Understanding Migraine Symptoms: Types, Aura & Relief

Migraines are excruciatingly painful, debilitating headaches that can affect your quality of life. About 20 percent of migraine sufferers have aura with migraines.

Significance

• Classic migraines are now called migraines with aura, which means the pain is preceded by visual disturbances. Aura also can continue or start with the pain.

Symptoms of Aura

• Auras are typically visual disturbances, such as sparkling flashes of light, blind spots that can spread, failing eyesight and zigzags across your field of vision.

Non-visual Aura Symptoms

• Besides visual disturbances, aura includes any sensory changes, such as smelling strange odors or hearing sounds. Some people have trouble speaking and experience changes in their sensory perceptions.

Symptoms of Migraine Headaches

• Migraine headaches are different from ordinary headaches. They may include a moderate to severe throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head, pain that worsens with physical activity, nausea or vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound.

Warning

• Migraines with aura have been associated with a slightly higher risk of stroke. It is very rare, but auras lasting more than an hour could be a sign you are in danger of a migraine-related stroke.