Understanding The Causes Of Migraines and Your Treatment Options

If you suffer from migraines, you may find that they have a dramatic effect on your lifestyle. This is especially true if you have yet to identify and avoid triggers, and establish an effective method of treatment. Below, we'll explore some common causes of migraines, as well as the treatment options.

Causes

No one knows the underlying reason that people get migraines. We do know that they can be described as abnormal brain reactions to certain environmental stimuli. In addition, there is some genetic component to migraines, and some people start getting migraines after trauma to the brain.

Migraines often come on after exposure to a trigger - a substance or other stimulus that brings on the migraines. Some of the most common triggers include:

• Caffeine - although caffeine may also be included in the treatment of migraines
• Lack of sleep
• Stress
• Certain foods, especially cheese and foods with high fat content
• Certain types of light or noise

When you're first diagnosed with migraines, one of the most important things to do is to start identifying your triggers. If you seem to have no triggers, your doctor may recommend that you eliminate foods from your diet one by one, then bring them back one by one, to help identify your triggers. Although avoiding triggers won't necessarily eliminate all migraines, it can often eliminate most of them.

Treatment Options

There are many treatments for migraines; the right one will depend on the severity of your headaches, and what treatments you've responded to in the past. The simplest and best option is to simply avoid triggers, and use over-the-counter medication to manage migraines when they do occur. Next, you may use prescription medications to manage your pain if over-the-counter meds don't work. If that is ineffective, your doctor may prescribe a daily medication to help prevent migraines from occurring. In cases where all other treatments are ineffective, a surgery like nerve stimulation may be warranted.

Only a doctor can tell you which treatment options might be best for your migraines. To schedule a consultation today, please click below and enter your information or call the Back Surgery & Pain Center at (212) 430-0312.