Migraines often begin with subtle warning signs. Knowing early symptoms can help you manage attacks sooner and reduce their impact.
A concise guide to common early migraine symptoms, practical first-line responses, and red flags that warrant prompt medical attention.
Common prodrome symptoms
Many people experience a prodrome phase hours to a day before a migraine. Typical signs include mood changes, food cravings, neck stiffness, increased thirst or urination, and subtle sensitivity to light or sound. Recognizing these cues can allow you to take early steps to reduce severity.
Aura and sensory changes
About a third of migraine sufferers experience an aura: visual disturbances such as flashing lights, blind spots, or zigzag lines, as well as tingling in the face or hands, or brief speech difficulties. Auras usually develop gradually and last under an hour; sudden or persistent neurological symptoms require urgent evaluation.
Early management strategies
When you notice early signs, try to stop or lessen an attack by resting in a quiet, dark room, using cold compresses, staying hydrated, and taking prescribed acute migraine medication as directed. Maintaining regular sleep, meals, and stress-reduction techniques can help reduce frequency.
Red flags: when to seek immediate care
Seek emergency care if you experience the sudden onset of an extremely severe headache, a first-time severe headache unlike prior headaches, fever with stiff neck, prolonged confusion, weakness on one side, loss of vision, or symptoms following head trauma. These can signal stroke, infection, or other serious conditions.
If migraines are frequent, prolonged, or not responding to acute treatments, consult a healthcare provider about preventive therapies, lifestyle adjustments, and diagnostic evaluation to rule out other causes and tailor a management plan.