They usually stop by middle age. Migraine headaches can cause severe headache pain and may disable a person for several hours. Migraine headaches are often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea and blurred vision. The headache usually builds up gradually. It may last several hours or longer.
Many people see bright spots or zigzag patterns in front of their eyes.
These symptoms, which precede and predict a migraine headache, are called an aura. Then a throbbing pain begins and spreads to one side of the head or throughout the entire head. When the migraine is at its worst, nausea and vomiting may also occur and light may bother the eyes. Symptoms may last from a few hours to a day or two. The vision changes of the aura usually disappear as the headache begins.