Types of Migraines

Migraines cause throbbing pain in various parts of the head, often accompanied by nausea, light and heat sensitivity, vision changes and irritability. Migraines are debilitating to normal activity and can last for days or reoccur in cycles.

Retinal Migraines

• Retinal and ophthalmoplegic migraines begin with pressure and distorted vision around the affected eye. These rare types of migraines can last upwards of a month and occur due to muscle weakness or nerve damage behind the eye. Consultation with an ophthalmologist is advised when experiencing these severe symptoms.

Basilar Artery Migraine

• The onset of a basilar artery migraine is triggered by hormonal changes resulting from puberty and menstruation in teenagers and young adult women. Similarly, pregnancy migraines happen due to hormonal fluctuations. Symptoms include nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, slurred speech and coordination problems.

Aura Migraines

• Migraines with auras are distinctly diagnosed by severe changes in vision including blurred vision, seeing spots or lines, blind spots, hallucinations and heightened sensory stimulation. The onset of migraines with auras is disorienting, and followed by a throbbing headache. Migraines without auras are caused by the inflammation of blood vessels in the arteries around the skull.

Hemiplegic Migraines

• Hemiplegic migraines are typically hereditary, causing numbness, temporary paralysis and painful headaches, which may result from a genetic chromosomal defect that's been passed down. Abdominal migraines occur in children with a family history of migraines, causing stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea.

Prevention/Solution

• Migraines can be triggered by an array of causes including stress, weather changes, allergies, sinusitis, viral infections, hormonal fluctuations, neurological disorders, depression, anxiety, medication side effects, head trauma and/or poor sleeping habits. Identifying the cause and frequency of migraines can assist in the prevention and treatment.