The 7 types of migraine (characteristics and causes)

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that Headache is one of the most common medical consultation conditions.

But not all headaches are the same. Today we will talk about a very common type of headache: migraine

Headache: differences between headache and migraine

Migraine or hemicrania is a very common disease, genetically based, that usually affects between 12% and 16% of the population. But, What differentiates headache from migraine?

Headache and migraine are not the same. Headache is a discomfort that causes a headache. There are two types: primary headaches, which have many causes; and secondary headaches derived from disease. For example, a brain tumor or Lyme disease.

Migraine and tension headaches belong to the group of primary headaches, although migraine usually appears along with nausea and vomiting. Regarding these, the type of pain is different. While migraine has throbbing pain, headache is characterized by crushing pain, like pressure on the head. Migraine, moreover, usually affects half of the head, and tension headache affects both halves. Headache can appear for different reasons:

stress, fatigue, anxiety, too much coffee or tobacco, and migraine is genetic.

Symptoms of migraine

Migraine causes great suffering to the person who suffers it and to their families. Generally, it appears as recurrent headache attacks, which can vary in frequency, intensity, and duration. As has been said, this pain is usually located on one side of the head, and in addition to appearing along with nausea and vomiting, patients often manifest discomfort towards light and noise. Migraine is both a chronic and episodic condition that manifests itself in the form of attacks.

In summary, the most common causes of migraine are:

• Headache
• Sensitivity to light and noise
• Sickness
• Vomiting
• Lethargy (lack of energy)

Tension headache and migraine account for up to 95% of primary headaches and, without doubts, this last disease causes the deterioration in the quality of life of the people who suffer.

Types of migraine

There are different types of migraine and, therefore, the symptoms and severity can vary from one person to another..

Knowing exactly the type of migraine is essential to employing the most effective treatment. In fact, 60-70% of patients with migraine are not diagnosed correctly, due among other things to the fact that it is difficult to objectively know the symptoms they produce and the areas of the head that are affected by this sensation of pain. Thus, the correct diagnosis largely determines the success of the cure.

Taking into account the classification of the International Headache Society (ICHD-3), the types of migraine are:

1. Migraine without aura (common migraine)

This is the most common and very common type of migraine. Symptoms include moderate to severe throbbing headache that often occurs without warning. The pain is usually felt in only one part of the head, and appears along with nausea, confusion, blurred vision, and excessive sensitivity to light, noise, and smells.

In some way, this type of migraine looks like a headache whose intensity is very high, that is, a quantitative difference from a common headache and ordinary with a few extra symptoms, such as sensitivity to light.

The attacks last from 4 to 72 hours and usually recur a couple of times a week. Body movement makes symptoms worse.

2. Migraine with aura

Also known as classic migraine or complicated migraine, characterized by including visual disturbances and other neurological symptoms, known as auras, that appear 10 to 60 minutes before the headache occurs. The person who feels it may partially lose their vision.

The aura can occur without a headache and can manifest itself at any time. In addition to visual disturbances, other symptoms may appear such as: abnormal sensation, numbness or muscle weakness on one side of the body; a tingling sensation in the hands or face; slurred speech and confusion Also, nausea, loss of appetite, and increased sensitivity to light, sound, or noise can precede the headache.

3. Migraine without headache

As the name suggests, This type of migraine does not present a headache, but it does have vision problems and other symptoms associated with the aura. In addition, it can appear with a stomach ache, nausea, or vomiting.

Some experts suggest that unexplained fever, dizziness, or pain in one part of the body can also be a consequence of this type of migraine.

4. Basilar migraine

Basilar migraine mainly affects children and adolescents, and includes symptoms of migraine with aura originating in the brainstem. However, patients do not have motor weakness. It tends to appear more frequently in adolescent women and could be associated with their menstrual cycles.

Symptoms include partial or total loss of vision or double vision, dizziness and loss of balance (vertigo), poor muscle coordination, ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and fainting. Throbbing pain can appear suddenly and is felt on both sides of the head, specifically the back.

5. Hemiplegic migraine

Hemiplegic migraine is a subtype of migraine that occurs infrequently. However, its symptoms are severe, because it causes temporary paralysis in a part of the body that can last even days. This paralysis usually emerges before the headache.

Symptoms such as vertigo, a prick sensation, and vision, speech, or swallowing problems may start before the headache and usually stop shortly after. When it runs in families, this disorder is called Familial Hemiplegic Migraine.

6. Retinal migraine

This type of migraine is rare and is characterized by attacks of visual loss or alterations in one eye. These attacks, like the more common visual auras, are preceded by migraine headaches. On the other hand, visual loss cannot be explained by damage to the eye or optic nerve.

7. Chronic migraine

When headaches occur for 15 or more days a month, for at least three months, then chronic migraine is diagnosed.

Chronic migraine can be with or without aura, and usually requires preventive medications. Likewise, it is necessary to carry out behaviors to control the appearance of symptoms, since chronic migraine can become disabling. After taking the drugs, almost 50% of patients still have a migraine, but this time episodic.

Prevention of this ailment

Although the cause appears to be genetic, there are different factors that precipitate the symptomatic appearance of migraine. Therefore, it is always better to take precautions to minimize the impact of this condition:

• Diet: some patients react with migraine to certain foods. That is why it is necessary to detect them and avoid consuming them. Also, alcohol, Chinese food, chocolate or smoked foods are more likely to cause migraine headaches. It is also advisable to eat at regular times.
• Sleep hygiene: keep some healthy sleep habits can help prevent migraine.
• Hormonal level: In the case of women, it seems that hormones related to menstrual cycles are prone to trigger these episodes. Contraceptives, which cause changes in estrogen levels, worsen migraine symptoms and frequency.