Headache

Migraine Headaches

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of migraine headaches include:

• Abnormal body sensations, called paresthesias, such as tingling, numbing or prickling
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Scalp tenderness
• Sensitivity to light
• Visual disturbances, such as flashes of light or blind spots in your vision

Migraines are the most common cause of vascular headache, affecting 26 million Americans. About 15 percent of women and 6 percent of men experience these headaches. They are characterized by recurrent attacks, with pain most often on one side of the head, accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. Although migraines can occur at any time of day or night, they tend to be more frequent in the morning. Routine activity or slight head movement typically makes the pain worse.

Episodes can last from several hours to several days and often are disabling. During the attack, pain may travel from one part of the head to another and may radiate down the neck into the shoulder. Scalp tenderness occurs in the majority of patients during or after an attack. Migraines tend to run in families and often are hereditary. If you have migraines, chances are another family member does as well.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007