Migraine Treatment Specialist Q&A

A migraine is one of many different types of headaches that people can experience.

It can be hard to tell the difference from one type of headache to another, and depending on the person, they can experience migraines with a variety of symptoms. Migraine sufferers will know the difference between a migraine and a headache as the symptoms and pain are more severe.

Migraines are typically focused on one side of the head, with the pain coming in the form of a pulsing sensation or severe throbbing.

The pain of a migraine is typically accompanied by additional symptoms such as being highly sensitive to sound and light, as well as feelings of nausea and vomiting.

Depending on the person, and the particular migraine, the pain and additional symptoms can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, and disrupt the sufferer’s normal daily activities including work, school, and sports.

Migraines can affect people of all ages, from children through to adults, and can vary in severity as people move through different life stages. There are four stages of migraine progression, although patients may not go through all of the stages. The four stages are:

• Prodrome which can cause changes to the body in the one or two days prior to a migraine. Changes people experience can include constipation, mood changes, cravings, stiffness in the neck, fluid retention, increased need to urinate, and more frequent yawning.

• Aura is a common symptom migraine sufferers experience and can occur either before or during a migraine. Most of the time they are visual, meaning the sufferer sees flashes of light, bright spots, or various shapes in their vision, or they experience vision loss. Other nervous symptom auras include tingling in the arms and legs, difficulty speaking, and numbness of the face or one side of the body.

• Attack is the actual migraine itself, which can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours, depending on the person. During the attack, sufferers will experience pain either on one or both sides of the head, throbbing or pulsing pain, nausea and vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound, as well as occasionally touch and smell.

• Post-drome is the feeling people experience after migraines that can leave them feeling confused, physically drained, and overall yucky for up to a day.

Just as each migraine sufferer’s symptoms will be different, so will their migraine triggers.

There are common migraine triggers that doctors have found over the years of studying their patients.
Some people may have multiple triggers while others may have only one, and some people get migraines frequently while others experience them on a rare basis.

Regardless of the frequency, understanding what your migraine triggers are can help to avoid getting a migraine.

Common migraine triggers include hormonal changes, particularly in women, drinks containing alcohol or caffeine, stress, sensory stimuli such as strong smells or blinking lights, too much or not enough sleep, physical exertion, weather changes, medications, and certain foods.

Patients who seek medical attention from their doctor regarding migraines will often be asked to keep a journal of food, drinks, sleep, activities, etc. to help the doctor determine what the migraine triggers might be.

Your family doctor or primary care physician can be your first point of contact regarding migraines.
They will help you to pinpoint what the triggers are and can also work with you on making adjustments to your diet or lifestyle to help minimize the severity and frequency of your migraines.

They are also able to prescribe medications if needed for either migraine prevention or to be taken when you are experiencing a migraine attack.

Depending on the severity, frequency, and medical history, your doctor may want to refer you to a neurologist for further testing and treatment as they have received additional education and experience with treating headaches.

You can also seek medical care through urgent care for severe migraines, such as the North Tex MedCare Clinic and Urgent Care. To learn more about migraine and its treatment options, call us today or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Allen TX, Fort Worth TX, San Antonio TX, Addison TX, Plano TX, Frisco TX, Terrell Hills TX, Carrollton TX, Richardson TX, China Grove TX, Farmers Branch TX, Hebron TX, Forest Hill TX, Leon Valley TX, Fairview TX, Parker TX, Lucas TX and BEYOND.