| Many people believe that in order to be really | | | | minutes. It is also important to note that all aura |
| experiencing migraines that one has to have a | | | | symptoms will completely disappear when the |
| severe, throbbing headache. This is simply not | | | | headache phase of the migraine begins. |
| true. Migraine is actually a neurological condition | | | | The third stage of a migraine is the headache |
| with four distinct stages including a variety of | | | | phase. Many people experience a single sided |
| symptoms which can vary greatly from person | | | | throbbing pain. This is not the case for everyone. |
| to person. | | | | Some people will experience different pain |
| First of all, it is useful to know that a migraine has | | | | sensations and some will not experience pain at all. |
| four stages - a premigraine stage, an aura stage, | | | | The final stage of a migraine is the postmigraine |
| a headache phase, and a postmigraine stage. The | | | | stage. This is stage can last from hours to days |
| most important thing you need to know about | | | | depending on the person. Many people describe |
| migraine stages is that not every person will | | | | having feelings of extreme exhaustion or feeling |
| experience every stage (or even every stage | | | | hungover. |
| every time.) The premigraine stage can last from | | | | So the question is - how do you know you are |
| days to just a few hours. Most people describe | | | | experiencing a migraine without headache? Usually |
| feelings of fatigue, trouble concentrating, neck | | | | this diagnosis comes after repeated examinations |
| pain, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light and | | | | for visual problems (seeing twinkling lights, spots, |
| sound. | | | | or even blindness) that reoccur on a periodic basis. |
| The second stage of a migraine, the aura stage, | | | | If nothing is found to be physically wrong after an |
| is experienced by many but not all people. The | | | | examination with a qualified eye doctor, then it is |
| aura stage is usually described as the | | | | entirely plausible to consider "migraine aura without |
| development of a variety of neurological | | | | headache" (the older term for this was acephalgic |
| symptoms such as visual disturbances (seeing | | | | migraine, but this has since been replaced) as a |
| twinkling lights, spots, lines, or diminished vision | | | | diagnosis. |
| blindness), distorted hearing, and trouble speaking | | | | In general, doctors are reluctant to give this |
| or thinking of words, numbness or weakness in | | | | diagnosis for anyone without a previous history of |
| the limbs. More severe symptoms also include | | | | migraines, a family history of migraines, and |
| seizures and loss of consciousness. Each | | | | especially anyone over forty as there is always |
| symptom will develop over five to twenty | | | | the fear that a more serious life threatening |
| minutes and then last for no more than sixty | | | | health problem could be the cause. |