Different Types of Migraine Headaches

Although there are several symptoms common to migraines it is by no means a simple condition to diagnose. To facilitate a more accurate diagnosis of migraines the medical field has classified migraines into 2 main categories and several subcategories. Let’s review the different types of migraines:

Most Common Migraine Types

Migraines Without Aura
By far, most people that suffer from migraines do not experience auras during the attacks. Migraine headaches usually occur on one side of the head and are distinguished by a throbbing or pounding pain. The pain usually increases with activity and is often accompanied by nausea or vomiting. The pain may ease after the patient vomits. Migraine sufferers tend to feel better when they lie down in a quiet place.

Migraines With Aura

About 1 out of every 5 migraine sufferers experience aural symptoms during their attacks. Auras, a neurological condition, usually occur before the attack occurs. They are identified by impaired vision, inability to speak, and numbness of the hands or feet. See What Is An Aura? for a detailed explanation of auras.

The usual migraine symptoms are present with the aura. The throbbing pain usually occurs on the same side of the head where the vision is impaired, i.e., if the aura occurs in the left eye the head pain occurs on the left side. Other symptoms associated with auras also tend to occur on the affected side of the body.

Auras can be very traumatic; the first time it’s experienced the patient may panic and mistakenly think they’re experiencing a stroke. If you experience aural symptoms without other migraine symptoms you should seek medical attention immediately to make sure a more serious condition isn’t occurring.

Less Common Migraine Types

There are several subtypes of migraines. These are less common than migraines with auras. Less than 2% of migraine sufferers experience these types of headaches:

Basilar Migraine

This type of migraine usually occurs in children and adolescents. This migraine type is accompanied by an aura which causes vision impairment in both eyes and sometimes leads to temporary blindness. Slurred speech, confusion, ringing in the ears, vertigo, weakness in the arms and legs, and numbness of the lips and tongue may also occur. In rare instances loss of consciousness may occur. Symptoms can last up to 1 hour; they’re usually followed by very severe throbbing pain at the base of the skull. If you experience these symptoms seek medical attention immediately since these symptoms are similar to that of a stroke and basilar migraines can cause permanent damage. Permanent damage is rare but can occur.

Ophthalmoplegic Migraine

These migraines usually occur in children and begin with a headache on one side of the head followed by double-vision. The vision impairment can sometimes last up to several days.

Hemiplegic Migraine

These migraines usually occur in children and the migraine is accompanied by an altered sensation on one side of the body or partial paralysis. The child may also have trouble speaking. The paralysis usually ends quickly but it may outlast the attack. In rare cases permanent damage occurs.

Ocular Migraine

With ocular migraines blurred vision or sometimes temporary blindness occurs in one eye. The visual impairment may precede, accompany, or follow the migraine headache itself, which usually occurs on the same side of the head as the visual disturbance. The visual impairment usually lasts just a few minutes but can last up to several hours. If you experience these symptoms seek medical attention because in rare cases, permanent blindness of the affected eye can occur.

Ice Pick Migraine

These migraines are characterized by quick stabs of piercing head pain. The pain occurs intermittently in several locations in the head area. They usually occur between one of the more common migraine attacks. They can last for seconds or a few minutes.

Migraine Aura Without a Headache

This type of migraine, sometimes referred to as “migraine equivalent” is characterized by an aura with no head pain. The other classic migraine symptoms like nausea, dizziness, tiredness, fatigue, or loss of appetite usually occur.

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One Response to “Different Types of Migraine Headaches”

  1. Jeybi on January 13th, 2010 11:14 pm

    can i ask something,how about if i experience mindgraine in a different manner for example i’m finished playing basketball then i eat then i see a lots of aura and my head feels the pain of traumatica mindgraine what should i do so i can avoid to attack again

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