Pain phase
Typically the headache is throbbing, involved one side of the head, and moderate to severe in intensity. It usually develops gradually and is aggravated by many bodies as well as environmental factors. In 40% of cases, however, the neck pain is commonly associated with it, and it can be felt bilaterally. The bilateral onset of pain is particularly common in people who have migraines without an aura. Less commonly, the pain may develop primarily at the top or in the back of the head. The pain typically lasts 4 to 72 hours in teenagers and adults; however, its duration in young children is frequently lasting less than 1 hour. The frequency of migraine attacks is variable from person to person, from several a week to a few in the lifetime, with the average frequency being about one a month.
The pain is frequently associated with nausea, vomiting, fatigue and irritability, sensitivity to light, sound, and smells. In a basilar type of migraine, one with mostly neurological symptoms related to the brain stem, common effects or symptoms includes confusion, a sense of the world spinning, and light-headedness. Vomiting occurs in about one-third, while nausea occurs in more than 90% of people. This is due to these symptoms; many people thus seek a dark and quiet room.
Certain other signs and symptoms of this phase may include blurred vision, pallor, nasal stuffiness, frequent urination, diarrhea, and sweating. In some cases, swelling or tenderness of the scalp and adjacent areas may occur as well as stiffness of the neck. Similar symptoms are less common among the elderly.