| Migraine without aura is a common migraine without | | | | such as menstruation, certain foods, and dozens of |
| aura but exhibits the same symptoms as a classic | | | | environmental influences, such as a change in weather, |
| migraine except that it does not exhibit any aura. | | | | may trigger a migraine attack. A migraine trigger is any |
| People who primarily suffer from migraine with aura | | | | factor that, on exposure or withdrawal, leads to the |
| may also have attacks of migraine without aura. | | | | development of an acute migraine headache. Triggers |
| Headache with the features of "migraine without aura" | | | | may be categorized as behavioral, environmental, |
| usually follows the aura symptoms. Less commonly, | | | | infectious, dietary, chemical, or hormonal. In medical |
| the aura may occur without a subsequent headache | | | | literature, these factors are known as 'precipitants.' |
| or the headache may be non-migrainous in type. | | | | Neither type of migraine denotes a life-threatening |
| Migraine with aura is a classical migraine preceded by | | | | disorder but, they can be chronic and recurrent, thus |
| an aura before the attack. The aura occurs for about | | | | interfering with a person's daily lifestyle. |
| 10-30 minutes and then is usually followed by a | | | | Both migraine types have the usual pain, nausea, |
| headache. It is quite similar to a common migraine | | | | vomiting and intolerance to light and sound, which is |
| except in the aspect of the aura. | | | | worsened by any physical activity. |
| About 15% of migraine sufferers have a early warning | | | | Treatment? The treatment for migraines begins with |
| that the headache is coming on. This change in brain | | | | simple painkillers for headache and anti-emetics for |
| function is called an "aura". It is usually a visual | | | | nausea, and avoidance of triggers if present. Specific |
| symptom, such as an arc of sparkling (scintillating) | | | | anti-migraine drugs can be used to treat migraine. |
| zig-zag lines or a blotting out of vision or both. The | | | | Homeopathic Drugs and Special all natural ingredient |
| aura is due to changes that take place in the cortex, | | | | products such as those at the Centre for Pain Relief in |
| the outer layer of the brain. This slowly spreading | | | | Burlington, New Jersey have proven effective. If the |
| depression of nerve cell activity is believed to account | | | | migraine condition is severe and frequent enough, |
| for the pattern of development of the typical aura. | | | | preventative drugs might be considered. |
| Auras set in about 20-30 minutes before the migraine | | | | The most commonly used "reversal" medicines are |
| attack. Some patients also describe the presence of a | | | | triptans. Triptans work by boosting the effects of the |
| strange odor, before the onset of a migraine. They | | | | brain chemical serotonin, which reduces the severity |
| also experience a tingling sensation in an arm or leg. | | | | and duration of an attack. Propranolol, a beta blocker, |
| In the classic migraine aura, symptoms build up | | | | and Topiramate have proven effective for migraine |
| gradually and move slowly from one visual region or | | | | sufferers as well. |
| one part of the body to another. For example, the | | | | When it comes to treatment however, "Migraine is the |
| migraine aura sufferer may first notice a black spot in | | | | most misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and mistreated |
| the field of vision. This black spot is often surrounded | | | | condition in medical practice," states Dr. Seymour |
| by flashing lights or bright zig-zag lines as mentioned. | | | | Diamond, M.D., who is the executive chairman for the |
| What starts this sequence of events that leads to the | | | | National Headache Foundation and director of the |
| aura and migraine? The answers to thisquestion are | | | | Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago. |
| not fully understood. Migraine sufferers have an inborn | | | | As always, talk to your doctor about whether or not |
| susceptibility to factors that normally do not trigger | | | | you have with Aura or without Aura to find the |
| headaches. | | | | medication that works best for you. |
| In people with migraines, changes in body chemistry, | | | | |