Why It's Important to Know About the Four Phases of Migraine Headache Disorders

Migraine isn’t just a headache, but a neurological disease that can manifest itself in many ways. Most people put it in the same group as other types of common headaches, but it is in a class by itself. Relieving the pain of a “typical” headache may often be accomplished through the use of painkillers, but they cannot cure a migraine headache. Migraine sufferers need more than just drugs if they expect to stop experiencing attacks, they need special treatment that works at eliminating the root cause of the disorder.

Migraine headaches are classically moderate to severe in intensity and cause a pounding or pulsating pain on one side of the head. They can often be totally disabling where the sufferer is unable to perform his or her normal daily activities. And because migraine is a disorder and not just a headache there are many other symptoms that can appear before, during, or after the actual headache pain.

Common symptoms of this disorder are nausea, vomiting, dizziness, numbness and tingling, as well as many others. In addition, they are frequently preceded by auras which are visual sensitivities. These can be bright zigzagging flashes of light, hallucinations, blind spots, and extreme sensitivity to light, also called photophobia.

Migraine has four distinct stages, or phases, which are the prodrome, aura, pain, and postdrome phases. The prodrome phase generally occurs hours or even days before the actual headache. About half of all migraine sufferers will experience depression, irritability, mood swings, euphoria, fatigue, or other symptoms during this phase.

The aura phase is usually experienced anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes before the onset of the headache, but can sometimes happen hours before. Auras normally consist of visual disturbances, but sensitivities to other sensations such as hearing and smelling may also appear. Auras can actually be helpful to a migraine sufferer because it alerts them to an upcoming headache. When advance warning is given it is often possible to begin treatment early and relieve or prevent the headache pain.

The pain phase is when the migraine headache develops, but other symptoms can occur also. The headache does not normally come on suddenly, but gradually, with its pain intensifying during any strenuous activities. The two other symptoms that are most common during this phase are nausea and vomiting.

The postdrome phase concerns the symptoms that appear after the headache has subsided. These symptoms can be extreme tiredness, digestive troubles, mood swings, and others. Knowing what to expect during the four phases can help a migraine sufferer manage their disorder. Symptoms that occur before the headache can assist in relieving or preventing the headache pain while those that happen afterward will alert the individual that the headache is on its last legs.

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