Types Of Migraines

In an effort to provide a common worldwide basis from which to diagnose headaches and the cause of headache the International Headache Society, a broad ranging group of neurological experts, devised a system for classifying the different types of migraines. The different types of migraines are now classified according to three separate categories.

1. Migraine without aura.
2. Migraine with aura.
3. Tension-type headaches.

Cause of Headache

The cause of headache in respect of migraines is the dilation of blood vessels in your head. This stretches the nerves that are wrapped around the arteries in your brain which makes them release certain chemicals. These chemicals inflame the arteries and cause pain. They also further strect the arteries which magnifys the pain.

Types of Migraines Without Aura

Previously called "common migraine" these headaches typically last for between 4 and 72 hours and are the most common migraines. In intensity these rate as moderate to severe and are generally characterised by being one sided and pulsating.

These headaches will include at least one of several more typical symptoms. Nausea, which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting and hypersensitivity to light and sound although the two may not necessarily occur at the same time or together.

The pain experienced with this headache becomes more severe as you move around. Most people who suffer from migraines are victims of this particular type, hence the old name of "common".

Types of Migraines With Aura

This headache used to be called "classic migraine". The aura that characterises this type of migraine can consist of various of symptoms with most of them incredibly frightening.

Some victims will often start off seeing a spot, known as a scotoma, in front of their eyes which grows bigger until it almost blots out completely their entire field of vision. Others will experience blurred sight or see flashing lights, bright zigzags or lit spinning catherine wheels.

Many may suffer from "seeing things" and watching objects change shape or size before their eyes but few will admit to it for obvious reasons. When you consider the cause of headache here where these symptoms are caused by blood vessels that have narrowed and reduced the flow of blood to the brain the resulting effects don't seem to be all that strange.

The aura can persist for anything up to 30 minutes. Sometimes there is no headache, just the aura. Other times it can be followed by nausea, vomiting and susceptibility to light and sound.

Tension Type-Headaches

These types of headaches were known, before the new classification came in, simply as tension headaches. These can persist for anything from 30 minutes to several days although they may not affect the sufferer as much as the common or classic migraine might.

The sufferer may experience a low level of pain enabling them to carry on with life pretty much as normal. Physical movement does not affect the severity of the symptoms and whilst there may be slight nausea without being accompanied by vomiting there is not likely to be any susceptibility to light and noise.