Nothing ruins a day like the feeling that someone hit you upside the head with a sledgehammer. People who suffer from migraine headaches can have pain lasting from a few hours to a few days. As a college student, this can seriously conflict with both your studies and anything else you want to do that involves light or sounds.

“A migraine headache is caused by abnormal brain activity,” said the National Library of Medicine’s website. “Most medical experts believe the attack begins in the brain and involves nerve pathways and chemicals. The changes affect blood flow in the brain and surrounding tissues.”

When experiencing a migraine headache, most people will find a quiet, dark place to lie down in. This helps with the extreme sensitivity to light and sound that comes with migraines. WebMD states that other symptoms can be: moderate to severe pain that can affect the whole head or can shift from one side to the other, blurred vision, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, sensations of being warm or cold, paleness, dizziness, and experiencing an “aura” (bright flashing dots or lights, blind spots, wavy or jagged lines).

“Symptoms vary from person to person and from migraine to migraine,” said WebMD’s website. WebMD stated that five phases of migraines can be identified: prodrome, aura, headache, headache termination, and postdrome.

“Migraines can’t be cured,” said the Mayo Clinic’s website. “A variety of medications have been specifically designed to treat migraines.” Some of these medications include aspirin, ibuprofen, Advil, and Motrin IB. Tylenol (acetaminophen) also may help relieve mild migraines.

The Mayo Clinic suggests exercising regularly, reducing the amount of estrogen, and avoiding triggers to prevent migraine headaches.