Migraine Causes

The root causes of primary and secondary headaches remain unclear. While definitive reasons for migraines are yet to be established, various shared triggers are often linked to both types of headaches, including:

  • Allergic reactions
  • Bright lights
  • Certain foods
  • Certain odors or perfumes
  • Disrupted sleep patterns
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Excessive visual input
  • Exercise
  • Fatigue
  • Headache symptoms
  • Hormonal changes
  • Hunger
  • Loud noises
  • Neck and spine pain
  • Neurologic disorders
  • Stress
  • Vasoconstriction

Migraine Symptoms

The common symptoms associated with both primary and secondary headaches include:

  • Allergic reactions
  • Bright lights
  • Certain foods
  • Certain odors or perfumes
  • Disrupted sleep patterns
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Excessive visual input
  • Exercise
  • Fatigue
  • Headache symptoms
  • Hormonal changes
  • Hunger
  • Loud noises
  • Neck and spine pain
  • Neurologic disorders
  • Stress
  • Vasoconstriction

Migraine Stages

Migraine headaches frequently initiate during childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. Migraine attacks can unfold through four stages: prodrome, aura, attack, and postdrome. However, not all individuals go through every stage.

**Prodrome:** Approximately one or two days before a migraine, you might observe certain changes that serve as indicators of an impending migraine. These changes may encompass:

  • Constipation
  • Depression
  • Diarrhea
  • Food Cravings
  • Hyperactivity
  • Irritability
  • Neck Stiffness
  • Repetitive Yawning

**Aura:** About one-third of individuals experiencing migraines encounter an aura. Auras often manifest as visual disturbances, although they involve sensory, motor, or verbal disruptions. These symptoms typically commence gradually, intensify over several minutes, and typically endure for 10 to 30 minutes. Some examples of aura are:

  • Aphasia or limb weakness (hemiplegic migraine)
  • Pins and needles sensations in an arm or leg
  • Speech or language problems
  • Vision loss
  • Visual phenomena, bright spots, light flashes

**Aura:** Around one-third of individuals who suffer from migraines experience an aura. Visual disturbances commonly characterize auras but can also include sensory, motor, or verbal disruptions. These symptoms tend to start slowly, increase in intensity over a few minutes, and usually last between 10 to 30 minutes. Examples of aura symptoms include:

  • Blurred vision
  • Diarrhea
  • Lightheadedness, sometimes followed by fainting
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Pain on one side of your head
  • Pulsating, throbbing pain
  • Sensitivity to light, sounds, and sometimes smells

**Postdrome:** The last phase takes place after a migraine attack, during which you might experience fatigue and a sense of depletion. However, some individuals may describe a mild feeling of euphoria.