How to Control an Aura During a Migraine

One of the known phases of migraines is the aura phase that comes after the initial prodrome phase. The aura produces flashes of light that can sometimes become so intense that they cause a terrifying equivalent of temporary blindness. Knowing how to control the aura phase of a migraine will help get your migraine problem under control.

Instructions

1. Pay attention to early signs of a migraine and especially the aura phase. Some migraine sufferers experience the "yellow light" phenomenon of the prodrome phase. However, you'll more likely experience gaps in your vision that look like little holes of darkness or weird, sparkling lights.

2. Quickly jot down the time of the beginning of the aura phase of your migraine so you can begin to keep a migraine journal that will, in time, allow you to better control the effects of the migraine.

3. Take your prescribed medication as soon as you experience the aura phase since it is almost always a definite precursor to the migraine itself. If your physician instructed you to take the medicine at a different point in the migraine process, act in accordance with the doctor's orders.

4. Stop what you're doing, especially if you're driving, watching TV or looking at a computer screen. Any kind of visual concentration exaggerates the effects of the aura phase of the migraine and in some cases can hasten the onset of the migraine itself.

5. Find a dark place to lie down. You can drink a little bit of a caffeine beverage to help counteract some of the effects of the migraine and the aura. Place a warm towel over your eyes to help relieve the pain of the migraine and to control the disorienting effects of the aura.