Brain & Nervous System Migraines Types An Overview of Migraine Without Aura Also Known as the Common Migraine By Colleen Doherty, MD Colleen Doherty, MD, is a board-certified internist living with multiple sclerosis. Learn about our editorial process Colleen Doherty, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Claudia Chaves, MD on March 27, 2019 Claudia Chaves, MD, is board-certified in cerebrovascular disease and neurology with a subspecialty certification in vascular neurology. She is an associate professor of neurology at Tufts Medical School and medical director of the Lahey Clinic Multiple Sclerosis Center in Lexington, Massachusetts. Learn about our Medical Review Board Claudia Chaves, MD Updated on June 24, 2019 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatments Coping Migraine without aura is one of two major types of migraines, and 75 percent of those who have the condition experience this particular kind. Also known as "common" migraine, people who have migraine without aura don’t get the visual or sensory warning signs, known as migraine prodrome, that are classic to the other type—migraine with aura. People who experience migraines without aura typically have more frequent and disabling attacks than those who have migraine with aura. Illustration by Emily Roberts, Verywell Symptoms The symptoms you experience during migraine without aura may not be exactly the same as someone else. Likewise, they can differ from episode to episode. Symptoms of migraine without aura include: Pain on one side of headPulsing or throbbing painSensitivity to light (photophobia)Sensitivity to sound (phonophobia)Nausea and/or vomitingPain or discomfort that is made worse by physical activity Causes Scientists used to believe that migraines were caused by dilation of blood vessels in the brain. Now they believe that the release of substances, such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), from activated trigeminal nerves will trigger the migraine pain. Migraines are also associated with estrogen, which explains why migraines are more prevalent in women. Typically, higher estrogen levels will prevent migraine headaches, whereas lower estrogen levels can trigger them. But it may be more the fluctuation or change in estrogen that triggers a migraine, not simply the fact that the level is low. Estrogen is also associated with increased levels of serotonin in the brain, so a decline in estrogen may be accompanied by a decrease in serotonin. Researchers believe that fluctuations in serotonin levels play a role in triggering migraines. According to the American Migraine Foundation, migraine disease is often hereditary; if one or both of your parents have it, you have a 50 percent to 75 percent chance of getting it too. Migraines without aura commonly have a relationship to a woman's menstrual cycle. According to the American Headache Society, 35 percent to 51 percent of women with migraines have menstrual migraines. Diagnosis The diagnosis of migraine without aura is based on symptoms and history that you report to your doctor. According to the third edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, a diagnosis of migraine without aura can only be made when a person has at least five attacks meeting the following criteria: Headaches that last four to 72 hoursHeadaches that have at least two of the following characteristics: Unilateral (one-sided); a throbbing sensation, such as rapid beating or pulsation; pain that is of moderate to severe intensityMigraine pain worsened by regular physical activity (i.e., walking, climbing stairs)Nausea and/or vomitingPhotophobia and phonophobiaHeadache that cannot be attributed to another disorder Keeping a journal to record your symptoms and the frequency of your migraines is useful for helping your doctor make a diagnosis. Your doctor may also have you answer the POUND mnemonic and ID migraine questionnaire, which can help clinch the diagnosis. There is no blood test or imaging test that can confirm the diagnosis, although these may be used to rule out other possible causes, such as a tumor, stroke, brain bleed, and other neurological conditions. How Doctors Diagnose Migraines Treatments Numerous types of medications can be used to prevent migraines or treat them once they've taken hold. Typical treatments for an acute migraine include: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), such as (Advil) ibuprofen or (Aleve) naproxen sodiumTriptans, including Imitrex (sumatriptan) and Zomig (zolmitriptan)Antiemetics (anti-nausea medications)Dihydroergotamines, including Migranal (D.H.E.)Dexamethasone Typical migraine preventive medications include: Antihypertensives (blood pressure lowering agents), such as metoprolol, propranolol, and timololAntidepressants, such as Elavil (amitriptyline) and Effexor (venlafaxine)Anticonvulsants: These include valproate products, divalproex sodium, sodium valproate, and Topamax (topiramate) People who suffer from migraines without aura are more likely than those who have other headache disorders to develop a medication-overuse (rebound) headache. Be sure to take a migraine drug exactly as directed. There are also several neuromodulation devices that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of migraine without aura. These include: Transcutaneous supraorbital neurostimulator (tSNS): Also called the Cefaly device, it electrically activates forehead nerves and creates a buzzing sensation. The signal goes into the brain, slowly turning headache pathways down over time.Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulator (springTMS, sTMS): This magnet is placed on the back of the head and turned on for a split-second pulse.Non-invasive vagal nerve stimulator (nVNS): Called gammaCore, this device is placed on the neck over a gel and turned on to electrically stimulate the vagus nerve, causing mild buzzing and twitching neck sensations. Cefaly Neurostimulation: A New Way to Treat Migraine Attacks Alternative treatments—including acupuncture, massage, and certain herbs and supplements—may be helpful for preventing and treating migraines. Furthermore, many find lifestyle measures, such as meditation, exercising, avoiding certain foods, and getting enough sleep, an important part of their overall care. How to Prevent Your Migraines Coping Migraine without aura can be disabling, causing you to miss work and social events, and making it difficult to care for your loved ones. Because migraine disease is so prevalent, numerous online and in-person support groups are available for patients as well as their families and caregivers. Your healthcare practitioner can help you find support groups, as can the American Migraine Foundation website. How to Cope With Migraines A Word From Verywell Migraine without aura can be a debilitating neurological disorder, but fortunately, a variety of treatments are currently available that people who suffer from this condition can try. If you think you suffer from migraines, make sure to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Types of Migraines Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Migraine Foundation. Spotlight On: Neuromodulation Devices for Headache. https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/spotlight-neuromodulation-devices-headache/ American Migraine Foundation. The Genetics of Migraine. https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/understanding-migrainethe-genetics-of-migraine/ Silberstein SD, et al. Evidence-based guideline update: pharmacologic treatment for episodic migraine prevention in adults: report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society. Neurology 2012; 78:1337. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182535d20 Stephen D. Silberstein MD, Michael J. Marmura MD. Acute Migraine Treatment. Headache, 20 January 2015. doi: 10.1111/head.12504 The International Classification of Headache Disorders: 3rd Edition. Migraine Without Aura. https://www.ichd-3.org/1-migraine/1-1-migraine-without-aura/