All articles tagged with #migraine aura
Ronda Rousey explains that her concussion symptoms may be linked to migraine aura rather than lasting brain damage, discovered during evaluations at the Cleveland Clinic. Doctors have identified a preventative migraine treatment that could make her return feasible, and she plans to fight on May 16, subject to extensive medical testing and clearance by the California State Athletic Commission.
Migraine aura, experienced by 15% to one-third of migraineurs, presents as psychedelic visual disturbances such as zigzag lines, circles, flickering lights, and blind spots, and is believed to be caused by cortical spreading depression (CSD) altering blood flow and activating sensory pathways in the brain. While not dangerous on its own, it can be mistaken for more serious conditions like a mini-stroke, and is associated with an increased risk of stroke, especially in those taking certain hormonal birth control. However, it can provide a warning window to take steps to prevent or lessen the severity of an impending migraine.