Types of Auras You May Experience During a Migraine

 

 

A migraine with aura is one subtype of the migraine headache spectrum. In some cases, an aura will manifest itself without accompanying headache discomfort. A migraine's aura phase often lasts little more than an hour. Some of the most frequently seen signs and symptoms are blurred vision, a sense of stars, and numbness or tingling in the extremities.

 

Migraine and migraine auras are disabling headache disorders that do not cause lasting damage and may be effectively treated medically or at home. Those who suffer from migraine headaches often experience nausea, sensitivity to light, sound, and smell, and acute throbbing or pulsating pain in the head.

 

25-30% of migraine headaches also have aura symptoms. Migraine aura symptoms often manifest before the onset of a headache, leading some to label them as a "warning sign."

 

Aura symptoms from migraine usually begin within 5-20 minutes and may linger for up to 60 minutes. A migraine headache may persist anywhere from four hours to three days if left untreated. Migraine attacks might happen as seldom as once a month or as often as every few weeks.

 

Three common indications of auras include changes in vision, altered body feelings, and linguistic impairments.

 

What are the different types of migraine aura?

 

Auras are a typical migraine symptom, and anybody who suffers from migraine might have one. However, auras are more common in some forms of migraine.

 

Classic migraine, focused migraine, aphasic migraine, and complex migraine are among the last names that migraine with aura has had when referred to by specialists. Auras may also be caused by other, less common forms of migraine, such as:

 

 

Migraine with hemiplegic symptoms

 

Temporary paralysis or weakness on one side of the body is a symptom of this unusual migraine. Numbness and pins and needles are other symptoms. The weakness usually lasts no more than 24 hours, although it might continue for days.

 

However, the precise incidence of hemiplegic migraine is unknown, as the National Organization for Rare Disorders reported. But studies show that around 1 in every 10,000 individuals have it.

 

Migraine with brainstem aura

 

Formerly known as basilar-type migraine, migraine with brainstem aura is very uncommon. Danish research from 2006 (Reliable Source) found that this happens in around 10% of persons who get migraine with aura.

 

The following seem to be the most typical signs:

 

• vertigo
• speaking difficulties
• hearing loss accompanied by ringing in the ears (also known as tinnitus)
• Diplopia refers to the condition of seeing two images at once.

 

The study's authors believe that everyone who suffers from migraines with aura may sometimes also encounter migraines originating in the brainstem.

 

Retinal migraine

 

One unusual kind of migraine with aura is called a migraine of the retina. The only eye it affects is the one that is affected. This may lead to temporary vision loss or flashing lights in the affected eye.

 

Retina-based migraines affect around one in two hundred migraine sufferers (as confirmed by this Trusted Source). Most cases are seen in those under 40 years of age. Retinal migraine is more likely to occur in those with a personal or familial history of migraines.

 

What causes migraine aura?

 

Aura from migraines has mysterious origins. However, studies suggest the illness might be caused by an electrical pulse that travels over the visual brain, causing the aforementioned visual abnormalities.

 

What triggers migraine aura?

The same stimuli that bring on migraines without aura also often get migraines with aura—some of the most frequent reasons.

 

• Bright Lights
• Some pharmaceuticals and meals.
• Stress
• Having trouble falling or staying asleep.
• Periods

Causes and risk factors

 

Migraine has a complex origin, which medical experts still can't pinpoint.

 

Aura migraine causes mainly by a wave of electrical activity that travels through the visual cortex of the brain. It has mysterious origins. However, studies suggest the illness might be caused by an electrical pulse that travels over the visual brain, causing the aforementioned visual abnormalities.

 

 

Factors that might set off an aura-accompanied migraine attack are:

 

 

• Wine drinking, in particular
• An Instance of Caffeine Ingestion
• light or UV radiation exposure
• foods and food additives such as cured meats, processed meats, and monosodium glutamate
• Changes in women's hormones (due to pregnancy, menstruation, or oral contraceptives, for example)
• high levels of physical exertion
• the effects of either too little or too much sleep
• medicines, such as birth control pills and blood pressure pills
• stress
• pungent odors like smoke, perfume, or gas
• barometric pressure shifts or other changes in the weather

 

An increased likelihood of experiencing migraines in general or migraines with aura, in particular, includes the following:

 

 

Sexual orientation: Women are two to three times more likely to suffer migraines than men. Somewhere in the neighborhood, one in five women suffers from this condition.

 

Age: The peak incidence of this disorder occurs between the ages of 18 and 44.

 

Family History: Approximately 90% of persons with migraine have a relative who also suffers from the ailment.

 

 

Cure and treatment

 

Migraine with aura may be treated in the same ways as regular migraines. The treatment a person receives depends on how often and severely they experience symptoms.

Sometimes, migraine aura symptoms look like those of other, more severe diseases. So, if you experience any warning signals, don't delay getting in touch with your doctor. A migraine with aura is not life-threatening. However, it may be very painful and incapacitating. Most individuals may control their symptoms until the headache or episode passes by using self-care measures and using over-the-counter drugs. Migraine sufferers with frequent or severe attacks may benefit from using prescription drugs or medical devices to alleviate pain and avoid further attacks.

 

 

How can doctors identify migraines with aura?

 

Your doctor will do a thorough physical examination to rule out more dangerous diseases such as a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or a mini-stroke. They may do more tests to be sure they've got the correct diagnosis. The following checks may be part of this procedure:

 

• Sight testing. This evaluation helps rule out potential causes of aura symptoms in the eyes.
• An intracranial computed tomography (CT) scan. Through this procedure, in-depth pictures of your brain are captured.
• Resonance magnetic imaging (MRI). You'll get detailed pictures of your body's organs, tissues, and structures thanks to the test's usage of magnets and radio waves.

 

Migraine with Aura is seldom life-threatening, although it may be quite annoying. Inform your doctor if you suffer migraine aura with or without symptoms. In addition to assisting with symptom management, medical professionals may help rule out more serious causes of your migraine aura.