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Migraine with Aura and Migraine without Aura
Migraine headaches are classified into two major types, based on the presence or absence of auras.
- Auras are sensations experienced shortly before the onset of headache pain.
- Most often, auras are visual disturbances (e.g., streaks of light or zigzag patterns), but they may also occur as tingling or numbness in the face, arms, or legs.
- The International Headache Society (IHS) has developed diagnostic criteria to distinguish migraine with and without aura.
Migraine without aura is defined according to the occurrence of at least five attacks, with each attack lasting 4 to 72 hours and including two of these four characteristics:
- Pain on one side of the head (unilateral)
- Pulsating or throbbing pain
- Moderate to severe intensity (inhibits or prohibits daily activities)
- Routine physical activity, such as walking up stairs, intensifies the pain
Furthermore, for the headache to be classified as a migraine headache, the headache sufferer must also experience nausea and/or vomiting or unusual sensitivity to light and sound. All symptoms may be present.
Migraine with aura includes all features of migraine without aura. However, migraine with aura is distinguished by the occurrence of two attacks with at least three of these four characteristics:
- Headache is accompanied by one or more aura symptom; aura symptoms disappear after the headache.
- Headache is accompanied by either one aura symptom that develops gradually over 5 minutes or by two or more symptoms that occur in succession.
- No aura symptom lasts more than 60 minutes.
- Headache pain may follow aura within 60 minutes or appear simultaneously with aura.
