What is a migraine?
Some people think that a migraine is just a headache. But migraine sufferers know that there is a big difference between normal headaches and migraines.
There are two types of migraines:
Migraine without an aura (common migraine)
This consists of a severe, throbbing headache, usually located on one side, with abdominal symptoms including loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, dislike of food, constipation or diarrhoea. This affects about nine out of 10 sufferers.
Sufferers may also experience sensitivity to smell, light and noise, which leads them to rest in a quiet, darkened room.
70-90% of people with migraine experience this type (Source: Migraine Trust Factsheet, http://www.migrainetrust.org/module_images/Factsheet1WhatisMigraine.pdf)
Migraine without aura has sometimes been called:
Common Migraine
Hemicrania Simplex
Migraine with aura (classical migraine)
The headache is preceded by visual disturbances such as flashing lights, zig zag lines and blind spots, or tingling limbs.
The average length of a migraine attack is 22 hours and sufferers generally feel washed out for another one to two days afterwards.
The average number of attacks per sufferer is 13 per year.
Some of this information is taken from BBC News Website (Health) which was last Updated: Friday, 3 September 1999.
10-30% of people with migraine experience this type (Source: Migraine Trust Factsheet, http://www.migrainetrust.org/module_images/Factsheet1WhatisMigraine.pdf)
Migraine with aura has sometimes been called:
Classic or Classical Migraine
Focal Migraine
Ophthalmic Migraine
Hemiparasthetic Migraine
Aphasic Migraine
Migraine Accompagnee
Complicated Migraine
Other types of migraine
There are other types of migraine described elsewhere on this site, including Retinal Migraine, Abdominal Migraine, Menstrual Migraine, Status Migrainosus, Basilar-type Migraine (formerly called Basilar Artery Migraine), Familiar Hemiplegic Migraine (FHM), and Sporadic Hemiplegic Migraine.
