..
Visual aura associated with migraine attacks.
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
Vision Disturbances: seeing spots, lines, flashes, zig zags or spots of blindness
Sensory Migraine Aura
Sensory Disturbances/Changes: feelings of tingling or numbness
Aphasic Migraine Aura
Speech/language difficulties: unable 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 experiencing migraines will report symptoms of Aura.
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.
Migraine Aura Treatment
At the Brisbane Headache and Migraine Clinics, the focus of treatment is on de-sensitising the brain stem, to help settle the neurological disturbances caused by this chemical imbalance. The treatment is a medication-free treatment, following the Watson Headache Approach, which has a high success rate when it comes to rapidly reducing the number and severity of headaches, or completely getting rid of them!
Our treatment for headache disorders is a medication-free treatment, following the Watson Headache Approach to severe headache and migraine prevention. The Watson Headache Approach has a high success rate when it comes to rapidly reducing the number and severity of headaches, or completely getting rid of them!
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/
