Symptoms of migraine

The main symptom of migraine is headache. This is usually a throbbing or pulsating pain that may occur on only one side of the head and gets worse with movement or exertion. You may also feel sick and you may actually be sick. Light and/or sound may make the headache worse. The pain may be so bad that you feel that you have to lie down in a dark room and wait until you feel better.

About 15% of migraine sufferers have ‘classic’ migraine and find that they have a warning ‘aura’ lasting up to one hour before the headache starts.

• Aura can include visual changes such as bright flashing lights, flickering, coloured zigzag lines, blind spots or loss of vision on one side.
• Aura can also include a tingling sensation or numbness in the arms or legs and dizziness, and you may experience hearing or speech problems.

The remaining 85% of patients with ‘common’ migraine do not have an aura before their migraine attack occurs. Some patients may also experience a combination of attacks, i.e. with and without aura.