Migraine Symptoms Without Headache

People usually associate migraine with chronic headache. Yes, headache can be a symptom of migraine but approximately 3% people among the migraine patients show migraine symptoms without headache. This is a type of migraine in which the patient possesses all the other symptoms except headache. It is also known as ocular migraine, migraine equivalents, ophthalmic migraine, silent migraine, etc. It is sometimes dangerous as the symptoms are not noticeable in the initial stage.

Migraine can be classified into classic and common. In classic migraine, one can experience migraine aura which means visual disturbances and common migraine does not have auras. In migraine without headache, the person will go through migraine aura but will not notice any headache. Find more about this condition in the following paragraphs.

When a person suffers from migraine without headache it is very difficult to judge the exact reason. Usually when people experience some visual disturbances they go to an eye specialist for check-up. It is really very difficult for a normal person to find out migraine aura without headache.

Some of the symptoms are as follows:

• The person may experience visual disorders during migraine. They see blind spots which goes on expanding. Flashing lights, zigzag or spinning lines. Straight lines appear wavy. This tendency is known as aura and it lasts for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Numbness in the fingers which later on go towards the hand and then to the arms.

• Weakness and dizzy feeling are also associated with migraine. The person may feel weak and may observe a desire to sleep.
• The person may also suffer from amnesia. It may last for 1 to 2 hours. He may act very normally during this period but later he may face difficulty in recalling the activities he did during that period.
• Sometimes the person may face difficulty in speaking.
• Nausea, vomiting, confusions and abdominal pain are also some of the common ocular migraine symptoms.

The causes of migraine are still not known. Some people believe that it is caused due to food and some believe it is a neurological disorders. It is also said to be caused due to the changes in the activity of some nerve cells.

Following are some causes which may or may not be responsible for migraine.

• It may be triggered due to the intake of some kind of nuts, red wine, sugar substitutes, shellfish, chocolates, etc. Intake of alcohol or caffeine can also be a reason for migraine.

• Exposure to the bright light and noise may trigger migraine.
• It may be caused due to some neurological defects or because of some other diseases. Menopause, premenstrual changes, stress, hypertension and irregular meal can also take you to migraine.

These were some of the symptoms and possible causes of migraine without headache. There is no treatment for migraine as such and usually migraine without headache needs no treatment. It is diagnosed very late as the patient is unable to understand the reason behind the symptoms.

You need to visit a good doctor if you observe migraine without headache. There are some medicines which can shorten the period of aura but one cannot get rid of it for the entire life. Hence prevention is the best way to stay away from this condition. Avoid things which can trigger migraine.

As migraine without headache consists of aura or eye related problems, one should take extra care while driving even though you have been treated completely. Try to maintain a proper diet, exercise regularly and go for some stress management techniques. This alone will help you a lot to get control over the symptoms of migraine. But if you are already experiencing the symptoms then visit a doctor and follow his advice.