Originally Posted By: Astro14
I've had a few. No history at all prior to about 2 years ago, when I experienced a couple in the space of a month. Not good for my profession...
I've changed a couple of things and they've not returned.
The root cause of both ocular and regular migraines is Cortical Spreading Depression (CSD)*. Originally, medical science blamed vascular issues for migraines, but the most recent thought is a glutamate reaction that causes a spreading neural depolarization.
As that depolarization spreads through your cerebral cortex, there are multiple neurological effects: pain, sensitivity to light or sound, nausea, etc. The visual aura or "Ocular Migraine" is one of those effects. Since your visual cortex is the densest concentration of neurons in your brain, it's not surprising that effects manifest themselves there. Different people experience different effects but the root cause is the same.
The triggers are somewhat controversial. They vary among people and the traditional "chocolate, caffeine, etc." aren't always reliable. For example, it turns out that apple juice is a trigger for my daughter.
For me, stress and fatigue make me more susceptible. Not surprisingly, stress and fatigue are factors for everyone. I also discovered that nutrasweet is a trigger for me. I used to drink several diet Cokes a day. No longer. So consider dropping the diet drinks.
However, I can offer one other important, interesting mitigation: magnesium.
Magnesium deficiency increases susceptibility to CSD. Magnesium is found in leafy greens but even with a very careful diet, a magnesium deficiency can still be present.
You have to be careful about taking magnesium, it's possible to overdose and the consequences of that are severe. However, I take a 400mg magnesium supplement daily, and the Aura has been gone since I started. No return of the CSD/Ocular Migraine.
If you suffer from visual migraines, you should consider a magnesium supplement.
*(My oldest child is a graduate of Yale and wrote her senior thesis on Cortical Spreading Depression - I've referenced her work on this subject, though in greatly shortened form. I am not a neurologist...but she has some expertise in this area as well as suffering from Ocular Migraines until she began the magnesium supplement. She is in her first year of medical school.)
Wow! great post, some of that is over my head, but i'm going to look it up!
NutraSweet ( aspartame ) is a major trigger for me. Its in everything, especially chewing gum. You also have to watch children's chewable acetaminophen items as sometimes its there too. I never let my son consume that stuff.
Dark chocolate late at night, or caffeine late at night affects my sleep and can be a trigger.
Great suggestion on the magnesium, i don't supplement with it but i have heard positive results from those who do with frequent chronic migraines.
I would encourage everyone to get a vitamin d level at their yearly physicals. People don't work outdoors as much as they used to. I am low, and have to supplement esp in the winter.
This is especially important for women, as they need the vitamin d for the calcium supplements to do anything with regards to osteoporosis.
Edit: If you take vitamin d3 , you need food or better some fat with it. Its fat soluble.
But back on subject, i think a good diet and nutrition is also important, and good sleep hygiene. I don't have a TV in my bedroom.
