MIGRAINES WITH AURA: WHAT YOU ARE SEEING

Those who suffer from migraine headaches experience a debilitating headache that totally zaps them from anything they are doing. Many have the added experience of aura with their headaches. Migraines can have aura or no aura. It just depends on the person. Actually, migraines with aura are less common. Aura refers to feelings and symptoms you notice shortly before the headache begins. These early symptoms are also called a prodrome.
Researchers aren’t sure what causes migraines with aura. It’s thought that at least two brain chemicals, serotonin and dopamine, play a role. According to the theory, something goes wrong in the way these chemicals regulate brain function. It’s a pretty lengthy explanation but believe me, however it happens, the end result is a splitting, throbbing pain on one side of the head along with other symptoms.

There are certain factors that may promote migraines with aura. Genetics and being overweight are two of these factors. Also, substances, behaviors, and environment may trigger migraines. It is known that migraines often run in families. They frequently begin in childhood and worsen through adolescence. Although more boys than girls have migraines, more adult women than adult men have migraines. Over time, the frequency of migraines decreases and they become rare after 50 years of age.

SYMPTOMS OF MIGRAINE WITH AURA
The most common symptom of migraine headache with aura is the pain. Migraine pain is usually found in the front of the head on one or both sides of the temples and it may throb or be steady. The headache may last from four to 72 hours. Here are some of the other symptoms of most migraines.

• nausea
• vomiting
• yawning
• irritability
• low blood pressure
• feeling “hyper”
• sensitivity to light, sounds, or motion
• dark circles under the eyes

Migraine headaches with aura come with additional symptoms, which often begin about 30 minutes or less before the headache. These early symptoms are called a prodrome. The prodrome or aura may last for five to 20 minutes, or it may continue even after the headache subsides. Symptoms of aura include:

• blind spots or scotomas
• blindness in half of your visual field in one or both eyes (hemianopsia)
• seeing zigzag patterns (fortification)
• seeing flashing lights (scintilla)
• feeling prickling skin (paresthesia)
• weakness
• seeing things that aren’t really there (hallucinations)

DIAGNOSIS OF MIGRAINE WITH AURA
Before making a diagnosis of migraine with aura, your doctor will want to rule out any other conditions that could be giving the headache symptoms. Your doctor will perform physical and perhaps neurologic exams. He or she will also ask you about your overall health history with questions like these.

• Do other family members have migraines or other kinds of headaches?
• Do you have any allergies?
• What is the level of stress in your life?
• Do you use medications such as birth control pills or vasodilators that could cause headaches?
• Do you exert yourself physically or notice that headaches start after coughing or sneezing?
Your doctor may also have certain tests done to confirm diagnosis like blood tests, imaging such as X-ray, CT scan, or MRI, and checks for infection, bleeding, or other medical problems that could cause similar symptoms.

TREATING MIGRAINES WITH AURA
If diagnosis determines that there are other issues causing the headache pain, appropriate treatments for those conditions will be recommended. However, is your diagnosis is migraine with aura, the treatment recommendations will have two goals: relieving symptoms and preventing future attacks.

With that in mind, your doctor may recommend these actions when you are faced with an attack.
• Stay in a quiet, dark room.
• Place cold compresses or use pressure on the painful areas.
• Take prescription analgesics to relieve pain and encourage sleep.
• Use drugs to treat related symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Take pain-relieving medications such as aspirin, Tylenol (acetaminophen), or Tylenol #3 (Tylenol with codeine).
• Use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (call NSAIDS) to ease pain, such as ibuprofen.
• Take prescription medications, such as Imitrex or Maxalt, that help constrict or tighten blood vessels.
Along with the above treatments, there are several ways to help prevent a migraine in the first place. Your doctor may suggest certain medications and steps to identify triggers that may bring on your migraines.
• Medications that help prevent migraines are:
o beta-blockers
o antidepressants
o ergot derivatives
o antihistamines
o anticonvulsants
• Headache Diaries are very helpful to figure out triggers that may be responsible for your headaches. Diary entries should include the date and time of the headache, any foods you ate, activities you did, and medication you took just before the headache began. It may take six to eight weeks or more to begin to see patterns and triggers. Triggers may be foods, medications, psychological triggers like stress, physical triggers like missed meals or exercise, and environmental triggers such as flickering lights or changes in altitude.
Migraine headache with aura is very crippling to the person experiencing it. However, there are many ways to help treat and prevent them from occurring. See your doctor for diagnosis. Together, you can prepare a plan to help symptoms and manage frequency of this condition.

Tags: blurred vision, constipation, migraine attack, migraine headahces, migraine symptoms, migraine treatment, nausea, vomiting