Colorful zigzags and flashing lights could mean more than a headache is coming.
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I had a migraine with aura today while writing this Wellness Wire. It started with a bright “glitch” in the center of my vision, which steadily expanded into a curved zigzag with colored highlights. This interfered with my work, so I took 900 milligrams (mg) of dispersible aspirin, letting them dissolve on my tongue this time. They fizzed a little and tasted pretty good. It seemed to work, as within 20 minutes my vision had settled enough to get back to writing this. It can take more than an hour to pass, so this was a good result.
Read on to discover more about this common type of migraine and what it may mean for long-term health in those who get them. |
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Let’s look into it,
Tim Snaith
Newsletter Editor, Healthline |
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Written by Tim Snaith
October 21, 2026 • 2 min read |
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Roughly 1 in 3 people with migraine get an aura — the zigzags, flashing lights, or blind spots that arrive before or alongside the headache. Typically, this visual aura — also known as scintillating scotoma — appears in both eyes. (A rarer condition called retinal migraine affects one eye only.)
If I haven’t gotten your attention yet, this might: According to a study published in May, people with migraine with aura had a 73% higher risk of ischemic stroke, the common kind caused by a blocked blood vessel, over a 6-year period. Migraine without aura showed no extra risk.
That risk increase may sound alarming, but it’s just another way of saying that 4.7% of people with migraine with aura had an ischemic stroke, compared to 3.4% of people with no migraine at all.
Migraine and aura status were self-reported in the study, and it shows an association without proving that aura causes stroke. Men under 72 with either type of migraine had more than three and a half times the risk, a result the authors called unexpected and would like to investigate further. However, women and older men showed no such rise.
For now, the practical step is telling a healthcare professional about your auras. To be safe, you may consider reducing your risk of stroke by getting regular checkups, quitting smoking, and managing blood pressure and cholesterol.
What about managing the condition as it happens? A 2013 review of 13 randomized trials found that a single 900 to 1,000 mg dose of aspirin is an effective, well-tolerated option for migraine. A larger 2024 analysis of 137 trials found aspirin worked about as well as some newer, pricier prescription drugs, though triptans still came out ahead.
However, any sudden loss of vision, slurred speech, and weakness on one side of the body requires immediate emergency evaluation. |
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| 💌 Over to you: Have you ever had a migraine with visuals like these? Email wellnesswire@healthline.com to share your experience. |
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| What Is Migraine and How Is It Treated? |
| More than just a case of “really bad headache,” migraine is a neurological condition that can cause multiple symptoms. Here’s how it’s treated, including home remedies. |
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| Until next time, |
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Take care of yourself, and we’ll see
you again soon! |
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