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Illustrated Health Encyclopedia
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Ency. home > Disease > M > Migraine

Migraine    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Symptoms

  • headache
    • throbbing, pulsating
    • usually worst on the sides of the head
    • may be on only one side of the head
    • may be severe or dull
    • commonly lasts 6 to 48 hours
    • may be associated with nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound
  • An aura may precede the headache (any of various symptoms that indicate an impending migraine). This may include visual phenomena like zig zag patterns in a visual field. There may also be numbness or weakness on one side of the body that marches up the arm, leg or face over the course of minutes.
  • Various neurologic symptoms may be present during the headache and disappear after the headache is relieved (dizziness, tingling, or other symptoms).

Signs and Tests

Migraine headache may be diagnosed by the health care provider based on the pattern of symptoms, history of migraines in the family, and the response to treatment. A physical examination shows no detectable abnormalities. Sometimes an MRI is obtained to rule out other causes of headache upon initial investigation.

Ency. home > Disease > M > Migraine

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