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Migraine: A Patient Guide
Understanding migraine, recognizing symptoms, and taking an active role in your care.
What is a Migraine?
Migraine is a neurological disease that can cause recurring attacks of moderate to severe head pain along with other symptoms. It is more than just a headache.
During an attack, a person may experience nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, dizziness, visual changes, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, or other neurological symptoms.
Some people experience migraine with aura. Aura may include visual changes, tingling, numbness, or difficulty speaking.
Migraine affects people differently. Understanding your individual symptoms and patterns can help you and your healthcare provider develop a treatment plan that is right for you.
COMMON MIGRAINE SYMPTOMS
Head Pain & Sensitivity
Nausea & Neurological Symptoms
Aura & Visual Changes
Throbbing or pulsating head pain, often accompanied by sensitivity to light, sounds, or smells.
Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, or neck discomfort may occur during an attack.
Some people experience flashing lights, blind spots, tingling, numbness, or difficulty speaking before or during migraine.
What Can Trigger A Migraine?
Migraine triggers are different for everyone, and sometimes an attack may occur without an obvious trigger. Learning your individual patterns can help you and your healthcare provider better manage migraine.
Common triggers may include:
Stress • Changes in sleep • Skipping meals • Dehydration • Hormonal changes • Bright or flashing lights • Strong smells • Weather changes • Alcohol • Changes in caffeine intake
Keep a Headache Diary
Tracking your attacks, symptoms, medications, sleep, meals and possible triggers can help you recognize patterns over time.
How Is Migraine Treated?
Treating an Attack
Preventing Migraine
Lifestyle & Self-Care
Acute treatment is used when a migraine attack begins. Options may include over-the-counter medications or prescription migraine-specific treatments recommended by your healthcare provider.
Preventive treatment may be considered when attacks are frequent, disabling, or difficult to control. Options include oral medications, injectable therapies, and other migraine-specific treatments.
Consistent sleep, regular meals, hydration, physical activity, stress management, and understanding your personal migraine patterns can support your treatment plan.
When Should I Seek Medical Care?
Seek emergency medical attention for:
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A sudden, extremely severe headache
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New weakness, numbness, facial drooping, confusion, or trouble speaking
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New loss of vision or major vision changes
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Headache with seizure or fainting
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Severe headache with fever and stiff neck
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Severe headache following a significant head injury
Contact your healthcare provider if:
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Your headaches are becoming more frequent or severe
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Your usual migraine pattern changes
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Your treatment is no longer working well
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You are frequently using medication to treat attacks
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Migraine is interfering with work, school, sleep, or daily activities
Living Well With Migraine
01
Keep a Consistent Routine
02
Track Your Migraine
Maintain regular sleep and wake times, eat consistent meals, stay hydrated, and include regular physical activity as tolerated.
Keep a headache diary that records migraine days, symptoms, possible triggers, medications taken, and how well treatment worked.
03
Follow Your Treatment Plan
04
Prepare for Appointments
Use medications as directed by your healthcare provider. When prescribed an acute migraine treatment, follow your provider’s instructions about when to take it.
Bring your headache diary and medication list. Discuss changes in symptoms, headache frequency, treatment response, and how migraine affects your daily life.
