What Are the Types of Migraines?

You may be wondering what are migraines and what are the types of migraines people suffer from. First, migraines are chronic, recurring headaches that range from moderate to severe in intensity. The pain that comes from a migraine can feel like pulsing or throbbing. It’s often centered on one part of the head. People tend to have other symptoms that come with migraine headaches including light and sound sensitivity, and nausea and vomiting.

Specific Types of Migraines

There are seven types of migraines and of those, two are considered “major” types of migraines. The types of migraines are based on something called the ICHD-3 classification system, which is created by the International Headache Society.

The two are major types of migraines are:

Migraine Without Aura

A migraine without aura used to be called a common migraine. This is the most frequently experienced type of migraine. Pain can range from moderate to severe and it often comes about without any kind of warning. Migraines without aura are usually experienced on one side of the head.

Accompanying symptoms can include nausea, confusion, changes in mood, blurred vision, fatigue and sensitivity to light and sound as well as smells.

A  migraine without aura may last for anywhere from 4 to 72 hours. The frequency someone experiences this type of migraine can vary. It can be a few times a year or for some people a few times a week.

This type of migraine often gets worse when someone frequently uses medication to treat the symptoms, including over-the-counter pain relievers.

Migraine With Aura

The other type of broad migraine category is migraine with aura. A migraine with aura will include visual disturbances and other visual symptoms that occur anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes before someone gets the actual headache. A migraine with aura can cause vision loss, either fully or partially.

Along with the vision symptoms, migraine with aura can cause other symptoms including muscle weakness or numbness on one side of the body, or tingling in the hands or face. Other symptoms of this type of migraine include problems speaking, confusion, nausea, loss of appetite and sensitivity to light and sound.

Other Types of Migraines

The following are some of the other types of migraines that occur less commonly.

  • Migraine Without Headache: This type of migraine is defined by aura symptoms and vision problems. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting and constipation, however this type of migraine doesn’t actually lead to head pain.
  • Migraine with Brainstem Aura: Types type of migraine was at one point called a basilar-type migraine. It usually affects children and teens and the symptoms originate from the brain stem. It’s like a migraine with aura, but it doesn’t include the symptom of weakness. The people most commonly affected by migraine with brainstem aura are teen girls and it may be linked to their menstrual cycle. Symptoms of this type of migraine can include loss of vision, partially or fully or double vision. Other symptoms of migraine with brainstem aura include vertigo, slurred speech, ringing in the ears, and poor muscle coordination.
  • Hemiplegic Migraine: A hemiplegic migraine is rare, but it can be very severe and it’s considered a sub-type of migraines with aura. This type of migraine can cause temporary paralysis. This symptom may last several days in some cases. Other symptoms of a hemiplegic migraine include vertigo, problems with vision, and trouble speaking and swallowing.
  • Retinal Migraine: A retinal migraine is rare as well and the primary symptom is a loss of vision or vision disturbances that occur in a single eye.
  • Chronic Migraine: While migraines are generally often called a chronic condition, there is a specific type of migraine that is chronic. Chronic migraines happen on 15 or more days a month, and this takes place for more than three months. Chronic migraines can occur with or without an aura, and people with chronic migraines typically take preventative medication. Certain behavioral strategies may be incorporated into a treatment plan as well.

People often wonder about things like abdominal migraines and hormonal migraines. Those are official categories of migraines any longer however. These are instead officially grouped into other migraine categories named above.

What Causes Migraines?

Migraines are believed to occur because of genetic reasons, but there are triggers people frequently experience that cause them to have one of these severe and often debilitating headaches.

The following are some of the more common migraine triggers people may experience.

  • Changes in Hormones: Women may have migraines because of fluctuating hormonal levels that occur, particularly during menstruation.
  • Emotional/Psychological Triggers: Migraines may cause emotional or psychological side effects but they can also be triggered by them. For example, depression, anxiety and stress can all trigger a migraine attack.
  • A lack of sleep
  • Low blood sugar
  • Jet lag
  • Tension in the neck or shoulders
  • Bad posture
  • Physical overexertion
  • Dietary Triggers: There are quite a few dietary triggers that may cause someone to have a migraine. These can include caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, cheese, and wine.
  • Dehydration
  • Certain Medications: Some of the medications that have been viewed as migraine triggers can include certain sleep pills and hormone replacement therapy medications.
  • Environmental Triggers: These migraine triggers can include certain smells, second-hand smoke, bright lights and changes in temperature.

How Is a Migraine Different From a Headache?

When exploring the different types of migraines, it’s important to make the distinction between a migraine and a headache.

One of the biggest differences between a migraine and a headache is the fact that migraines tend to occur in recognizable patterns. That’s why doctors and health care providers will often recommend keeping a journal of migraines.

Headaches, on the other hand, can have a lot of variance in terms of the severity, the symptoms, when they occur and how long they last.

When someone keeps a headache journal or diary, it should include the following information:

  • The frequency and duration headaches occur
  • How severe headaches are
  • Other symptoms that occur
  • All medications used including prescription and over-the-counter medicines
  • Menstruation
  • Potential triggers

Treatments for the types of migraine vary depending on the person, the symptoms and the type of migraine they experience. Sometimes it can take experimentation with different treatment methods and behavioral changes to find the optimal combination to alleviate migraine symptoms.