by Eveline Gan     By all accounts, it would have been an occupational nightmare for any TV reporter. As she prepared to deliver her post Grammy's broadcast live, veteran Los Angeles newscaster Serene Branson looked a picture of poise and confidence.   That was, until she opened her mouth, and out came gibberish and garbled speech.   Was it a seizure? Or was it a stroke?It turned out that she was suffering from a migraine. Branson's unfortunate episode has put the spotlight on the common condition, which affects 9.3 per cent of Singaporeans, based on a 2003 study by the National University of Singapore's Department of Medicine on more than 2,000 Singaporeans.   After looking at the video, Dr Kevin Tan, a consultant of the department of neurology at National Neuroscience Institute, told TODAY that the symptoms Branson experienced could have been a classic case of a "migraine with aura".   During a migraine attack, most people experience head-splitting pain. However, some people can get "symptoms of aura" that sometimes mimic a stroke, said Dr Tan. "The person may experience visual disturbances such as wavy lines, flashing lights, blind spots or distortion of objects. Other symptoms include tingling or a pins-and-needles sensation in the hands," he said.   A few people, like Branson, have problems putting words in the right order. They may also experience confusion, numbness in the hands, shoulders or face, or feel weak on one side of the body - symptoms which are rather similar to that of a stroke.   So how can the layman tell the difference between symptoms of aura and stroke? Dr Tan conceded that it might be tough to differentiate between the two when it happens.   "Usually auras occur with migraine headaches but symptoms of stroke do not cause headaches. Auras also normally go away within 60 minutes. If they do not resolve by then, seek medical attention immediately," he said.   And even if symptoms do disappear within 60 minutes, play it safe and seek medical attention, preferably with a neurologist, advised Dr Tan.       PRELUDE TO A THROBBING HEADACHE   Like Branson, migraine sufferer Eliza Ang, 33, experiences aura symptoms. Before she gets a throbbing migraine, Eliza always experiences "bright flashes of lights".   "My migraines always occur in a three-step manner. After seeing the lights, I always get a splitting headache followed by nausea and vomiting. The migraine can last up to an hour and during this time, you just focus on anything. You can't even sleep to escape the pain because your head hurts so much," said Eliza, who has been experiencing migraines since childhood.   Migraines triggers include certain foods, lack of sleep, stress or even exposure to the sun, factors which can be controlled to a certain extent. What cannot be controlled are the genetic factors which make certain people more prone to developing the condition.   For those suffering from frequent, severe migraine attacks, Dr Tan said medications such as tricyclic antidepressants, beta-blockers and anti-convulsants, can help prevent or reduce the frequency or intensity of attacks.           This article was featured in Today April 12, 2011. http://www.todayonline.com/Health/EDC110412-0000332/Experiencing-numbness-or-...?