Signs and Symptoms
The headache from a migraine, classic or common, has the following characteristics:
- Throbbing, pounding, or pulsating pain
- Often, begins on one side of your head and may spread to both or stay localized
- Most intense pain is often concentrated around the temple(s) (side of the forehead)
- Commonly lasts from 6 to 48 hours
Accompanying symptoms that may precede or occur at the same time as the migraine include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness described as lightheadedness or even vertigo (feeling like the room is spinning)
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Visual disturbances, like seeing flashing lights or zigzag lines, temporary blind spots (for example, loss of your peripheral vision), or blurred vision
- Eye pain
- Extreme sensitivitity to light (called photophobia)
- Parts of your body may feel numb, weak, or tingly
- Light, noise, and movement—especially bending over—make your head hurt worse; you want to lie down in a dark, quiet room
- Irritability
Symptoms that may linger even after the migraine has resolved:
- Feeling mentally dull, like your thinking is not clear or sharp
- Increased need for sleep
- Neck pain
