Types of Migraines - Basilar Migraines

There are several different types of migraines that vary in intensity of pain. It is even possible to suffer from a migraine without experiencing any pain. And whilst most types of migraines can be debilitating in their effects they are not life threatening. However there is one that is dangerous. The basilar migraine, a variation of the classic migraine with aura and also known as the basilar artery migraine, although rare is potentially life threatening.

The symptoms of a basilar migraine are caused by the constricting of the basilar artery which supplies blood to the stem of the brain. These types of migraines were originally believed to affect only young and adolescent females. Research has shown however that while they are indeed a problem for this particular grouping they can also affect people of all ages and genders.

Basilar migraine symptoms, during the aura period in the build up to the headache, can include double vision or a partial loss of vision, loss of balance, one or both sides of the body may experience numbness, weakness, dizziness, confusion and vomiting. Typically these symptoms may last for up to an hour and disappear at the onset of the headache. They can however last for several day after the pain has gone. Some who suffer basilar migraines may even pass out during the aura and in very rare instances may slip into a coma which can last for anything from a few hours to several days.

The potential danger of the basilar migraine is that it can result in a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke. A transient ischemic attack is basically a mini stroke as a result of a temporary interruption in the flow of blood to the brain. TIAs, unlike strokes, have not been proved to result in permanent brain damage and most neurological problems that arise from them such as slurred speech or weakness on one side disappear within a day of the attack.

The basilar artery is positioned at the back of the head and the headaches connected with the basilar migraine are usually a severe throbbing ache on both sides of the back of the head unlike the unilateral temple throbbing more commonly associated with other types of migraines.