There are different types of migraine. For example, there are migraines with aura and migraines without aura. These two different types of migraine express themselves in different ways. While they are both types of migraine, there are some differences between the two. Below we will explain what the difference is between the two types.

Migraine with aura?

What is it?

A migraine attack can be preceded by something which is called an aura. This type of migraine is present in about 15 to 25% of migraine attacks. An aura consists of some symptoms, which then warn that a migraine attack is coming. In most cases, the aura appears about an hour before the headache.

If you experience a migraine with aura, this does not guarantee that you will always experience an aura. It can be so that you sometimes do experience an aura, and that you sometimes do not. This depends on different factors. People with migraine usually experience a series of risk factors, which cause a migraine in them personally. It can also thus depend on what type of risk factor it is that triggers the migraine that specific time. It can also be so that a combination of risk factors stands for a bigger chance of an aura occurring.

The symptoms of an aura?

A most common type of aura is an aura which expresses itself at the hand of focal neurological symptoms. This aura thus has certain symptoms which will disrupt certain bodily functions. Below you will find a list of symptoms which might occur during an aura:

  • Facial disorders, such as seeing black spots
  • One-sided tingling in your lips, face, or your hand
  • One-sided muscle disorders
  • Speech disorders

We consider a migraine with aura to be present if at least one of the above symptoms slowly develops in at least 5 minutes' time. The symptoms of an aura are present for at most one hour. If a combination of several symptoms of an aura occur at the same time, it can be so that the symptoms are present for more than an hour

Other symptoms, which can occur before migraine?

There are some other symptoms which can occur before a migraine attack. These symptoms cannot be categorized as aura symptoms, but they can occur before a migraine attack as well as an aura. Examples of these symptoms include:

  • Hyperactivity
  • Depressed mood
  • Manic mood
  • Yawning
  • Craving for certain foodstuffs

Migraine without aura?

Migraine attacks can thus also occur without aura symptoms as described. You can also experience migraine with and without aura in a mixed way. As mentioned earlier on, there are usually certain risk factors of migraine which apply to you personally. It is useful to know of these risk factors and to also note whether they do or do not cause an aura for you. This way, you can gain better insight in how migraine expresses itself in you personally.

Except for aura symptoms, there also are other symptoms which can occur before a migraine. One of these symptoms is depression. Would you like to test if migraine causes one of the above symptoms? Then you can always take the free migraine test here!