Some More Type Of Migraines

There are innumerable types of migraine. The list is long. Here are some types of migraine that you need to know about.

Cyclic migraine
The condition in which the patient experiences 10 or more attacks per month is called cyclic migraine. The symptoms are the same as those of a typical migraine attack. So, these are sometimes confused with cluster headaches. But the difference between the two is that cyclic migraines are longer-lasting.

Cyclic migraine demands a careful monitoring of the blood levels and thyroid functions. Lithium carbonate can also prove to be helpful in this case.

Nocturnal migraine
As the name itself suggests, these migraines happen either at midnight or in the early morning hours.

This is caused due to changes in the neurotransmitters in the brain during sleep.

When attacked by nocturnal migraine, the patient should elevate his upper body and rest or try to go back to sleep. This would help in curing the migraine.

Chronic migraine
In this case, the headache usually persists for about 15 days a month. The cause of a chronic migraine is still not known, but it is believed that it is caused due to changes in the parts of the brain which control pain. Though some people believe that it is caused due to overuse of pain medication, the various studies conducted prove otherwise.

The treatment for chronic migraine may include certain antidepressants, anti-seizure medications and/or cardiovascular drugs.

Status migraine/sterile inflammation
A migraine attack that persists for more than 72 hours is referred to as a status migraine or a sterile inflammation. This is because a sterile inflammation, due to some chemical mediators, may develop around the walls of the affected blood vessels.

The treatment, in this case, is usually repetitive doses of Dihydroergotamine (DHE) or corticosteroids to decrease the inflammation.

Weekend headache
Usually two reasons have been assigned to weekend headaches. The first reason could be oversleep or under-sleep.

Generally people oversleep during the weekends, which disturbs their regular sleep pattern. This causes a headache. On the other hand, if the migraneur does not take enough sleep and is constantly fatigued, then also it may lead to a weekend headache.

The second reason is caffeine withdrawal. If a caffeine-addict suddenly stops the intake of coffee, which he regularly consumes during the week, it may lead to a 'caffeine withdrawal' headache. This headache is also classified under weekend headaches. The use of caffeine leads to abrupt vasodilation. Also, once the effect of the caffeine wears off the person feels lethargic and let down. So, if a person regularly consumes coffee during the week, he must cut down on it gradually so that the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal, like persistent headache, are minimized.


Related Articles