HOW LONG DO MIGRANE LAST AND WHAT ARE ITS SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS?

A migraine is a type or headache which can cause a pulsing sensation or serious throbbing pain, normally on one side of the head. This headache is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and extreme level of sensitivity to sound and light. The pain of migraine could be so bad that it might interfere with your day to day activities and so might last for days even.
There are different stages of migraine which have their own symptoms and duration. People often want to know how long do migrane last so that they can prepare themselves accordingly. And so if you also want to know about it, then we got you covered through this article.
As you scroll down, you will find out complete details related to migraine, such as how long it lasts, what are the symptoms of all its stages and much more. So just continue to read below to check out all the info.
How long do migrane last?
The episodes of migraine might last anywhere between a few years to multiple days, but typically its attack lasts from 4 to 72 hours, and even longer. It can be actually very difficult to predict how long an episode to an individual will last, but charting the progress always can help you a lot.
The episodes of migraine are usually divided into a few stages, but not everyone experiences all the stages during each migraine attack. While some of these phases might only briefly last, others might last a little too longer. So keeping a journal of migraine can help you to track the patterns of headache and prepare already for what’s coming your way. And immediately seek help if your symptoms of migraine last longer than usual.
What are the symptoms of migraine?
Migraine, which affects all age groups, whether it be children, teenagers and adults actually progresses through 4 different stages, which are prodrome, aura, attack and post drome. But of course not all the people who experience migraine go through all the stages. And the symptoms of these stages differently are as follows-
- Prodrome- One or 2 days before getting the migraine, you will start to notice a few changes which actually warns you of an upcoming migraine, which might include-
- Food cravings
- Constipation
- Yawning frequently
- Changes in mood, from euphoria to depression
- Increase in frequency of urination
- Stiffness in neck
- Retention of fluid
- Aura- Now for a lot of people, this stage of aura might occur during or even before migraine. These are actually reversible symptoms of our nervous system. Each of its symptoms normally starts gradually, then builds up for a few minutes. And so in this, an answer to how long do migrane last in this stage is around 60 minutes.
Some examples of aura includes-
- Loss of vision
- Difficulty in speaking properly
- Visual phenomenon, like light or flashes, bright spots, seeing different shapes and more
- Feeling numbness or weakness in the face or one side of the face
- Needles and pins like sensation in leg or an arm
- Attack- In the stage of attack, migraine normally lasts between 4 to 72 hours if it’s not treated. But how often it could happen depends from person to person. In this stage, migraine does not occur that frequently and it might happen very rarely or strike only a few times in a month.
During this stage migraine, you might experience following symptoms-
- Vomiting or nausea
- Pain on one side of your head, but more often on both the sides
- Sensitivity to sound, light and sometimes touch and smell
- Pain that pulses or throbs you
- Post-drome- And after a migraine attack, you might start to feel confused, drained and completely washed out for almost a day. Some people have even reported to feel elated. And sudden movement of the head might bring pain again.
What are the causes of migraine?
As you know now how long do migrane last, let us find out about its causes to avoid it in the first place. So even though the causes or triggers of migraine are not completely understood, the environmental factors and genetics appear to play a big role. And so there are some major migraine triggers, which includes the following-
- Stress- Feeling stressed at home or work can trigger migraine as well.
- Drinks- Alcohol, mainly wine and excess caffeine like coffee could cause migraine.
- Hormonal changes in women- Fluctuations in the level of oestrogen, like before or during the periods, menopauses and pregnancy also seems to trigger migraine headaches in a lot of women.
- Change in sleep schedule- Getting too much sleep or just missing sleep can also lead to migraine in a lot of people.
- Foods- There are certain foods like salty, aged cheese and processed foods might also trigger migraine, & so might skipping meals as well.
- Changes in weather- A change in barometric pressure or weather can definitely prompt a migraine.
When to see a doctor?
Now, after knowing how long do migrane last and what causes it, it is important to understand when you should see a doctor. So if you are someone who is experiencing the episodes of migraine for the first time, then you will be able to relieve the symptoms with general OTC medications & some home remedies. But if you have had migraine attacks for a long time and it’s not getting better, then you should consult your doctor. And so a doctor should be consulted right away if-
- The symptoms last longer than 72 hours
- The symptoms showed up after getting a head injury
- You are over 50 years
- You have suddenly developed a serious headache
- Your headaches have changed in the quality aspect
- You are having a headache which occurs with neurological symptoms, like numbness, loss of vision, weakness on one side of the body, loss of consciousness & more
Thus, this is complete information on how long do migrane last & what are the symptoms of all the stages of migraine. So just read out the whole article and seek medical help as soon as you start to notice any of these symptoms!