Hey Migraine Mentees 👋 

Today’s newsletter takes another 5 minutes to read—so if you’ve only got 60 seconds, here’s what you need to know:

• There are interesting underlying differences between migraines with and without aura…

• Up to 30% of migraineurs experience aura, which means that nearly 70% of people with migraines don’t…

• Triggers for migraine attacks remain the same whether or not you have an aura…

👉️ You’re another step closer to finding solutions to your chronic migraine symptoms… Just remember that this is the point where everyone usually gives up!

Don’t be like everyone else…

🧠 The Migraine Mentors

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👉️ In This Week’s Edition…

• 📰 Nerdy Migraine News & Research

  • The Latest Updates in the Migraine/Health & Wellness Community…

• 🥡 Weekly “Take-Meme-Out”

  •  Rest is Your Best Friend…Right?

• 🎧️ The Migraine Mentors Minicast - Podcast Series

  • Migraine vs. Migraine w/Aura - The Differences (and How To Treat It)…

• 🗒️ Read This Now!

  • The Difference Between Migraine vs. Migraine w/Aura…

• 🍴 Migraine-Friendly Recipe of the Week

  • Migraine & Histamine-Friendly Blueberry Oatmeal…

📰 NEWS AND RESEARCH

Hot Off The Press…

• 👯‍♀️ Are women who suffer migraines at a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease? A cohort study published in the Journal of Neurology seems to be closer to finding the answer…

• 💊 Which medications actually move the needle? If you’re still taking medications to prevent and manage your migraines, you’ll be pleased to find out that the cheaper ones may work just as well as the expensive ones…

• 🥑 Still wondering which diet is best for migraine? We know diet and nutrition influence migraine attacks, but it turns out there's a specific dietary group leading the pack…

• 🚨 Do you know which red flags to look for? Here’s how to know when a migraine is life-threatening…

🥡 WEEKLY TAKE-OUT

Meme of The Week…

🎧 MIGRAINE MENTORS MINICAST

Migraine vs. Migraine w/Aura - The Differences (and How To Treat It)…

Migraines come in all shapes and sizes… But an aura is the wildest symptom of them all.

🧠 In this week’s Migraine Mentors Minicast, we cover:

• What aura is and why it matters…

• The altered brain-waves behind aura (CSD)…

• Common amplifiers for migraine and migraine + aura…

• Evidence-based treatments and finding relief…

🎧️ Regardless of the type of migraine that you’re struggling with, treatment options are on the table and ready for action!

👇 Tap below to listen now! 👇

🗒️ READ THIS NOW!

🧠 The Difference Between Migraine vs. Migraine w/Aura…

Migraine symptoms often hit you like a freight train with sharp throbbing pain, a queasy stomach, and light/sound sensitivity that can be incapacitating...

And for the 30% of individuals who also get shimmering zigzags, blind spots, tingling, and brief word-fumbles with their stabbing migraine pains, visual aura throws a wrench into the game.

🌟 What Is Aura? Why Does It Matter?

To break it down succinctly…

• Migraine = moderate–severe head pain plus nausea and/or light/sound sensitivity (add in any of your additional symptoms…)

• Migraine with aura = the same migraine plus visual/sensory/language symptoms preceding the migraine pain complex that evolve over minutes and usually resolve within 5–60 minutes.

🥼 What Causes an Aura?

Most of the clinical and recent evidence points to the onset of aura as a traveling electrical wave called cortical spreading depolarization (CSD). As it moves throughout the brain, it briefly alters nerve activity and local blood flow in the occipital lobe, producing the visual sparkles, zigzags, or tingling.

🚨 What Turns the Volume Up on Migraine + Aura?

Common amplifiers of aura (and migraine) include poor or irregular sleep, dehydration, skipped meals, dysglycemia, stress spikes, bright/flickering light, and environmental irritants (e.g., strong fragrances/solvents).

If you notice a pattern, it’s a lever you can adjust and most likely influence via your habits, environment, or rescue medications.

🩺 Aura vs. No Aura = Treatments Are Still The Same

Aura is a signal, not a siren. With earlier treatment, a basic prevention layer, and a few healthy habits (sleep, meals, light, stress load), most people see attacks become less frequent, less intense, and less scary over time.

And if you stick around, we will keep sharing clinical gems that you can use to your advantage!

🧠 The Migraine Mentors

🍴MIGRAINE-FRIENDLY RECIPE

🫐 Migraine & Histamine-Friendly Blueberry Oatmeal…

📖 Ingredients

• ½ cup gluten-free rolled oats

• 1 cup filtered water or rice milk (unsweetened)

• ¼ cup fresh blueberries

• 1–2 tsp pure maple syrup (optional, for sweetness)

• Pinch of sea salt (optional)

✔️ Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, bring the water or rice milk to a low simmer.

2. Add oats and a pinch of salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 5–7 minutes until creamy.

3. Remove from heat. Let sit 1–2 minutes to thicken slightly.

4. Top with fresh blueberries and a drizzle of maple syrup.

5. Serve warm and enjoy!