Understanding migraine: Different types, complications and symptoms

Causes of Chronic migraine: These are headaches that happen 15 or more days a month, for over three months. The headaches occur at least 8 days each month with typical migraine symptoms (Image: Canva)

Migraine attacks can last for hours or even days, interfering with a person’s ability to carry out normal daily tasks and negatively impacting their lifestyle. While the exact cause of migraines is not clear, several factors can trigger an attack, such as stress, hormonal changes, certain foods, and environmental influences like bright lights or loud noises.

According to a study by the Medical Center Santa Rita and the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, Neurosurgery Section, published in the National Institutes of Health, migraine attacks are recurring, meaning they happen multiple times over a period of time.

The most common type of migraine, which accounts for about 75 percent of all cases, is called “migraine without aura.” This means the person does not experience visual or sensory disturbances before the headache starts, which is different from "migraine with aura," where these symptoms occur.

Also read | Migraines: Here's a guide to causes and prevention methods for effective headache relief

Types of migraines, their complications, and symptoms:

• Migraine without aura: This type of migraine is marked by recurring headaches that last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours. The pain usually affects one side of the head and feels pulsating or throbbing. It is often moderate to severe in intensity and worsens with physical activity. Common symptoms include nausea, sensitivity to light (photophobia), and sensitivity to sound (phonophobia).

• Migraine with aura: Migraine with aura involves symptoms like visual disturbances or sensory issues, which occur before the headache begins. These symptoms usually last for a few minutes and are fully reversible. Common auras include blurred vision, tingling sensations, or difficulty speaking. After the aura, the typical migraine headache follows with its usual symptoms.

• Chronic migraine: Chronic migraines are headaches that happen 15 or more days a month, for over three months. The headaches occur at least 8 days each month with typical migraine symptoms. This type of migraine is long-lasting and severely impacts daily life. They require ongoing treatment to manage pain and frequency.

• Probable migraine: A probable migraine refers to a migraine-like attack that does not meet the exact criteria for other types of migraines. These attacks may lack one of the required symptoms for a specific diagnosis but still share many characteristics with migraines. They may include headache, nausea, or sensitivity to light or sound.

• Recurrent gastrointestinal disturbances: Migraines often come with gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort. These symptoms can occur before, during, or after the headache. These disturbances are common with migraine attacks and can make managing the condition more challenging.

• Benign paroxysmal vertigo: Vertigo, or dizziness, is another symptom that can occur with migraines. This condition involves brief, recurrent episodes of spinning or loss of balance. It can happen alongside a migraine, making it harder to differentiate between vertigo and other conditions like a stroke or ear infection.

• Benign paroxysmal torticollis: This condition is marked by repeated episodes where the head tilts to one side. It can be associated with migraines, particularly in younger people, and can cause neck pain and discomfort. It’s important to differentiate this from other types of head and neck conditions.

• Status migrainosus: Status migrainosus is an extremely severe migraine attack that lasts longer than 72 hours. This condition can be very debilitating, causing prolonged pain and other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. It requires immediate medical attention due to its intensity and long duration.

• Persistent aura without infarction: In some cases, the aura symptoms of a migraine, such as visual disturbances, can persist for more than a week. However, no signs of brain damage or infarction (a blockage in blood flow to the brain) are detected on brain scans. This can be concerning but doesn’t indicate a stroke.

• Migrainosus infarction: Migrainous infarction is a rare but serious complication where a migraine aura is linked to brain ischemia, or reduced blood flow to the brain. This condition can be seen on brain scans and is associated with more severe neurological symptoms. Immediate medical care is required for this complication.

• Migraine aura-triggered seizure: In rare cases, a migraine with aura can trigger a seizure. This typically happens when the brain’s electrical activity becomes disrupted during the aura phase. While rare, this is a serious condition requiring medical attention to manage both the migraine and seizure.