What is silent migraine?

“Migraine aura without headache”—previously known as “acephalgic migraine
acephalgic migraine
Adjective. acephalgic (not comparable) (medicine) That occurs without headache, especially of migraine.
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” and sometimes called “silent migraine”—is when someone has a migraine aura without any head pain. Despite a lack of head pain, migraine aura without headache is still disabling for those who live with it.


What do silent migraines feel like?

Silent migraines, also called acephalgic migraines or migraine without headaches, are the types of migraines that do not involve the typical head pain. Instead, people with silent migraines experience other symptoms such as aura (visual disturbances), dizziness, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound.

What triggers a silent migraine?

Triggers for silent migraines are the same as those for other types of headaches. They can include skipped meals, skimping on sleep, specific foods or types of light, and stress, among other things.


How long do silent migraine symptoms last?

Silent migraines occur when you have aura symptoms without a headache. They typically last from a few minutes up to an hour. Some people have chronic migraines that last for days, weeks, or months, but this isn't typical for silent migraines.

How serious is a silent migraine?

In rare cases, your symptoms could be a sign of a different, more-serious medical problem, such as a stroke or bleeding in the brain. To rule these out, your doctor may want to do more tests, such as a CT scan or MRI, or have you see a specialist called a neurologist for an exam.


What is Silent Migraine (without headache)? - Chapter 1: Migraine Types - Explainer Video Series



How do you fix a silent migraine?

It's important to identify your triggers and avoid them as much as possible (or make a plan for treating any migraine that occurs when you can't). Avoiding stress, getting enough sleep every night, and eating a healthy diet can also reduce the number of silent migraine episodes you have.

Do silent migraines show up on MRI?

Migraine has indeed been linked to silent infarct-like lesions (identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) regardless of clinical manifestations) [61–63] that may be triggered by vascular changes linked with inflammation.

Does Tylenol help silent migraines?

Over-the-counter pain relievers may help with silent migraine: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Naproxen (Aleve) Aspirin.


How common is silent migraine?

As common as migraines are, silent migraines are relatively rare. Only about 3-5% of people will ever experience a silent migraine (which is still a lot more common than many other conditions), but the common migraine affects up to 12% of people.

Can silent migraines cause brain fog?

People with migraine may experience cognitive (thinking, reasoning or remembering) symptoms. People with brain fog or temporary memory difficulty with migraine will often say they have a hard time staying focused or finding words. These symptoms may be tough to deal with, but it's worth noting that they are common.

Can silent migraines cause memory loss?

Migraine with aura can closely mimic or resemble the symptoms of a stroke and several research studies have shown that people suffering with migraine attacks are at a slightly increased risk of stroke which can cause cognitive decline and memory loss.


Can silent migraines raise blood pressure?

The relationship between migraine and high blood pressure is complex but real. Recurring migraine attacks can be a sign that you have high blood pressure, also called hypertension, but migraine disease can also put you at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure.

Does Advil help silent migraines?

To treat some of the immediate silent migraine symptoms, take over-the-counter analgesics such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen.

What can be mistaken as migraine?

Focal seizures and seizure aura can mimic migraine aura. Visual migraine aura can be confused for occipital seizures and vice versa, although symptoms are classically distinct. This is further complicated because occipital seizures are often followed by migraine-like headache.


What is silent migraine aura?

“Migraine aura without headache”—previously known as “acephalgic migraine” and sometimes called “silent migraine”—is when someone has a migraine aura without any head pain. Despite a lack of head pain, migraine aura without headache is still disabling for those who live with it.

Why am I suddenly getting ocular migraines?

Harsh lighting, long screen time, other visual strain, stress, dehydration, food additives, and other causes all may trigger an ocular migraine, a subtype that focuses in the eye and causes vision changes.

Are silent migraines and ocular migraines the same?

A Migraine Without Pain? Yes, It Can Happen, and It's Called an Ocular Migraine. You might be surprised to know that you can have a migraine without pounding head pain and nausea. It's called an ocular or ophthalmic migraine, and it's a form of silent migraine – silent in the sense that it isn't accompanied by pain.


What does a migraine do to your brain?

But during a migraine, these stimuli feel like an all-out assault. The result: The brain produces an outsize reaction to the trigger, its electrical system (mis)firing on all cylinders. This electrical activity causes a change in blood flow to the brain, which in turn affects the brain's nerves, causing pain.

What is a good painkiller for migraine?

Many people who have migraines find that over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen, can help to reduce their symptoms. They tend to be most effective if taken at the first signs of a migraine attack, as this gives them time to absorb into your bloodstream and ease your symptoms.

Why is medicine not helping my migraine?

The most common trigger that makes patients difficult to treat is medication overuse. A patient who is taking an over-the-counter medication that contains caffeine on a daily basis, may not get better. The very medicine they take to relieve their pain triggers their next headache as it wears off.


What's better for a migraine ibuprofen or Tylenol?

Here's what experts say. While both are effective in treating tension-type headaches, a few studies show that ibuprofen may be more effective than acetaminophen for treating this condition, says Lauren Natbony, MD, FAHS, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

Can a neurologist tell if you have migraines?

Neurologists specialize in disorders of the nervous system, including the brain. Migraine is a neurological disorder. A neurologist can help make an accurate diagnosis of migraine, as well as rule out any other potential neurological condition that may cause similar symptoms.

When should I see a neurologist for migraines?

Consider making an appointment with a neurologist if: Your headache is continuous for more than a day or two. Your headaches tend to come on suddenly. Your head pain is worsened by straining.


Can MS be mistaken for migraines?

Additionally, a doctor may also consider symptoms that are atypical for MS as a part of the diagnostic process, resulting in a misdiagnosis. This includes the symptoms of migraine. While many people with MS may experience migraine, headache isn't typically one of the early signs of MS.

Can silent migraines cause speech problems?

Almost 50% of patients with migraines experienced changes in speech during attacks, most commonly comprised of slowed speaking and decreases in the precision of articulation, according to results from a study in Cephalalgia. “Difficulties with speech and language have been documented during the aura phase of migraine.