auras migraine
Auras Migraine
What is a migraine aura?
Aura symptoms can be defined as a set of neurological symptoms that will occur before the headache phase of a migraine. Common aura symptoms include:
- Visual disturbances like blurry vision, seeing halos around objects, twinkling lights, distorted vision, loss of vision, etc
- Auditory disturbances such as hearing things that are not there, distorted hearing (sounds may sound too quiet or very loud, and so on.
- Sensory symptoms include feeling dizzy, numb, sensation of prickly “pins and needles, etc.
Aura symptoms are not limited to the list above but rather tend to vary from person to person and from migraine to migraine. Symptoms usually come on over the course of five to twenty minutes and then last around an hour or so. The most important thing to remember is that aura symptoms always go away completely once the headache phase comes on. If you are experiencing aura symptoms that do not disappear, please visit a medical professional to ensure that you are not experiencing a more serious medical condition.
Why do these symptoms come on?
No one is completely certain, but there are currently a few promising theories. In general it is believed that migraines are caused by excitable neurons which cause the swelling and irritation of blood vessels in the brain. The symptoms of aura are believed to be caused by – lack of blood flow to certain parts of the brain, or affected by nearby swelling. This would also explain in part why aura symptoms can vary so much from person to person.
Is it possible to have a migraine without aura?
Yes, it is a common misconception that in order to be experiencing a migraine that one must also have symptoms of aura. In truth, only the minority of migraine sufferers will experience aura symptoms and even then, not every time. It is also possible to have a migraine with aura that does not go on to develop the headache stage. This type of migraine is a little more difficult to diagnose, but if no other cause can be found for say, reoccurring fleeting vision problems, then migraine with aura without headache can be diagnosed.
