Let's have a game of bingo.
Migraine with aura
In surveys of people affected by migraine in the general population, only about 18 per cent said that their attacks were preceded by an aura (check), which typically lasts for 20-30 minutes before the headache (check). In the majority of cases there is a visual disturbance (go on...). This may consist of blurred vision (check), flashing lights (check) or, occasionally, a zigzag disturbance which moves across the person’s field of vision from the centre towards the edge over the course of around half an hour (CHECK, DAMN YOU). The affected person may be unable to see properly for some time while this disturbance is going on (checkity check).
Tingling and numbness affecting the face (check), lips (check), tongue (check), cheek (check) or fingertips (check) are also common and may occur at the same time (check) as the visual disturbance, or more rarely before (check) or after it (check).
Weakness in one of the arms (check) or legs (check) is less often seen, but speech disturbances (check) are more common. Problems with speech are limited to slurring words (check) in most cases, but some people experience difficulty in finding their words (CHECK ARGH H8 H8 H8), again usually for 20-30 minutes. As was explained earlier, these symptoms are all believed to be due to an electrical disturbance on the surface of the brain (fabulous). They are not actually caused by a disturbance of blood flow in the brain (how marvellous), and the risk of permanent damage to the brain is very small even after repeated attacks (brilliant, bring out the flags).
In surveys of people affected by migraine in the general population, only about 18 per cent said that their attacks were preceded by an aura (check), which typically lasts for 20-30 minutes before the headache (check). In the majority of cases there is a visual disturbance (go on...). This may consist of blurred vision (check), flashing lights (check) or, occasionally, a zigzag disturbance which moves across the person’s field of vision from the centre towards the edge over the course of around half an hour (CHECK, DAMN YOU). The affected person may be unable to see properly for some time while this disturbance is going on (checkity check).
Tingling and numbness affecting the face (check), lips (check), tongue (check), cheek (check) or fingertips (check) are also common and may occur at the same time (check) as the visual disturbance, or more rarely before (check) or after it (check).
Weakness in one of the arms (check) or legs (check) is less often seen, but speech disturbances (check) are more common. Problems with speech are limited to slurring words (check) in most cases, but some people experience difficulty in finding their words (CHECK ARGH H8 H8 H8), again usually for 20-30 minutes. As was explained earlier, these symptoms are all believed to be due to an electrical disturbance on the surface of the brain (fabulous). They are not actually caused by a disturbance of blood flow in the brain (how marvellous), and the risk of permanent damage to the brain is very small even after repeated attacks (brilliant, bring out the flags).