Migraine Headache Types – Common Types of Migraine Headaches

There are many causes of migraine headaches as well as many common types of migraine headaches. Each type has unique symptoms and is usually characterized by the body part it affects. This article will discuss a few of the more common types as well as their locations, symptoms, and severity.

Approximately one out of every five migraine attacks includes visual disturbances called auras. An aura is a neurological disturbance that presents itself as bright flashes of light, hallucinations, blind spots, zigzag patterns of bright light, increased sensitivity to light, and other visual abnormalities. Auras usually occur 10 to 60 minutes before the headache, but can infrequently appear during or after. If an aura is present it is called migraine with aura. If no aura is present it is termed migraine without aura.

Most migraine headache types are named according to the location of their pain or the body part they affect. A few of the more common types of migraine headaches are ophthalmoplegic, abdominal, hemiplegic, and basilar artery migraine headaches. In addition, an attack can occur without a headache at all. In these instances, an aura appears, but the headache never does.

Basilar artery migraine headaches occur when the basilar artery is disturbed, which is located in the brainstem. Most often it occurs in women who are in their young adult years. The migraines may last for a few hours to a few days, not unlike classic migraine types. They can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, numbness, tingling, auras, and a whole host of other symptoms that are common among most migraine headache types. Basilar artery migraines are usually severe in intensity and of a throbbing nature. They can either be unilateral or bilateral, but can occasionally be felt at the back of the head.

Abdominal migraine is usually experienced by children who have a family history of migraines. Along with abdominal pain they can include other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and other common symptoms. People who experience abdominal migraine headaches as kids will often develop migraines as adults too.

Ophthalmoplegic migraines start in the eye and can include other common symptoms seen in classic migraines as well. However, the main symptom is paralysis of the eye muscles, also called ocular motor nerve palsy, and can cause the eyelid to droop. If a person suffers repeated attacks the eyelid droop can become permanent, but in most cases eyelid droop will usually disappear after a few days or weeks.

One of the more severe and disabling types of migraine headaches is hemiplegic migraine. Symptoms can include classic migraine symptoms as well as other symptoms similar to stroke. Fortunately, unlike stroke, this type will not result in permanent nerve damage.

One of the distinguishing characteristics of hemiplegic migraine is numbness or paralysis on one side of the body. It can also be accompanied by tingling in the arms, severe throbbing in the head, and other classic migraine symptoms. If a hemiplegic migraine is accompanied by aura, the aura can last longer and be more severe than with other types of migraines.

Migraine headaches can be painful as well as disabling. But in addition to pain, they also increase the risk of developing other serious health disorders like stroke, heart disease, heart attack, obesity, brain damage, panic attacks, diabetes, and many others. To decrease the risk of these serious health problems it’s important to put a stop to the migraine disorder if possible.