Which symptom is commonly associated with migraine?

The symptom commonly associated with migraine is an aura lasting up to an hour. Auras are neurological phenomena that occur in about 25% of individuals who experience migraines. They can manifest as visual disturbances, sensory changes, or motor symptoms and typically precede the headache phase of a migraine attack. The aura usually lasts between a few minutes and up to an hour, making this symptom a significant and recognized feature of migraine.

In contrast, unilateral headaches without accompanying symptoms do not encompass the full spectrum of migraine characteristics, as migraines are often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound. Pulsatile pain in the occipital region is more suggestive of tension-type headaches or cluster headaches rather than migraines, which typically involve frontal or temporal areas. Continuous headaches lasting over 24 hours align more with chronic headache disorders or conditions like status migrainosus rather than the typical episodic nature of migraines.