About 20% of people with migraine exerience 'aura' in addition to some or all of the symptoms of 'Migraine without aura'.
Aura refers to a range of neurological disturbances that occur before the headache begins usually lasting about 20-60 minutes.
The disturbances are usually visual e.g.
- blind spots
- flashing lights
- zig-zag patterns
Aura can also present in other ways
- Pins and needles on one side usually starting in the fingers/ arm, sometimes spreading up into the face
- Slurring of speech
- Muscular weakness
- Loss of co-ordination
- Confusion
The other symptoms of migraine will usually follow the aura. These are:
- Intense throbbing headache, usually on one side of the head, worsened by movement and lasting from 4-72 hours.
- Nausea, sometimes vomiting
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to noise
- Sensitivity to smells
- Stiffness of the neck and shoulders.
- Blurred vision
If you experience 2 or more of these symptoms in addition to the Aura symptoms and if they prevent you from continuing with normal daily activities, then you may be suffering from migraine with Aura.
© MAI 2010
