When Migraines Strike , Strike Back !
Charles E . Simmons Pediatrics Alyanna A . Brown WhenMigraines Strike , Strike Back Jacksonville , Florida New Year ' s 2015
Charles E . Simmons M . D . Simmons Pediatrics Jacksonville , Florida
The pulsating pain ! The achiness ! This general discomfort stemming from a mi gr aine affects more than 3 7 million people in the United States .
What is a migraine ?
Alyanna A . Brown Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate Florida A & M University
the expans10n of blood vessels , resulting in the throbbing pain associated with a rmgrame . Recognizing and recording individual triggers in a
headache diary or calendar may be useful in helping to prevent future attacks .
Mi gr aines , an episodic disorder , is an extremely painful , pulsating , recurring headache that often affects one side of the head . Along with this pain may come dizziness , nausea , and sensitivity to light and sounds . The pain of a mi gr aine can last for a few hours up to a few days interrupting daily life activities .
They tend to occur in four stages , which are the prodrome , aura , migraine attack , and post-drome , although not all four stages will be present in every migraine case . Auras are the most common stage that precede a mi gr aine and can usually tell us exactly when a mi gr aine will occur . Visual disturbances , speech or language problems , or pin needle sensations in the arms and legs are all examples of auras .
There are two ways to approach treatment of a migraine . Medications can be used to help reduce the severity and frequency of pain . You
can take medicine during attacks to relieve symptoms , known as acute treatment , or implement preventative treatment , which reduces attacks and lessens the intensity of the pain . Resorting to a dark , quiet room , while placing a warm compress on the head can help reduce the severity of such migraines . Not all recommendations work the same for every individual , therefore it ' s ' important to know what causes the onset of your mi gr aine in order to best treat it . Migraines cannot be cured , but with effective treatment strategies , they can be managed .
The exact cause of mi gr aine headaches has not yet been established , however , genetic and environmental factors , commonly called triggers , play a huge role in the onset of the pain . These triggers can include alcohol , skipping meals , odors , abnormal sleep schedule , caffeine , physical or emotional stress , certain foods , such as aged cheese and meats , as well as frequent changes in weather and altitude . All of these triggers lead to an imbalance of serotonin , which then causes
Although most mi gr aines are not associated with serious disease , distinct changes in migraine presentation , should prompt a physician ' s visit .
Simmons Pediatrics
P . H . E . O . Medical Center , Suite 1 1771 Edgewood Avenue West
Jacksonville , Florida 32208
( 904 ) 766-1106