Types of Migraines

Migraine with aura and migraine without aura are the two most common types of migraines. A person who has a migraine with aura experiences visual symptoms (also called an "aura") 10 minutes to 30 minutes before an attack. With a migraine without aura, a person does not have an aura but does have the other migraine symptoms. Some other types of migraine headaches include hemiplegic migraine, opthalmoplegic migraine, and basilar artery migraine.

 

An Overview of Migraine Types

The two most common types of migraine headaches are migraine with aura and migraine without aura.
 
Migraine With Aura
With a migraine with aura, a person has visual symptoms (also called an "aura") 10 minutes to 30 minutes before an attack. These symptoms of an aura can include:
 
  • Sees flashing lights or zigzag lines
  • Having blind spots or losing vision for a short time.
     
The aura can also include seeing or hearing strange things. It can even disturb the senses of smell, taste, or touch.
 
Women have this type of migraine less often than men.
 
Some other names for migraine with aura have previously included:
 
  • Classic migraine
  • Opthalmic migraine (opthalamic migraine)
  • Hemiplegic migraine
  • Aphasic migraine.
 
Migraine Without Aura
With a migraine without aura, a person does not have an aura but does have the other migraine symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting. This type of migraine was previously known as common migraine.
 

Other Types of Migraines

There are several other types of migraine headaches, including:
 
  • Hemiplegic Migraine
  • Opthalmoplegic migraine
  • Basilar artery migraine
  • Benign exertional headache
  • Status migrainosus
  • Migraine aura without headache
  • Abdominal migraine.
(Types of Migraines Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD