Some people think that migraine attacks are just simple headaches.
The truth is, they can indicate a more serious condition.
There exist a condition known as basilar migraines or BAMs.
This is a very rare but potentially life-threatening form of migraine.
Basilar migraine is said to be caused by the constriction of the basilar artery which supplies blood to the brain stem.
Young women and adolescent girls are the ones most commonly effected by this condition.
Recent studies though have shown that it can also affect people of all ages and genders.
The symptoms of basilar migraine during its aura phase may include double vision or partial vision loss, loss of balance, numbness on both sides of the body, lack of coordination, severe vomiting and dizziness and confusion.
These symptoms usually last for about an hour and they usually cease once the headache starts.
These symptoms may return and may last for days after the headache disappears.
In some cases, basilar migraine sufferers may even pass out during the aura phase of the condition.
There are basilar migraine sufferers who even slip into a coma that last for hours or days.
The worst thing that can happen to basilar migraine sufferers is to suffer a transient ischemic attack (TIA) which is a kind of stroke.
When the flow of blood to the brain is interrupted temporarily, TIA occurs.
The main difference between TIA and stroke is that the former is not known to cause permanent damage to the brain.
TIA may also lead to neurological problems such as weakness on one side of the body and slurred speech but they usually clear up within 24 hours of the attack.
The pain that basilar migraine sufferers feel is a severe throbbing pain on both side of the head.
This is different from the unilateral temple throbbing which is related to ordinary migraines.