Migraine aura
A migraine aura is a warning sign of an oncoming migraine headache. An aura develops gradually. It often begins within 30 minutes before a migraine headache starts. But it can also occur during the headache for some people. It causes short-term symptoms like visual disturbances and physical sensations.
Not everyone who suffers from migraines develops an aura. For those who do, common symptoms of a migraine aura include:
- Visual changes. For example:
- Zigzag or wavy lines
- Flashes or sparks of bright or colored lights
- Slowly spreading spots
- Distortions in the shape or size of objects
- Blind or dark spots in the field of vision
- Numbness or a "pins-and-needles" sensation in one hand or the other.
Other, less common symptoms of a migraine aura can occur, including:
- Tingling or numbness around the mouth and nose or in the arms or shoulders.
- Temporary weakness on one side of the body.
- Brief inability to put words in the proper order, or difficulty finding the right words.
What are the symptoms of an aura?
The symptoms of an aura may include:
- Visual changes. Examples include:
- Bright lights.
- Zigzag lines.
- Slowly spreading spots.
- Distortions in the size or shape of objects.
- Blind or dark spots in the field of vision.
- Hearing voices or sounds (auditory hallucinations).
- Strange smells (olfactory hallucinations).
- Feelings of numbness or tingling on one side of your face or body.
- Feeling separated from your body.
- Anxiety or fear.
- Nausea.
What is an aura?
Aura is the term used to describe symptoms that may occur before a seizure.
An aura is often the first sign that you are going to have a seizure. You may have an aura from several seconds up to 60 minutes before a seizure. Most people who have auras have the same type of aura every time they have a seizure.
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