Migraines are a recurring type of headache. They cause moderate to severe pain that is throbbing or pulsing. The pain is often on one side of your head. You may also have other migraine symptoms, such as nausea and weakness. You may be sensitive to light and sound.
Migraines can begin in childhood or may not occur until early adulthood, and women are more likely to have migraines than men. Family history is also one of the most common risk factors for having migraines.
People describe migraine pain as pulsating, throbbing, perforating, pounding and debilitating. It can also feel like a severe dull, steady ache. The pain may start out mild. However, without treatment, it will become moderate to severe. Migraine pain most commonly affects the forehead area. It’s usually on one side of the head, but it can occur on both sides or shift. Most migraines last about four hours. If they are not treated or do not respond to treatment, they can last for as long as 72 hours to a week. In migraines with aura, pain may overlap with an aura or may never occur at all.
