Bonitas Member Magazine B-Living Issue 3 | Page 28

Making sense of migraines
Migraines are one of the most common reasons individuals visit the doctor, affecting approximately
18% of women and 6% of men. We enlisted Dr Elliot Shevel, founder and medical director of the
Headache Clinic South Africa, to share his insights on headaches and migraines as well as triggers
and treatments available.
A migraine may be a one-sided, throbbing headache
accompanied by nausea, vomiting as well as light and
sound sensitivity, but doesn’t always conform to this
description since it can affect both sides of the head
without a throbbing sensation, nausea, vomiting or light
and sound sensitivity. Each symptom can have different
causes so it is essential to diagnose which anatomical
structure of the body is in pain to treat this ailment
effectively.
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Where does the pain come from?
Contrary to what most specialists believe, migraine pain
almost never comes from the brain, but originates from
muscles of the jaws and neck, small blood vessels and
arteries as well as nerves under the skin of the head, face
and neck. This makes it easier to treat a migraine because
the structures in pain are mostly just under the skin.
B-Living Issue 3, 2017