In migraine progression, which phase is the premonitory stage?

In migraine progression, which phase is the premonitory stage?

• A. Postdrome
• B. Prodrome
• C. Ictus
• D. Aura

Answer: (B)

Premonitory symptoms are early signals that a migraine is starting, often appearing hours to days before the headache. These nonspecific changes can include yawning, fatigue, mood swings, irritability, neck stiffness, and cravings. This early phase is called the prodrome, which is set apart from the other phases. The aura is a separate phenomenon that involves reversible neurological symptoms—commonly visual disturbances—that can precede or accompany the headache and are tied to cortical spreading depression. The ictus is the actual headache attack itself, typically a unilateral throbbing pain with possible nausea, light sensitivity, or sound sensitivity. After the headache subsides, the postdrome phase can leave you tired or foggy. So the premonitory stage corresponds to the prodrome, the early set of symptoms before the full migraine attack.

Premonitory symptoms are early signals that a migraine is starting, often appearing hours to days before the headache. These nonspecific changes can include yawning, fatigue, mood swings, irritability, neck stiffness, and cravings. This early phase is called the prodrome, which is set apart from the other phases. The aura is a separate phenomenon that involves reversible neurological symptoms—commonly visual disturbances—that can precede or accompany the headache and are tied to cortical spreading depression. The ictus is the actual headache attack itself, typically a unilateral throbbing pain with possible nausea, light sensitivity, or sound sensitivity. After the headache subsides, the postdrome phase can leave you tired or foggy. So the premonitory stage corresponds to the prodrome, the early set of symptoms before the full migraine attack.