Are you experiencing a migraine?
Migraines are not only “horrible headaches,” they are more than that. Not only will it give you headaches, but it can also affect your whole body and senses. About 1 billion people all around the world suffer from migraines.
There is no one kind of migraine that everyone is experiencing. Many types of migraine may be leaving you incapacitated during this moment. Knowing which type of migraine you have is essential in telling your doctor and the right treatment.
Get a grasp on the different types of migraines to get the relief you need.
Migraine Without Aura
Migraine without aura is better known as common migraine. It is one of the primary diagnoses for 70% to 80% of individuals. This type of migraine can last from 4 to 72 hours with at least two of the following symptoms:
- One-sided pain
- Pains when moving
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sensitive to light
- Phonophobia
The pain of migraine without aura starts with a warning phase and a hangover phase. The warning phases start by getting some of the symptoms, along with common warning signs. Some warning signs include neck stiffness, food craving, mood changes, and yawning.
The hangover phase is when the warning phase stops, leaving you feeling tired. It washes you out and causes cognitive impairment for a few hours. Be sure to talk about your lifestyle to the doctor to ensure that you can manage your symptoms.
Migraine With Aura
Migraine with aura is better known as complicated or classic migraine. Before you feel the headache, you can get other symptoms known as auras. This is one of the different types of migraines that causes sensory disturbances.
The sensory disturbances can develop in at least five minutes and last for an hour. Symptoms include:
- Flashing lights
- Zigzag lines
- Tunnel vision
- Tingling sensations
- Numbness
- Speech impairment
Aura is a frightening experience that gives the same effects as when you have a stroke. Migraine with aura plays with your senses, especially your visual sense. Auras are warning signs for the migraine to come, but you have to wait before taking medications.
Taking medication during an aura is not effective, and no one knows why. What you can do is stay in a quiet and dim room before heading to your doctor. Place cold compresses or some pressure on the most painful areas.
The symptoms of migraine with aura is somewhat similar to occipital neuralgia. To avoid misdiagnosing headaches, you need to understand occipital neuralgia further.
Hemiplegic Migraine
Hemiplegic migraine is a rare but severe subtype of migraine with aura. This type of migraine can last for a few hours to several days. The auras come with short-term issues with muscle sensation and control.
Symptoms include the following:
- Loss of coordination
- Vertigo
- Paralysis on one side of your body
- Stabbing or pricking sensation
- Swallowing problem
Hemiplegic migraines have very similar symptoms to strokes. Unlike a stroke, the symptoms build up over time, then go away completely. The symptoms of hemiplegic migraines often start as a child or teen.
Menstrual Migraine
Several types of headaches occur in the changes in hormone estrogen levels. Women can experience menstrual migraines two to three days before or after their period. Some of the common symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Increase in acne
- Constipation
- Craving for chocolate, alcohol, and salt
- Joint pains
- Nausea
- Pains on one side of your head
- Light and sound sensitivity
Sudden changes in your home levels can determine how severe your headache will be. Using birth control is one of the most common reasons for menstrual migraines. Other causes include menopause, pregnancy, perimenopause, and hormone replacement.
Silent Migraine
This type of migraine happens with auras but with no headache pain. Your lifestyle can trigger a silent migraine, especially by what you eat and drink every day. You won’t feel the pains, but this type of migraine can be disruptive.
The warning phase gives you the following symptoms:
- Food craving
- Cranky or hyper
- Stiff neck
- Tiredness
- Diarrhea or constipation
After the warning phase, the visual symptoms will start to appear. This is when you start to see wavy lines, flashing lights, spots, and tunnel vision. It can also affect your other senses like your speech and movement.
Although your head won’t hurt, it can affect different parts of your body. You may experience a stuffy nose, vomiting, hot flashes, confusion, spinning, and so on. You may feel all these symptoms for a whole day until you feel wiped out.
Basilar Migraine
Migraine with brainstem aura or basilar migraine can last from 4 to 72 hours. This type of migraine starts at the lower part of your brain, known as the brainstem. Basilar migraines often affect children and adolescents.
The symptoms include:
- Cold feet
- Double vision
- Temporary blindness
- Body tingling
- Hearing problems
- Slurred speech
- Ringing in the ears
- Fainting
Alcohol, stress, lack of sleep, and coffee are the most common triggers for this migraine type. Women are more likely to have basilar migraines than men. The problem may lie with their menstrual cycles and changes in hormone levels.
Vestibular Migraine
This type of migraine is a problem that starts with the nervous system. Vestibular migraine usually causes headaches, but they do cause dizziness. Some of the common symptoms include:
- Dizziness that comes and goes
- Vomiting
- Coordination issues
- Motion sensitivity
- Unsteady
- Disorientation
The symptoms of vestibular migraine mimic plenty of other diseases. It makes it hard for doctors to diagnose the condition. You may be having vestibular migraines if you have at least five episodes of vertigo.
You also a high chance of having vestibular migraines if you’ve had them in the past. It’s a type of migraine that may stop you from doing your everyday tasks.
Know the Different Types of Migraines
These different types of migraines need a proper diagnosis to help you identify the issue. Be sure to research further about migraines with and without aura. It’s time to change some parts of your lifestyle to avoid getting migraines ever again.
Do your research to get better today! There are more types of migraines other than the ones stated above. You can learn more about them with our medical guides.
