Types of Migraine

Migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder. It is labeled as the third most pervasive disease and recognized as the sixth most disabling disease in the whole world. Migraine can be so severe that it can incapacitate a person anytime and anywhere causing impaired functionality and productivity.

Migraine attacks reduce functionality and productivity

Majority of patients experience it once or twice a month. However, there are also people who experience the pain of chronic migraine on almost a daily basis, or at least 15 – 20 days a month. Only a sufferer would know the agony of the horrible pain it offers. It is not enough to know the causes, signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of migraine as discussed in a previous post, it is also important to be aware of its types.

What is migraine?

It is a complex brain network disorder producing recurrent episodes of headache with symptom-free intervals. Moreover, all migraines are not the same. It is possible to have symptoms different from other people.

What are the types of migraine?

Migraine is broadly divided into two categories:

  1. Migraine with aura (classic migraine)
  2. Migraine without aura

Migraine with aura

It is a type of migraine that gives a “warning sign” called aura before the onset of the headache. The causes of migraine with aura are still unknown. Approximately, 1 in 3 people who suffer from migraine have migraine with aura.

Symptoms of Migraine with aura

The aura or “warning sign” is generally a visual disturbance such as seeing flash lights or blind spots. The aura can last for 5 minutes up to an hour, depending on the severity of the episode. One’s speech can also be affected in the event of an aura.

Some general symptoms of aura include:

  • Temporary blindness or seeing blind spots
  • Seeing coloured spots or zig-zag patterns
  • Feeling dizzy
  • Numbness
  • Tingling sensation like pin-piercing sensation
  • Confusion or disorientation

The episode of migraine with aura begins as a dull headache that soon grows into a throbbing pain. The headache and visual disturbance get worse with physical activity. The headache may last 4 hours and can extend up to 3 days in severe cases.

The symptoms typically get worse with physical activity

Migraine without aura

This is the most common type among the types of migraine. Here, there are no warning signs and the sufferer directly faces the wrath of each episodic symptoms. Just like migraine with aura, the time span of the attack is quite similar – 4 hours to 3 days.

Symptoms of migraine without aura?

  • The headache usually presents on one side of the head
  • Throbbing pain
  • Pain worsens with any physical activity
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
  • Phonophobia (sensitivity to sound)
Photophobia is a symptom of migraine without aura

Other types of migraine

  • Silent migraine – Here, there is no headache. However, one could experience an aura in this type of migraine.
  • Hemiplegic migraine – As the name suggests, paralysis or weakness following numbness occurs for a short period in one side of the body during the episode.
  • Abdominal migraine – There is not much research about this type but it typically shows symptoms associated with the abdomen like abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
  • Vestibular migraine – Here, the primary symptoms are dizziness or imbalance lasting for minutes up to days.
  • Ophthalmic migraine – This type is also termed retinal migraine. It is associated with short-lived visual disturbances or vision loss in one eye. The dull ache originates from the back of the eye and extends to the crown of the head.
  • Migraine with brainstem aura – This type of migraine is connected to hormonal changes in the body. It is associated with symptoms like confusion, dizziness, and loss of balance.
  • Menstrual migraine – Here, the migraine is linked to the menstrual cycle of women.  

A word from Healthfacts to you

There are many types of migraine. Interestingly, there is even a type where there is no headache. Do you know which one that is?

Till next time, stay informed and stay healthy!

18 COMMENTS

  1. Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Regardless, just wanted to say great blog!

  2. The following time I learn a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I mean, I do know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have one thing fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you can fix if you happen to werent too busy on the lookout for attention.

  3. Thanks for the new things you have disclosed in your blog post. One thing I would really like to touch upon is that FSBO human relationships are built over time. By releasing yourself to the owners the first weekend break their FSBO is announced, ahead of the masses begin calling on Monday, you make a good interconnection. By sending them resources, educational supplies, free accounts, and forms, you become an ally. Through a personal interest in them as well as their predicament, you generate a solid link that, in many cases, pays off as soon as the owners decide to go with an agent they know in addition to trust — preferably you.

  4. Interesting article. It is unfortunate that over the last 10 years, the travel industry has had to take on terrorism, SARS, tsunamis, bird flu virus, swine flu, plus the first ever entire global recession. Through all of it the industry has really proven to be effective, resilient plus dynamic, discovering new strategies to deal with adversity. There are generally fresh challenges and possibilities to which the industry must just as before adapt and answer.

  5. I discovered more new stuff on this losing weight issue. One issue is a good nutrition is very vital any time dieting. A tremendous reduction in junk food, sugary food, fried foods, sweet foods, beef, and bright flour products can be necessary. Retaining wastes parasitic organisms, and toxins may prevent aims for losing weight. While certain drugs quickly solve the problem, the awful side effects are not worth it, and they also never offer you more than a non permanent solution. This can be a known incontrovertible fact that 95 of celebrity diets fail. Thank you for sharing your ideas on this site.

  6. When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Bless you!

  7. obviously like your web site but you have to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very bothersome to tell the reality on the other hand I?ll surely come back again.

  8. One thing is that one of the most prevalent incentives for making use of your cards is a cash-back and also rebate provision. Generally, you’ll get 1-5 back with various buying. Depending on the credit cards, you may get 1 in return on most purchases, and 5 back on purchases made on convenience stores, gasoline stations, grocery stores in addition to ‘member merchants’.

  9. The crux of your writing whilst sounding reasonable in the beginning, did not work perfectly with me personally after some time. Somewhere throughout the paragraphs you managed to make me a believer unfortunately only for a while. I however have a problem with your jumps in assumptions and one would do well to fill in those gaps. When you actually can accomplish that, I will surely be impressed.

  10. I know of the fact that today, more and more people are now being attracted to cameras and the issue of digital photography. However, as a photographer, you will need to first shell out so much time period deciding the exact model of camera to buy along with moving via store to store just so you might buy the most affordable camera of the trademark you have decided to pick out. But it won’t end generally there. You also have take into consideration whether you should purchase a digital dslr camera extended warranty. Many thanks for the good guidelines I gathered from your site.

  11. Many thanks for sharing these types of wonderful threads. In addition, the optimal travel plus medical insurance system can often ease those issues that come with travelling abroad. The medical crisis can rapidly become very expensive and that’s guaranteed to quickly slam a financial burden on the family’s finances. Putting in place the excellent travel insurance program prior to setting off is worth the time and effort. Thank you

  12. I’m truly impressed by the way you effortlessly distill intricate concepts into easily digestible information. Your writing style not only imparts knowledge but also engages the reader, making the learning experience both enjoyable and memorable. Your passion for sharing your expertise is unmistakable, and for that, I am deeply grateful.

LEAVE A REPLY