Migraine is a neurological disorder and is known to affect 15 percent women and 5 percent men. It is accompanied by headache and various other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, visual, sensory and speech disturbances. Migraines can be very annoying and can interfere with the normal functioning of an individual on a daily basis. There are many types of migraines such as ocular migraine, sinus migraine, classic migraine, complex migraine etc.

The basic features of migraine are common to most migraine types. A migraine attack starts as a dull ache and slowly progresses into a pounding sensation branching out to the temples and the front or back side of the head.

Types of migraine:

The two most common classifications of migraine are:

Migraine with aura: As per research one out of every 5 migraine sufferers experience migraine aura. Migraine aura symptoms include visual distortions such as blind spot, bright zigzag lines, flashing lights, needle prickling sensations in the hands, arms, nose, mouth, lips and tongue, muscle weakness on one side of the body, numbness of the limbs, slurred speech, hallucinations etc.

Migraine without aura: This type of migraine is associated with alterations in the size of the arteries surrounding the skull and present inside it. The blood vessels of the brain tend to constrict during the prodrome period leading to inflammation and swelling. This exerts pressure on the walls of the blood vessels resulting in a full blast headache. The duration of a migraine headache can last from 4 to 72 hours and can linger for a longer time as well. Individuals can get a migraine headache once in a while or after every few days.

Other migraine types include:

Opthalmoplegic migraine: In this type of migraine the pain is pivoted around one eyeball and can last from a few days to few months. The muscles around the eye might get paralyzed and may put pressure on the eyes.

Hemiplegic migraine: This type of migraine starts with momentary motor paralysis or sensory distortions on one side of the body. The headache is usually accompanied by prickling sensations in the hands, arms, nose, mouth, lips or tongue followed by numbness and muscular weakness.

Retinal migraine: This type of migraine involves loss of vision in one eye. This can be partial or complete and is accompanied by a profound, monotonous pain that branches out to other parts of the head.

Abdominal migraine: This type of migraine is accompanied by pain in the abdomen, vomiting, nausea and stomach upset.