Migraine

What is a migraine?

Migraines are a type of headache that comes back again and again, causing pain, throbbing, and pulsing sensations. The condition also may make you sensitive to sound and light. Women are three times more likely to get a migraine than men.

What triggers a migraine?

Researchers believe migraines have something to do with your genes. Migraines tend to occur if you have a more sensitive nervous system than most people. 

Other factors that may bring on a migraine include:

• Stress
  
• Anxiety
  
• Insomnia or a lack of sleep
  
• Changes in the weather, particularly barometric pressure
  
• Medicines
  
• Red wine
  
• Certain foods
  
• Skipping meals
  
• Flashing lights or strong odors
  
• Too much physical activity
  
• Tobacco
  
• Caffeine
  
• Overuse of migraine medicines

Estrogen, the primary female hormone, also appears to trigger migraines.

What are the symptoms of a migraine?

You may experience intense throbbing or pulsing sensations in one section of your head with a migraine. The feeling typically occurs with other symptoms, such as:

• Nausea
  
• Vomiting
  
• Extreme sensitivity to sound or light

Migraine attacks can cause significant pain for hours or even days. Your attack can be so severe that all you can think about is finding a dark, quiet place to lie down.

Sensory warning symptoms may appear right before a migraine. These signs include:

• Flashes of light
  
• Blind spots
  
• Tingling in your arm or leg

Migraines may progress through four stages — prodrome, aura, headache, and postdrome. However, you may not experience all the steps.

How is a migraine diagnosed?

Your practitioner at Advanced Center for Neurology and Headache takes a complete medical history. Next, they perform a physical and neurological exam. An important part of diagnosing migraines is to rule out other medical conditions that might be causing your symptoms. They may recommend imaging tests to help confirm your diagnosis. 

How is a migraine treated?

Your practitioner recommends an appropriate treatment plan based on your diagnosis. They often suggest a combination of lifestyle or dietary modifications along with medication. 

You may benefit from treatment with Botox, an injection that blocks neurotransmitters from sending signals to your muscles and nerves. The injections last about three months on average. 

Don’t allow a migraine to keep you from doing all of the activities you love. Call and make an appointment today with Advanced Center for Neurology and Headache or book a consultation online.