Learn about Migraine in adults symptoms from Consumer Reports Health.

Migraine in adults

What are the symptoms of migraines?

You have migraine if you get a headache that lasts from four to 72 hours and you also have two of the symptoms listed below.

Source:
Goadsby PJ, Lipton RB, Ferrari MD.
Migraine: current understanding and treatment.
New England Journal of Medicine. 2002; 346: 257-270.

The pain is on one side of your head (this is called unilateral pain). This pain is often at the front of your head.
The pain is a throbbing pain.
The pain gets worse when you move.
The pain is moderate or severe.

If you have a migraine attack, you will also have one or more of the symptoms in this list:

Source:
Goadsby PJ, Lipton RB, Ferrari MD.
Migraine: current understanding and treatment.
New England Journal of Medicine. 2002; 346: 257-270.

You may feel nauseated (as if your stomach is upset or you are going to vomit) or you may vomit
You may feel extra-sensitive to light (called photophobia)
You may be extra-sensitive to sounds (called phonophobia).

Migraine attacks often start when you wake up in the morning. If they start during the day, these attacks tend to take several hours to build up to their worst.

Source:
Spierings EL.
Mechanism of migraine and action of antimigraine medications.
Medical Clinics of North America. 2001; 85: 943-958.

Different types of migraine: with or without auras

Some people who get migraine attacks also get what's called an

auras
Auras are short-term changes in the way your nerves work. The changes happen before some migraine headaches, fits (seizures) or other problems with your nervous system. If you have an aura, you may see flashing lights, have blind spots (areas that you can't see) or get ringing in your ears. Some people get numbness or pins and needles in parts of their body. Others have trouble speaking or feel distant from people around them.

aura before an attack. The aura happens because some of your nerves don't work in the way that they usually do. The aura is a warning of an attack, and it can be frightening. About 1 in every 6 people who have migraines (15 percent) get auras.

Source:
Goadsby PJ, Lipton RB, Ferrari MD.
Migraine: current understanding and treatment.
New England Journal of Medicine. 2002; 346: 257-270.

¹ If you get an aura you may suddenly:

See flashing lights or have blind spots (areas that you can't see)
Have ringing in your ears
Develop numbness in parts of your body, such as your hand, or have pins and needles

Source:
Goadsby PJ, Lipton RB, Ferrari MD.
Migraine: current understanding and treatment.
New England Journal of Medicine. 2002; 346: 257-270.

¹
Have trouble speaking. For example, you may not be able to find the right words.

All of these symptoms are what make migraines different from other headaches, including tension-type headaches (the most common type of headache). But every person is different, and your migraine symptoms may not be the same as other people's.

For more about what causes migraine symptoms, see What is migraine?

When should I see a doctor right away?

If you have any of the symptoms in this list, see your doctor immediately.

You have a very painful headache for the first time that came on suddenly (within one or two minutes), especially if you feel it is the worst headache of your life. If you have a headache that feels like someone has kicked you in the back of your head, it may be a sign that a blood vessel in your brain has leaked. If this has happened you need urgent treatment. Call 911 or go to the emergency department of your local hospital right away.
Your symptoms suddenly change. For example, you've had migraine attacks for a while, but there is a change in how often you have them and the headaches get stronger. Or perhaps your arm feels numb for the first time. Some people who have migraines with auras start getting attacks without auras. None of these things necessarily mean anything is seriously wrong. But your doctor will want to find out about any changes to the usual pattern of your symptoms.
You have your first severe headache and you are over the age of 50. It is not that common to start having migraine attacks at this age, so your doctor will want to be certain that nothing else is causing your symptoms.
You have a severe headache with a stiff neck, fever, nausea and possibly a rash. These symptoms could mean you have a serious illness called

meningitis
If you have a swelling in the thin layers of tissue that surround your brain and your spinal cord, it's called meningitis. It's most often caused by an infection with certain kinds of bacteria or viruses. Meningitis can give you a severe headache and a stiff neck. And you may find it difficult to keep your eyes open in the light. Meningitis is a life-threatening disease. If you have these symptoms, you should get to a hospital right away.

meningitis and you should get treatment right away.

Sources for the information on this page:

Goadsby PJ, Lipton RB, Ferrari MD.Migraine: current understanding and treatment.New England Journal of Medicine. 2002; 346: 257-270.

Spierings EL.Mechanism of migraine and action of antimigraine medications.Medical Clinics of North America. 2001; 85: 943-958.

This information was last updated on May 12, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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