Research targets include blood flow in the brain and head, changes in hormones in the central nervous system and electrical imbalances. Migraine triggers seem to be emotional stress, intense physical exertion, weather changes, bright or flickering lights, high altitude, travel motion and changes in sleep patterns. In general, there are four phases to a migraine. Such prodrome symptoms can include sensitivity to light or sound, changes in appetite, fatigue, malaise and mood changes. A person may experience one or the other at different times.
Pain sometimes spreads to affect the entire head and is worsened by physical activity.
After a migraine attack, there is usually a postdrome phase, in which patients may feel exhausted and mentally foggy for a while. Although half of women with migraines report they are related to menstruation, experts believe that true menstrual migraines are less common than thought. Prescription drug therapy for prevention of migraine headaches should be used only when other methods have failed, if attacks are severe and disabling and if they strike more than two or three times a month. Check with your physician or a neurologist about drug treatment.