Migraine Types are Classified as Either; Migraine Without Aura (MWOA) or Migraine With Aura (MWA).
Below each of these primary migraine types are subsets of migraines with specific ailments and Indications.
Although the widely held belief is that migraines are simply a severe form of headache, in reality migraines are a completely different type of medical affliction. The term “migraine” is used to describe a neurological disease with a broad range of manifestations. There are several different migraines types from which people suffer, each with its own cause, symptoms, and treatments options. In order to properly diagnose a specific type of migraine, a sufferer should consult a physician. The following are some of the better known types of migraine conditions:
Primary Migraine Types
Migraine without aura or MWOA: is the most common migraine type experienced by sufferers. MWOA describes a migraine with headache symptoms that affects one side of the head, produces throbbing and can be associated with nausea, increased sensitivity to light and to sound.
Migraine With Aura or MWA: is the second most common migraine type, affecting approximately one quarter of all migraine sufferers. This migraine is associated with symptoms of visual impairment, sensory or motor skill impairment, and or speech impairment. Recommended treatments for this type of migraine include NSAIDs and triptans.
Subsets of Primary Migraine Types
Abdominal Migraine (MWOA)Abdominal Migraine is a migraine type that generally affects children. The symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Children who experience this type of migraine typically have family members who suffer from migraines, and will usually develop other types of migraines as they become older. Common treatment recommendations include tritans and NSAIDs.
Transformed Migraines (MWOA)
Transformed Migraines are a type of migraine thats characterized by attacks becoming more frequent over a period of months and years. It is estimated that the overuse of medication is a factor in most cases of transformed migraine. Therefore, treatment is often the discontinuation of existing medications and exploring new solutions.
Status Migrainous (MWOA)
Status Migrainous is a type of migraine thats characterized as a migraine attack that lasts for over 3 days or 72 hours. Because this type of migraine is caused by dilated blood vessels in the brain, risk of stroke in increased substantially and treatment must be focused on stopping the attack as opposed to treating the pain symptoms.
Acephalgic or Silent Migraine (MWA)
Acephalgic or Silent Migraine are terms that describe a migraine type without headache as a symptom. Silent migraines include ocular, optical, and ophthalmic type migraines as described below and any other type of migraine that is experience without headache like symptoms. Recommended treatments for this type of migraine include NSAIDs, triptans, and when needed, anti-nausea treatments are advised.
Basilar-Type Migraine (MWA)
Basilar-Type Migraine describes a migraine type that is produces an aura but with no motor function loss. However, this type of migraine can cause temporary blindness because the aura is located in the brain stem.
Hemiplegic Migraines (MWA)
Hemiplegic Migraines are a type of migraine thats characterized by episodes of prolonged aura, nausea and vomiting, paralysis, fever, and other severe symptoms.
Retinal Migraines (MWA)
Retinal Migraines are a type of migraine thats characterized by visual disturbances such as twinkling lights, decreased vision function or even lost vision (temporarily) usually occurring in one eye preceding the headache stage of a migraine. Recommended treatments for this type of migraine include NSAIDs, triptans, and when needed, anti-nausea treatments are advised. Retinal Migraine Treatment
