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Visual aura associated with migraine attacks.
What is Migraine with Aura?
The term “Migraine Aura” refers to various neurological disturbances that individuals may experience before the onset of migraine headaches. These disturbances can include visual phenomena like bright lights, dots, or lines, as well as sensory sensations, such as tingling on one side of the body or difficulty speaking clearly.
Migraine Auras typically persist for a duration ranging from 20 minutes to an hour prior to the onset of amigraine attack. In some cases, individuals may also encounter specific types of aura such ashemiplegic migraine, characterised by temporary paralysis on one side of the body, or retinal migraine (also known as ocular migraine), involving visual symptoms (disturbances) in one eye.
Understanding the diverse manifestations of aura is crucial in managing migraine episodes effectively, as it can provide insights into triggers and help individuals prepare for the severe headache phase of the migraine cycle.
Types of Migraine Aura
Aura is a sensory phenomenon that can precede a migraine attack. Migraine Aura manifests in various forms, which can be categorised into three distinct types. For some individuals, their migraine experience is characterised by a singular type of aura, consistent and recognisable with each attack. However, the spectrum of aura experiences is diverse, and many people may encounter multiple types at the same time or encounter different auras based on triggers leading up to themigraine pain/migraine headache.
This variability in aura experience illustrates the complex nature of migraines and highlights the unique manifestation of migraine symptoms among sufferers. Understanding these nuances in aura presentation is essential for both patients and healthcare providers in effectively managing and treating migraine episodes.
Migraine Aura Symptoms
The three major types of aura, and their symptoms are as follows:
Visual Migraine Aura
Visual Aura Symptoms Include:
Seeing spots, lines, flashing lights, zig zags or spots of blindness
Sensory Migraine Aura
Sensory Disturbances/Sensory Aura Symptoms Include:
Tingling sensations or feelings of numbness
Aphasic Migraine Aura
Speech/Language Difficulties Include:
Inability to produce words or slurred speech.
These aura symptoms are not felt during every attack, but when they do occur it can be very frightening and unpleasant for the patient. Treatment to prevent migraine attacks is a simple and logical step to help prevent Aura from occurring. Up to 30% of people suffering from migraines experience aura symptoms, highlighting its common occurrence among migraine sufferers.
Targeted preventive treatment can help reduce the frequency and severity of these aura episodes and the subsequent headache pain. Identifying aura symptoms early can help individuals prepare for, and possibly reduce, the intensity of the head pain that often follows.
Causes of Aura
Aura is thought to be caused by a phenomenon in the brain known as cortical spreading depression (CSD). CSD is local disturbances in brain function featuring local, transient suppression of cortical electrical activity. This spreads over time which contributes to the duration and severity of the aura. In fact, in the brains of people who experience aura, there is a temporary loss of homeostasis, or maintenance of chemical balance.
Loss of homeostasis results in leaky ion channels, meaning there is a fluctuation from normal ranges of potassium, calcium, and sodium in a way which causes these neurological symptoms. This initial imbalance not only causes the symptoms but results in the triggering of a migraine attack. Re-occurrence of these events, increases the sensitivity of the brainstem and brain, resulting in more frequent migraine attacks.
Effective Management of Migraine Aura
Successful migraine management involves combining preventive strategies with targeted treatments. Lifestyle modifications, such as regular sleep patterns, hydration, stress reduction, and avoiding known migraine triggers, can significantly reduce the frequency of aura and migraine episodes. Maintaining a headache diary is particularly beneficial, helping to identify patterns and specific triggers unique to each individual.
Our Migraine Aura Treatment Approach
At the Brisbane Headache and Migraine Clinic™, our treatment focuses on desensitising the brainstem to address underlying neurological disturbances effectively. Our medication-free approach to migraine prevention follows the Watson Headache Approach, renowned for its success in significantly reducing or eliminating headaches by targeting the root cause.
Due to the non-pharmacological nature of the Watson Headache Approach, patients are able to avoid issues with medication overuse headaches – a common complication associated with long-term reliance on pain relievers. Unlike traditional preventive medications, our methods effectively address migraines without medication, reducing both the frequency and severity of attacks.
Contact us on 1800 HEADACHE to book an appointment with an experienced clinician today, who will help rid you of aura and migraines!
Imagine a life free of severe headaches and frustration!
References:
The Migraine Trust. 2019. Migraine with aura. Retrieved from: https://www.migrainetrust.org/about-migraine/types-of-migraine/migraine-with-aura/
American Migraine Foundation. 2019. Understanding Migraine with Aura. Retrieved from: https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/understanding-migraine-aura/
Common Headaches Treated in our Clinics
Menstrual Migraine | Cluster Headache | Cervicogenic Headache | Whiplash Associated Injury | Sinus Headache | Chronic Daily Headache | Tension Type Headache | Migraine Headache | Hormonal Headache | Ocular Migraine | Vertigo Cervical Headache | BPPV | Trigeminal Neuralgia | Occipital Neuralgia | Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome | Hemiplegic Migraine | Abdominal Migrain
