Focal seizures and seizure aura can mimic migraine aura. Visual migraine aura can be confused for occipital seizures and vice versa, although symptoms are classically distinct. This is further complicated because occipital seizures are often followed by migraine-like headache.
Epilepsy. You may get a bad headache before or after an epileptic seizure. Some symptoms of migraine aura can look like a seizure, including vision problems, nausea, and uncontrolled movements.
The two major types of migraine are:
Migraine with aura, previously called classic migraine, includes visual disturbances and other neurological symptoms that appear about 10 to 60 minutes before the actual headache and usually last no more than an hour. Individuals may temporarily lose part or all of their vision.
Brain tumor headaches cause intense pain that people may confuse with migraine or tension-type headaches. However, brain tumors cause other symptoms in addition to headaches, including: fatigue. weakness.
Hearing and vision loss- A tumor that is located near the optical nerve could cause blurred vision, double vision or loss of peripheral vision. Depending on the size and location of a tumor, abnormal eye movements and other vision changes like seeing floating spots or shapes knows as an “aura” may result.
Common symptoms of brain tumours include headaches, feeling or being sick and seizures (fits). These symptoms and the others listed below are often caused by other medical conditions. But if you have any of them, it's important to see your doctor.
Although uncomfortable, migraine aura isn't dangerous. However, it can mimic symptoms of other serious conditions, such as stroke. Therefore, it's important to seek medical care if you think something suspicious is going on.
If you have a migraine aura that lasts longer than an hour, be sure to contact your healthcare provider so you can be evaluated. He or she will want to rule out other more serious medical issues, like a stroke or an injured retina, before determining that you have persistent migraine aura without infarction.
The exact cause of an uptick in migraine attacks with aura is not fully understood. However, auras have been linked to environmental triggers, hormonal changes, and neurological conditions such as stroke or traumatic brain injury. If you experience a sudden increase in migraine attacks with aura, talk with your doctor.
Migraine auras can be confused with transient ischaemic attack (TIA), where someone has stroke symptoms that pass in a short time. For instance, a migraine with only a visual aura but no headache may be mistaken for TIA. Like a stroke, a migraine can be sudden and can lead to mild confusion.
The electrical and chemical waves can occur with normal functioning of the nerves and do not cause harm to the brain. Many of the same factors that trigger migraine can also trigger migraine with aura, including stress, bright lights, some foods and medications, too much or too little sleep, and menstruation.
Aura is generally harmless. The visual disturbances may temporarily interfere with certain daily activities such as reading or driving, but the condition usually is not considered serious. It has been noted, however, that aura may be associated with a small increased risk of stroke (cerebral infarction) in women.
Hemiplegic migraine is a rare disorder in which affected individuals experience a migraine headache along with weakness on one side of the body (hemiplegia). Affected individuals are described as having a migraine with aura.
Vestibular migraine causes episodes of dizziness described as rocking, spinning, floating, swaying, internal motion and lightheadedness. They most often occur spontaneously, but can be triggered by stress, sleep problems, skipping meals, dehydration, other illnesses.
There are three major types of aura: visual, sensory and aphasic. Visual aura is the most common and accounts for 90% of all auras.
A visual migraine is a temporary visual distortion that often begins with a small sparkling, shimmering area that slowly expands outward. The growing spot often has jagged, zig-zag edges. The visual symptoms typically last approximately 20-30 minutes and then completely resolve.
Harsh lighting, long screen time, other visual strain, stress, dehydration, food additives, and other causes all may trigger an ocular migraine, a subtype that focuses in the eye and causes vision changes.
Usually, brain tumor headaches are described as headaches with features more similar to ten- sion-type headaches than to migraines. therefore, it is strongly suggestive that the mechanism of spreading depression can initiate the symptoms of visual aura even in occipital brain tumors.
Retinal migraines are more likely to be triggered by other factors: intense exercise, dehydration, low blood sugar, high blood pressure, hot temperatures, and tobacco use. Certain foods can trigger both types of visual migraines: Red wine or other alcohol. Food and drink with caffeine (also, caffeine withdrawal)
Go to the ER if you are experiencing severe migraine symptoms, or symptoms such as confusion, fever and vision changes, neck stiffness, trouble speaking or numbness or weakness, even if other symptoms of migraine are present (e.g. light sensitivity, nausea).
During an eye test, an optician can identify a brain tumour by either noticing a swelling of the optic disc or seeing pressure on the optic nerve. Both of these can cause changes in vision. But, it's important to remember that eye tests can't always identify brain tumours.
A regular, routine eye test can sometimes detect eye problems that indicate the presence of a brain tumour before any symptoms become obvious. An eye test is particularly good at identifying any swelling of the optic disc (a condition called papilloedema) and can also identify when there is pressure on the optic nerve.