Auras without migraine
Auras without migraine
Is it possible to have auras without migraine? Yes, it most certainly is.
Stages of a migraine
“Migraine” is in fact a neurological condition that is caused by neurons in one’s brain reacting to certain stimulus in an excitable way – that ultimately leads to inflammation and swelling of blood vessels in the brain. Migraine attack can actually be broken down into stages – once you have a clear understanding of migraine stages, it will become clear how it is possible to have an aura without migraine.
The four stages of a migraine include:
The prodome or “pre-migraine” stage. This stage can last from a few hours to a few days an can include feelings of fatigue, trouble concentrating, nausea, blurred vision, among other symptoms.
Aura stage. This phase includes the onset of neurological symptoms such as visual or auditory disturbances, dizziness, sensations of numbness, etc. It is important to note that symptoms in this stage will develop over five to twenty minutes in rapid succession, and each symptoms will usually last sixty minutes or less – the aura stage is then terminated when the headache phase begins. Not every person will experience this stage and among those that do – not every time.
Headache phase. This phase usually lasts anywhere from hours to days. The pain is usually throbbing in sensation, single sided, and of moderate to severe intensity. Not every person will go on to develop a headache phase.
Postdrome or “post-migraine” phase. The length of this stage varies from person to person. Some may be left feeling drained or hungover for days whereas others may feel fine fairly quickly.
Some people will experience the aura stage of a migraine and then not go on to develop the headache phase. While not a common condition, this is most frequently found in older migraine sufferers and men. Usually what is described is persistent fleeting vision problems that simply clear up on their own. Keep in mind that these kinds of symptoms can always be caused by serious or potentially life threatening conditions. For this reason it is vital to be examined by a qualified medical professional!
