If you suffer from migraines, discovering what triggers them and finding treatment can be a frustrating journey. People have linked migraines to foods, preservatives, dyes, weather, hormones, stress and even smells just to name a few. Migraines affect people differently. They can be annoying to debilitating. Some are extremely painful while others have no pain at all. They can affect vision, cause sensitivity to light, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, and loss of appetite.
There are some known preventative measures you can try if migraines are a problem for you. Of course avoiding known trigger foods is a good place to start. Magnesium, vitamin B-2 and co-enzyme Q10 have all showed promise in migraine prevention studies. The herb butterbur has cut some people's migraines by 50%. Maybe a trip down the vitamin aisle will benefit you.
If prevention doesn't work for you all the time there are some treatment options worth mentioning. The truth is that treatment has to be a custom fit. It's not a one-size-fits-all since the symptoms and frequencies of migraines vary from person to person. There are medications such as antidepressants, blood pressure medications, nose sprays that constrict blood vessels, and steroids. You might even find relief with Botox injections. Many of these medications have side effects so some physicians suggest choosing the medication with the side effect that is most tolerable. Talk to your doctor about what might work best for you.
There is still a lot to learn about migraines and their cause. Migraine treatments have a long way to go, but at least there's some help out there for you! If you are suffering, NewSouth Neurospine can help. Please call us at 601-983-2872 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael Winkelmann.
