Clearmymind

Migraines – the 7 sub-types you need to know

Migraines are not a homogeneous condition. There are 7 main sub-types, each with their own unique signs and symptoms.

Though more than 38 million people currently suffer with Migraines, the condition is still highly misunderstood. Research is currently underway to help map out the condition; current medical knowledge is woefully incomplete in helping professionals understand the root causes of such debilitating attacks. One thing which is clear, is that migraines are not a homogenous condition. There are individual differences in the way Migraines present themselves. These differences allow us to accurately categorize Migraines into 7 specific sub-types; each with their own set of characteristics and traits.
What kinds are there? Let’s take a look:

MIGRAINE WITHOUT AURA

Migraines without aura are the number 1 type of migraine reported to health professionals. These types of Migraines present as pain felt on one side of the head. A range of symptoms accompany this pain, such as: blurring of vision; disordered thinking; fatigue; nausea; shifting mood; sensitivity to light, smell and sound. The severity of pain scales as moderate to severe. The frequency of these types of migraines are not uniform; some people suffer a few times a week, whereas others experience them only a few times a year. The attacks themselves can last from hours to days.

MIGRAINE WITH AURA

Migraines with Aura represent approximately 20 percent of all migraines. These types of migraines usually present with sensory disturbances, or auras; these auras can prevent vision in one or both eyes, causing temporary blindness (with or without pain). Other symptoms associated with the aura include: altered mood; confusion; muscle weakness (on one side of the body); nausea; numbness; sensory sensitivity; tingling. This aura can precede the headache by 10 minutes to an hour, allowing a person to be aware that a migraine is oncoming.

MIGRAINE WITHOUT HEADACHE

‘Migraine without headache’ is a type of Migraine where associated symptoms of a migraine occur without the headache itself. A person may suffer with constipation, nausea, vomiting, visual problems, without a headache. This type of migraine is indeed rare; in many ways preferable to the previous two types of migraine, as it is associated with less pain. Much more research is required on this type of migraine.

MIGRAINE WITH BRAINSTEM AURA

‘Migraine with Brainstem Aura’ is also known as a ‘Basilar Migraine’. Emerging from the brainstem, it most often afflicts teenage girls, as a result of hormonal changes which occur during menstruation. Not strictly restricted to teenage girls, this type of migraine can also affect children and adolescents. It is very similar to ‘Migraine with Aura’ except it occurs without the associated muscular weakness. Sufferers can experience double vision; dizziness; loss of muscle co-ordination; slurred speech; tinnitus; vertigo; vision loss as well as a sharp throbbing pain in one or both sides of the head.

HEMIPLEGIC MIGRAINE

A ‘Hemiplegic Migraine’ is a rare type of migraine which occurs with an aura. The sufferer has a migraine that quickly progresses to a temporary paralysis, which can last up to several days. Symptoms which precede the headache include speech difficulties; sensory disturbances; vertigo. This migraine is known to have a genetic component to it.

RETINAL MIGRAINE

Retinal migraines are a very rare type of migraine which are characterized by disturbances in vision. These disturbances are sometimes severe enough to cause a short term blindness in one eye. Headache can also accompany these visual disturbances, though it is not a definitive feature of these migraines.

CHRONIC MIGRAINE

Occurring with or without aura, this sub-type of migraine is easily the most difficult to deal with. In terms of symptoms it can take the characteristics of either a migraine with or without aura; however, chronic migraineurs suffer debilitating attacks 15 or more days a month. The challenge with this sub-type is that drug approaches don’t always mitigate the problem, and in some cases make attacks worse. Certainly, the frequency of attacks makes this particularly difficult to take on.

‘One thing which is clear, is that migraines are not a homogenous condition’

FINAL THOUGHTS

We hope this article proves useful for anyone interested in learning more about the distinct sub-types of migraine. To those suffering with migraines, perhaps you learned a little more about a sub-type you do not suffer with. To the lucky readers who do not suffer with migraines, we hope you gain a sense of how serious a condition migraines truly are. For a deeper understanding of the subject, read more of our published work; this is only a brief summary of what is unquestionably a broad, complex set of conditions.

No matter what type of migraine you may be suffering with, with the right mindset and treatment, you will be able to take control back of your life. Education is an important step in battle for your health.

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