Nearly 12% of adults in America suffer from migraines, which is about thirty-six million people. Pain from migraines can last anywhere from a few hours to numerous days. They can cause harsh throbbing headaches that pulse throughout the head. They can lead to nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and in severe cases, even visual impairment. Migraines can have different phases and symptoms may vary from one person to the next. With cases differing across many studies, migraines can be found to have various root causes.
Migraines can start as early as childhood or adolescence and can stay with people through adulthood.
Generally speaking, migraines have four phases. Prodrome, Aura, Attack, and Postdrome. Some people may experience all of these phases while others only go through one or two.
- Prodrome – Prodrome is the phase that leads up to a migraine. It can start a day or two before you start to feel a migraine coming on and this can be an early indicator that you may have a migraine in your future. Some of the symptoms you may experience during prodrome are: frequent yawning, neck stiffness, constipation, mood changes, food cravings, and increased thirst and urination.
- Aura – Aura can start right before a migraine hits and last through the migraine as well. Aura affects the nervous system and each symptom builds up but can last anywhere between twenty minutes and an hour. Symptoms you may experience during aura are: vision loss or impairment, seeing visual phenomena like bright spots or flashes of light, numbness or weakness in the face or on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, and even hearing noises or music.
- Attack – Attack is the actual migraine itself. Migraine pain can last for several hours, or if left untreated, several days. Some migraine sufferers may only get migraines on rare occasions while others get them numerous times every month. Symptoms of migraine attacks are: sensitivity to light or sound, sensitivity to smell or touch, nausea and vomiting, throbbing or pulsating pain, pain on one side of the head but often times on both.
- Postdrome – Postdrome is after a migraine attack. When migraine pain has subsided, you may feel fatigued or exhausted. Fast or sudden movement can cause migraine pain to return as well.
Many people who suffer from migraines go untreated and undiagnosed. If you suffer from any or all migraine symptoms, you may want to see a doctor. It’s possible that problems with your vision or eyes can be linked to migraines. If that is the case, it may be best to come to see us here at the Vision Development Center of Lancaster.
We can help diagnose whether your vision may be contributing to your migraines and other potential problems.
You can contact us today to speak about your concerns or even take a Vision Quiz to see how we can help you with your vision problems.