Migraine headaches are a pervasive pain problem for many people. They result from excitable brain cells, which cause the production of chemicals such as serotonin and narrow the blood vessels in your head.
Need help pinpointing which migraine headache you experience? If so, this article is for you!
Types of Migraine Headaches
The following is a list of different types of migraine headaches and the symptoms that typically accompany them.
1. Migraine With Aura
About 25 percent of the population suffers from migraines, and aura is one of the symptoms that can indicate that a migraine is about to occur. Auras can vary in severity, but they generally include sensory changes such as seeing black dots, zig-zags, or tingling numbness on one side of your body. They also often have visual changes such as an inability to speak clearly or seeing garish colors. Auras typically last 10 to 30 minutes and are the second stage of a migraine’s four-stage progression. If you experience any of these symptoms and think you may have a migraine.
2. Migraine Without Aura
Diagnosing migraines without aura can be difficult because of their shared symptoms with other types of migraines. However, the key differentiator is that migraines without aura typically do not have the aura phase that other types of migraine have. This can make diagnosis difficult because some of the classic symptoms of a migraine attack, like throbbing, pulsing pain on one side of the head, light sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting, are common symptoms of other types of migraines.
3. Hemiplegic Migraine
A disturbance causes this type of migraine in the blood flow to one half or side of the brain. The person usually experiences weakness on that side, numbness, tingling, and an inability to speak clearly. Attacks can last from 30 minutes to 12 hours and may recur over several days or weeks.
Causes of Migraines
Many different things can cause migraine headaches, and the type of headache you get can depend on the cause. Here are some of the most common causes of migraine headaches:
- One of the most common causes of headaches is food. Foods like cheese, chocolate, and caffeine can all cause migraines. This is because they contain certain chemicals that may trigger migraine attacks.
- Other physical causes of migraines include infection, structural problems with the head or neck, and a disorder called vasculitis. Vasculitis is a condition that affects small vessels in the body and is often associated with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
Different Treatments for Migraines
Many medications have been designed to treat migraines. Medications used to combat migraines fall into two broad categories: acute treatments, which are taken during migraine attacks and are designed to stop symptoms, and preventive medications, which are taken regularly, often daily, to reduce the severity or frequency of migraines. Your treatment choices depend on the frequency and severity of your headaches, whether you have nausea and vomiting with your headaches, how disabling your headaches are, and other medical conditions you have.
Let a Migraine Headaches Specialist Guide Your Treatment
You may feel like there’s no hope if you’re suffering from debilitating migraine headaches. But there is hope! You can get relief from your condition with the help of a neurologist. If you’ve been experiencing pain for years, know there is a solution — all it takes is going to the right doctor for relief. To discover the right migraine headache treatment, call Dr. Escasena at 305-588-7170.