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What is a migraine aura?
Migraine aura is the second phase of a migraine headache, between the prodrome and actual headache phases. It has a wide array of physical symptoms, but is more commonly known by the visual changes that happen to the sufferer.The migraine aura phase can include any of the body's senses and can result in:** Flashing lights, geometric patterns, tunnel vision, blurry vision, or complete greying or blacking out of vision. Numbness in the extremities, or on the side of the face the migraine is on.Weakness in limbs, impaired motor coordinationParalysis on one side of the body. (Hemiplegic migraines)ConfusionImpaired speech called aphasia (trouble finding the correct word, slurred speech or speaking in jibberish)Inability to make a decisionDizziness, vertigo, trouble with balanceSmelling something that isn't thereHearing noises such as ringing in the ears that aren't thereTasting something that isn't thereAlice in Wonderland Syndrome in which perception is changed.As stated, many people think of the migraine aura only as the visual occurrences. The visual changes are called scotoma - the word for when there is something - usually something dark, obscuring the vision of the eye. A positive scotoma would be any aura where you feel like there is actually something in the way of your vision, whether light or dark. A negative scotoma is when your eye fails to register anything - it isn't that you see black, you don't see anything in the space where it seems dark. A scintillating scotoma is the one most commonly seen - where there is flickering, flashing patterns, or at times a snow almost like the snow on an old TV set.
What is optic migrain?
There are two different kinds of migraine which people will refer to as optic migraine. The most common one is also call ocular or acephalgic migraine, ALSO called a silent migraine. This is a migraine where the aura, or vision impairment (along with other symptoms) occurs, but no pain occurs. While it can be great not to feel the pain of the migraine, people who have this type of migraine can be just as disabled, because the aura interrupts their life. It is just as important to seek treatment from a neurologist to treat these migraines, particularly if you are having more than two a month. A second type, not to be confused with ocular migraine, is ophthalmoplegic migraine, which are no longer considered to be migraines - but nerves which control the eyes acting out, causing drooping eyelids, watering eyes, usually on one side of the head.
If a person has a really bad headache and sees auras what type of headache do they have?
Intense headaches which involve auras indicate migraine headaches. Migraine headaches are a neurological disorder involving inflammation of the nerves and blood vessels in the brain. Migraine pain is usually on one side of the head and is throbbing or stabbing in nature. Not all migraines have auras; common migraine is migraine without aura, classic migraine is considered migraine with aura. Each episode can last anywhere from 4-72 hours and can be set off by many things. People who have auras, which refers to a temporary visual disturbance, usually have them right before the pain sets in or early in the headache. Each patient has their own unique set of migraine triggers. Finding out what your triggers are can help you minimize how many migraines you get. If you are getting more than two a month, you qualify to receive preventative medication.
How do physicians diagnose a migraine?
Doctors diagnose migraine by asking questions about your symptoms to find out if your experience 1) will fit the criteria needed for diagnosis of migraine 2) if your symptoms indicate there may be another cause for head pain and other symptoms.Because Migraine is primary (not caused by something else) and a diagnosis of exclusion, sometimes MRI/MRA or CT scans are used so that the physician can see visually whether there may be a physical cause within the brain or brain's vascular system that may be triggering the pain.Below are the criteria adopted by the International Headache Society for two main types of migraine headache - without aura and with aura. The criteria are used as a framework of the most predominant symptoms suffered by migraineurs. They do not describe the experience of every migraineur.Diagnostic criteria for Migraine Without Aura:Migraine without aura: at least 5 attacks fulfilling criteria B-D.Headache attacks lasting 4-72 hoursHeadache has at least two of the following characteristics: unilateral locationpulsating/throbbing qualitymoderate or severe pain intensityaggravation by or causing avoidance of routine physical activityDuring headache at least one of the following: nausea and/or vomitingsensitivity to light and/or soundNot attributed to another disorderDiagnostic criteria for *Typical Migraine With Aura:At least 2 attacks fulfilling criteria B-DAura consisting of at least one of the following, but no motor weakness**: fully reversible visual symptoms including positive features (ie, flickering lights, spots or lines) and/or negative features (ie, loss of vision)fully reversible sensory symptoms including positive features (ie, pins and needles) and/or negative features (ie, numbness)fully reversible dysphasic speech disturbance (stuttering, slurring, or aphasia)At least two of the following: Additional homonymous visual disturbance (which means a loss or blurring of visual in the same visual field in both eyes) and/or unilateral sensory symptoms (loss of sensation that occurs on one side of the body - such as numbness of the face or extremity)at least one aura symptom develops gradually over ≥5 minutes and/or different aura symptoms occur in succession over ≥5 minuteseach symptom lasts ≥5 and ≤60 minutes***Headache fulfilling criteria B-D for Migraine without aura begins during the aura or follows aura within 60 minutesNot attributed to another disorder*There are categories of atypical migraines. This diagnostic criteria only lists the most common and prominent features of the typical migraine with aura.**Motor weakness associated with migraine (when no other physical cause is found) indicates atypical migraine, such as familial or sporadic hemiplegic migraine.***In other types of migraine, aura may last longer than one hour, particularly in subtypes such as hemiplegic migraine where they may last a day or more. A rare complication of migraine is Persistent Aura without Infarction, which means that the aura phase may last for weeks, sometimes months or longer, but scanning of the brain do not indication that a stroke has occurred, meaning that damage to the brain is not at fault for the neurological symptoms.
Do having one eye only effect migraines?
Ocular migraines usually only effect one eye and are caused by restriction of blood flow to that eye. During an ocular migraine a person typically experiences loss of sight or blurred vision for a temporary period of time. Once the ocular migraine goes away the person will often have a headache but this does not always occur.
What kinds of migraine headache are there?
the major types are migraine with aura and migraine without aura. hemiplegic migraine, abdominal migraine. retinal migraine, ophthalmoplegic migraine and basilar artery migraine are the other varieties..
Which syndrome is characterized by sudden severe sharp headache usually present only on one side?
Migraine (or) Migraine Headache
Where in the head is a migraine?
A migraine headache is a neurological disorder and a specific primary headache classification. There are 4 stages to a migraine attack:ProdromeAuraPain/headacheResolution/PostdromeA migraine attack may contain any one or more of these stages.Pain is usually one-sided and throbbing and can range from mild to incapacitating, lasting hours to days. A Migraine lasting over 3 days is called status migrainousus and is considered an emergency.The pain of migraine is only part of an attack however, as migraines actually herald a whole host of changes to the entire body.There are two main types of migraine acknowledged by the International Headache Society, but there are many sub-categories which may be used to help identify the patient's particular symptoms. The two main types are: migraine without aura (used to be called common migraine), and migraine with aura (used to be called classic migraine).Other types of migraine diagnoses a patient may receive are:Retinal migraine (migraine with aura in one eye)Hemiplegic migraine (a type of migraine with aura)Migraine with brainstem aura (used to be called basilar artery migraine)Acephalgic migraine (migraine without pain)Transformed migraine (migraine that had an episodic pattern, now with chronic pattern)Chronic migraine (migraine and headache 15 days or more per month)Vestibular migraine (migraine with vertigo)Abdominal migraineComplicated migraine (migraine with aura and stroke-like symptoms)Migraines are usually triggered by environmental and other factors that change the homeostasis of the body/brain of the patient. Triggers often include:red wineMSG, aspartame, nitrites and other food additivesweathercaffeinemenstruationdehydrationchanges in sleep patternchanges in normal eating patternmedicationsphysical exertionbright lightsstrong smellsloud noise
Why every once in a while do you get tunnel vision than one whole side of your body goes numb and then you get a splitting headache?
This may be a symptom of Migraine with aura. However, it can also be symptomatic of other more serious diseases/disorders. See your physician or headache specialist for appropriate diagnosis and treatment of Migraine and headache disorders.
How would you know if you're having migraine headaches?
== A migraine headache is a neurological disorder characterized by intense head pain that lasts from 4 hours to 4 days. The pain is just the start of a migraine, however, as migraines actually herald a whole host of changes to the entire body. There are two main types of migraine headache, but there are many sub-categories. The two main types are common migraine, or migraine without aura, and classic migraine - migraine with aura. When a doctor is trying to diagnose migraine, they will be looking for: 1. More than one episode of head pain with intense throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head. 2. How long the headache lasts 2. Sensitivity to light 3. Nausea Below is a related question: What are the symptoms of a migraine? This describes the symptoms and phases of a migraine attack. Please note that you do not have to have all of the symptoms to be diagnosed with migraines.
Why do i have Severe pain in the temple that lasts days?
Well the two main types of headache include Tension type headaches and Migraine With or Without Aura.Tension type: Caused by Contraction of Cranial Muscles- Occurs both sides of the head across the forehead and temples alternatively at the back of the head or neck- It is a tightening pain which is mild to moderate in its intensity- It shouldn't really affect your daily activities are be caused by them- Normally occurs towards the end of the day being brought on by stress and strain.Migraine: Caused by Dilation of Extracranial arteries+ With Aura (early warning): one experiences symptoms like bright lights becoming annoying, slurred speech and numbness. The occur up to 60mins before an headache and last between 5-60 mins.+ Without Aura: No Aura symptoms are experienced- Occurs one side of the head on the forehead and temples only.- It is a throbbing/pulsating quality which is dull in its intensity in migraine without aura however severe in Migraine with aura.- It affects your daily activities when it begins and they can bring on an attack- Normally occurs at the start of the day.if you want more information see www.ihs-classification.org/en/
Can you have a one sided migraine?
With most migraines, the pain is on one side of the head.
