re not already working with a headache doctor, use our Find a Doctor tool to find someone in your area. Plan to discuss the FDA’s safety guide for medication use during pregnancy.
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Start by reviewing the FDA’s safety guide for medication use during pregnancy. You may also want to learn about lifestyle changes for migraine management as you consider other lifestyle changes you’re making during pregnancy. If you’re only working with your obstetrician at this time, we recommend adding a headache doctor to your team. Use our Find a Doctor tool to find someone in your area.
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Migraine is a disabling disease that no one should have to go through alone. It’s essential to build a support network of understanding people who can not only check in on you during an attack but also empathize with your experience. Read this article to learn about building a support system. Then consider joining the Move Against Migraine support group on Facebook so you can connect with others who live with migraine.
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You are not alone. If your support system is lacking, consider joining a support group. Finding a community of people who understand exactly what you’re going through is like being welcomed home after a long, tiring day. Our Move Against Migraine support group is a place for you to connect with others (via Facebook) who live with migraine to exchange stories and find community and support.
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That’s great news! Having a strong network of people who validate your experience and support you on the good days and bad is so valuable when you live with an invisible illness like migraine. If you’re interested in connecting with more people in the migraine community, we recommend joining our Facebook support group, Move Against Migraine. There, you will find a wonderful community of people who are ready to listen and lift each other up.
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Did you know? In the 2022 Migraine and Mental Health Connection Survey, almost 60% of patients with migraine reported being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, 50% reported depression and 25% reported PTSD. This correlation suggests that migraine and mental illnesses may be associated with each other. Access this page to find migraine and mental health treatment options and self-care tips you may not have considered.
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Alternative migraine therapies can work alongside traditional treatments to reduce migraine attack frequency and lessen the impact of symptoms. Learn about common alternative treatments.
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Receiving a formal migraine diagnosis is the first milestone when working with your doctor to identify a personalized and effective treatment plan. Continuing to talk with your doctor throughout the course of your treatment is important for determining the strategies that prove beneficial and those that may not be as effective.
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As you work with your doctor on next steps, it will be important to maintain access to reliable resources on migraine. We recommend a look at our patient guides, which include useful information including how to talk to your doctor about migraine.
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Start your search with these complementary and integrative therapies. Then, consider exploring more treatment options with our other free resources.
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If a doctor has prescribed medication for your chronic migraine and you choose to move forward with that line of treatment, follow instructions carefully. It is crucial to take medications at the recommended times to ensure maximum effectiveness. Additionally, it is important to communicate with your doctor if you experience any adverse effects or if the medication does not seem to be working as expected.
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Consider joining our Move Against Migraine support group on Facebook so you can connect with others who live with migraine.
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The Migraine Advocacy Hub is live on our website! The American Migraine Foundation has created a Migraine Advocacy Hub, a central location for migraine advocacy resources and opportunities to connect with others to mobilize against migraine in your community. Explore the Migraine Advocacy Hub here.
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It’s important to stay updated on the latest migraine research and treatment strategies. The American Migraine Foundation Resource Library provides a wealth of articles designed to assist you in understanding your symptoms and treatment options.
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Rocky Mountain Regional Champions
Kaitlin Hall
“If we do not become active partners in crafting the policies that involve and affect our work, it will be done without our insight, reason, and wisdom.”
– Dr. Rita Colwell
