Silent migraine: What to know。无症状偏头痛

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Unlike typical migraines, silent migraines do not cause pain. However, they may produce other debilitating symptoms, including upset stomach, dizziness, and sensitivity to light or sound.
Migraines are a prevalent health issue worldwide. A 2015 study reported that 14.2 percent of adults in the United States had experienced a migraine or a severe headache within the previous 3 months.


The causes, risk factors, and treatments for all migraines are similar, regardless of whether or not they are silent migraines.
In this article, we take a closer look at the symptoms of silent migraines and discuss how to treat and prevent them.

SymptomsPain is a significant symptom of most types of migraine. Silent migraines do not cause pain, but they share the other typical symptoms of regular migraines.


These symptoms vary according to the phase of the migraine. The phases and their symptoms are as follows:
The prodrome phaseThis phase occurs before the onset of a migraine and may begin a few days or just a few hours ahead of it. Symptoms can include:

• depression
• difficulty concentrating
• difficulty speaking and reading
• fatigue and yawning
• food cravings
• irritability
• muscle stiffness
• nausea
• sensitivity to light and sound
• sleep disturbances
• frequent urge to urinate
  

Most people experience the prodrome phase, but it may not occur before every migraine attack.

The aura phaseOnly 20–25 percent of people with migraine experience aura. People with silent migraines have aura symptoms without a headache. Aura symptoms include:

• numbness and tingling in parts of the body
• temporary loss of sight
• visual disturbances, such as the appearance of patterns, flashing lights, or blind spots in front of the eyes
  

These symptoms develop gradually and can persist for up to an hour or more.


The headache phaseDuring the headache phase, people typically experience pain that can last from 4–72 hours. This is not the case for those with a silent migraine, who are likely to experience the following symptoms during this phase:

• anxiety or depressed mood
• giddiness
• inability to sleep
• nasal congestion
• nausea
• neck pain and stiffness
• sensitivity to light, smell, and sound
• vomiting
  

The postdrome phaseApproximately 80 percent of people who have migraines will experience postdrome. It occurs at the end of the headache phase, which is why some people call it the "migraine hangover."
The postdrome can last for 24–48 hours and may cause the following symptoms:

• body aches
• difficulty concentrating
• dizziness
• euphoria or depression
• fatigue
  

CausesThe exact cause of migraines is unknown, but genetic and environmental factors are likely to play a role.
Migraines may occur due to abnormal brain activity that affects nerves and blood vessels. Changes in brain chemicals, such as serotonin, may also be a contributing factor.
Several factors can trigger a migraine attack, including:

• certain foods
• alcohol and caffeine
• changes in sleep habits
• changes in the weather or barometric pressure
• fluctuations in estrogen in females
• intense physical exertion
• sensory stimuli, such as bright lights, loud sounds, and strong smells
• stress
• use of some medications, such as oral contraceptives and vasodilators