Migranes

Is your headache often on one side of you head and associated with nausea and vomiting? Do bright lights and loud sounds bother you when you have a headache? Are migraines disrupting your normal daily activities? Have you tried all means of treating your pain but have not been able to get any relief? Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), the all-natural alternative to pain relief, may be the answer for you.

Studies have shown:

• OMT may effect migraine headache in regard to decreased pain intensity and the reduction of number of days with migraine as well as working disability

A headache is pain or discomfort anywhere in the region of the head or neck. Headaches are the most common health complaints experienced by every person at some point during their life. Most headaches are not serious and can be treated with OMT, lifestyle changes, and medications. There are many different types of headaches and it is important to know the particular type of headache you have.

A migraine is a common type of headache usually felt as a throbbing pain on one side of the head.

Causes

The exact cause of migraine is unknown but may occur from a series of changes in brain chemicals. Migraines occur more often in women than men and may run in families. Migraine attacks may be associated with alcohol use, smoking, lack of sleep, prolonged muscle tension and stress, changes in hormone levels during a woman’s menstrual periods or with the use of oral contraceptives, and certain foods – especially chocolate, cheese, nuts, alcohol, and foods containing preservatives and artificial sweeteners.

Symptoms

Migraine headaches often cause a throbbing or pulsating sensation usually on one side of the head. Pain often starts as a dull ache and can worsen within minutes or hours and may be associated with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines can last a few hours or even up to one or two days. Some people with migraines experience prodromal symptoms including repeated yawning, food cravings, mood changes, and altered perception of heat and cold. These symptoms occur several hours before the headache begins.

Diagnosis

Migraine headache is diagnosed by taking a thorough history and physical exam. To rule out other causes of headache, your physician may order other tests.

Treatment

Treatment of migraine headache includes:

• Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT)
• Abortive and preventive medications. Abortive medications are taken during migraine attacks and are designed to stop it once it starts. They can be taken by mouth, nasal spray, or administered by self-injection. Preventive medications are taken on a daily basis, to reduce the severity or frequency of the migraine attacks.
• Keeping a headache diary to help identify your headache type and recommend effective treatment. Your headache diary should include information about the location of pain, duration, intensity, foods eaten, medications, weather conditions, daily activities, and associated symptoms.
• Stopping smoking, avoiding alcohol and any foods associated with bringing on headache.

For a list of articles supporting OMT, please click here.

Head & Nervous System Disease

• Tension Headaches
• Migranes
• Tmj –Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
• Cerebral Palsy
• Trauma
• Premenopausal Women with Newly Diagnosed Depression
• Sinusitis