Migraine

Migraine symptoms can happen in stages, starting up to a day or two before the head pain begins with mild feelings of depression, crankiness, loss of appetite and stiff neck.

Visual disruptions called auras can start before a migraine, beginning slowly and building to the point where you experience flashing lights or wavy lines, loss of vision, weakness on one side of your body, trouble talking and hearing sounds that aren’t there. Not all people who get migraine headaches experience these preliminary symptoms.

Migraine attacks are characterized by:

• Severe, throbbing pain that can affect one or both sides of your head
• Sensitivity to light that causes you to retreat to a darkened room
• Sensitivity to smells, sounds and touch
• Nausea or vomiting
• Light-headedness
• Fainting
• Blurry vision

Because an estimated 60 percent of migraine is hereditary, one of the first things we will do to make an accurate diagnosis is ask you about your personal and family history.

We will then ask for specific details about your headaches – how many you have, how long they last and what symptoms they cause.

We may also need you to have tests done to rule out other conditions that might be causing your headaches.

There is currently no cure for migraine, but we have found that medication and other types of treatment can help you experience fewer and less debilitating headaches.

We will work with you to identify anything that might trigger your personal migraine so you can avoid them as much as possible, and suggest self-care practices like improving your sleep routine or managing stress.

If those tactics don’t work, over-the-counter medication may help. Your provider can also suggest prescription drugs, if needed. There are many options called abortive treatments that come in pill, shot or nasal spray form and can relieve the symptoms of migraine. In addition, there are preventive medications that stop migraines from starting in the first place.