Migraine Awareness Week: 22nd-28th September 2025

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Migraine Awareness Week is run by The Migraine Trust, and aims to increase awareness and understanding of migraine, promote research into the condition, and campaign for national policy change to improve the lives of people who get it.

One in seven people in the UK live with migraine, and this complex and debilitating neurological disorder significantly affects their lives.

Symptoms of a migraine

A migraine tends to be a very bad headache with a throbbing pain on 1 side of the head.

You may get other symptoms just before a migraine, such as:

  • feeling very tired and yawning a lot
  • craving certain foods or feeling thirsty
  • changes in your mood
  • a stiff neck
  • peeing more

You may also get warning signs you’re about to have a migraine (called an aura), such as:

  • problems with your sight, such as seeing zigzag lines or flashing lights
  • numbness or a tingling that feels like pins and needles
  • feeling dizzy
  • difficulty speaking

Aura symptoms should not last for longer than an hour.

Migraines usually last between 2 hours and 3 days, with some symptoms (such as feeling very tired) starting up to 2 days before the head pain starts and finishing after the headache stops.

Some people have migraines several times a week, while others do not have them very often.

The Migraine Trust website has a wealth of resources and information about living with migraine, including tips on self-management and where to access support. You can find out more here.

More about Migraine Awareness Week here.