Steve Kagan for The New York Times

Many readers of the Consults blog wanted to learn more about “mini-migraines,” low-level headaches that are not as debilitating as full-blown migraine attacks.

Q.

I suffer from occasional severe migraines, but I’ve also noticed that I get frequent slight headaches that mimic my migraines’ location and type of pain. They are like mini-migraines, at a low level that is not debilitating (although they are unpleasant). Is this common? What is the best way to treat these low-level migraines — with ordinary aspirin or with the triptans I take for major migraines?

Katya, Washington, D.C.

A.

Dr. David Dodick, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic, responds:

Great question. Yes, indeed, migraine attacks may be associated with headache that is mild or moderate, or severe and incapacitating. As with asthma, individuals can have some attacks that are very mild and short-lasting, and others that lead to hospitalization. The underlying biology we believe is similar, as is the response to anti-migraine medications.

If these milder attacks can be effectively and rapidly relieved with simple over-the-counter analgesics, then that is a reasonable approach. Two caveats. First, because migraine often begins with a mild headache that escalates over minutes to hours, it is difficult for some patients to distinguish between those that will progress and those that won’t. If you can distinguish between the two types, then treating them at onset with different types of so-called acute medications — either simple analgesics and triptans — is reasonable. If you can’t distinguish between the two types of attacks, and the mild headache is prone to progress to a full-blown attack with severe pain, then it is best to treat such attacks early with the most effective medication.

Second, if these mini-migraine attacks occur frequently — more than once a week — on top of several major migraine attacks per month, then preventive strategies, including preventive medications taken daily, are recommended. Preventive medications will prevent both the mini- and major attacks and prevent the overuse of acute medications, including analgesics and triptans, which in and of themselves can perpetuate the problem by inducing more headaches.

For more on migraines caused by the overuse of medications, see A Hidden Cause of Headache Pain, part of The Times Health Guide: Migraine.