More About Aura and What Can Be Done

Aphasia in Aura

Migraineurs can have difficulty with speech in the aura phase with slurring, putting sentences together, or remembering words. If you have these problems, they will affect both speaking and writing.

Weakness or Paralysis

If you suffer hemiplegic migraine, you may suffer weakness or even temporary paralysis on one side of your body. Although it's very frightening, and feels a lot like having a stroke, these effects are temporary. The headache may be absent in hemiplegic migraine. That said, this type of migraine is relatively rare, and you should check these symptoms with your own doctor.

A Word About Allodynia

Allodynia (where you have hypersensitivity to light touch, especially on the scalp or forehead) is not classed as aura, being felt throughout the migraine (especially in migraineurs with other chronic pain conditions). However it can occur in the aura phase. Dihydroergotamine has shown to be effective.

Migraines with Aura and Strokes

Recent research has shown that some migraineurs are at an increased risk of stroke. This risk of ischaemic stroke is particularly raised in women aged 35 to 45, who experienced aura with or without migraine, who used oral contraceptives, or who smoke. There is a relative increased risk of ischaemic stroke in young women, but the risk remains small since the risk of stroke is so tiny in young people to begin with.

A 1997 study found that the figures for stoke for women aged under 35 (a year) are:

• 1.3 women per 100,000 have stroke who do not have migraine and do not take the contraceptive Pill
• 5 women per 100,00 have stroke who don't have migraine and do take the contraceptive Pill
• 4 women per 100,000 have stoke who have migraine without aura and do not take the contraceptive Pill
• 8 women per 100,000 have stroke who have migraine with aura and do not take the contraceptive Pill
• 14 women per 100,000 have stroke who have migraine without aura and do take the contraceptive Pill
• 28 women per 100,000 have stroke who have migraine with aura and do take the contraceptive Pill

As you can see, the figures are substantially higher in women who have migraine. That said, studies show 167 women per 100,000 women every year die from a smoking-related health problem, so migraineurs should not panic about stroke, even if they take the contraceptive pill.

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What is the connection?

No-one is quite sure. Hole in the heart has been found in some, but not all, patients with migraine with aura. Some recent studies suggest the blood of migraineurs with aura is more likely to clot, which might raise the risk of a cardiovascular event. Some suggest there might be vascular differences in migraineurs who experience aura. Research is still continuing.

Do B Vitamins Help?

Some research suggests that migraine with aura is a risk factor for high levels of Homocysteine, a risk factor for stroke. Although that isn't the whole story, the good news is that there's a very simple step for lowering for Homocysteine levels: take B12, B6 and Folic Acid.

Australian researchers gave half their participants vitamin supplements (2mg Folic Acid, 25mg of 66, and 400mcg of B12) and half of their participants a placebo. They found that the participants who took supplements lowered their Homocysteine levels (which meant, possibly, a lower risk of stroke), and also had fewer migraines. That has to be worth trying!

Try supplements, or pack your diet full of these vitamin-packed foods:

Folic Acid: Lentils, beans, peas, nuts, green leafy veggies, and citrus fruits.

Vitamin B6: Pork, poultry, oatmeal, brown rice, and eggs.

Vitamin B12: Sardines, beef, tuna, cheese, eggs, and salmon.

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Talk to your doctor

Your doctor can prescribe a preventative. An appropriate preventative today may make your aura symptoms better in the future.

Improve Your Nervous System

Take some supplements to improve your nerve health. Omega 3 fish oil, Magnesium (400mg), Vitamin B2 (150-400mg) and Co-enzyme Q10 (150mg) a day are all thought to improve nerve health.

Relax

Getting into a calmer, more relaxed frame of mind with calming daily walks, deep breathing, yoga, meditation, or Tai Chi may help reduce your future incidences of migraines.

Carry your migraine abortive

And take it right at the start of the attack phase (as soon as the headache starts). Research shows that migraine abortive medications work more effectively if they are taken right at the start of the attack.