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In the United States, more than 37 million Americans suffer from migraines, while two to three million experience chronic migraines. This drastically affects day-to-day life. In fact, a study found that 91 percent of adults miss work or can’t perform normal activities during a migraine attack. Those who have experienced a migraine know how important it is to find a treatment that is both effective and long-lasting. At Phoenix Family Medical, we are dedicated to providing excellent care. Our practitioners are skilled with both alternative and conventional medicine to treat those who suffer from migraines.
About and Causes of Migraines
A migraine is a genetic neurological disease that is characterized by intense headache feelings that include symptoms such as throbbing or pulsating pain, light and sound sensitivity, and nausea. Right before an attack, many patients report prodrome symptoms one to two days beforehand. These can include mood changes, food cravings, neck stiffness, increased thirst, and fatigue. Migraines can last anywhere from a few hours to days, leaving those who suffer from them desperately seeking treatment.
Doctors have found that when a migraine occurs, it is usually the result of a combination of things. During a migraine attack, the temporal artery (located on the outside of the skull) enlarges and causes a release of chemicals that result in inflammation and intense pain.
Treatments Available
Due to the massive amount of people who suffer from migraines, there has been extensive research on why these attacks happen as well as how to accurately treat them. For mild or moderate migraines, pain relievers like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or Excedrin are helpful, but can be harmful to the body if taken for too long. These should not be permanent solutions. Prescription drugs, such as triptans, have also been proven to aid in migraine pain relief. Triptans make blood vessels constrict and block pain pathways in the brain and come in pill, nasal spray and injection form.
There are a number of home remedies that people turn to. It really is important to find something that works best for you. We recommend trying the following to manage your migraine attacks:
How Integrative Medicine Can Help
Alternative medicine and therapies are becoming more popular for those suffering from migraine attacks because they are seeing real results. Botox, for example, brings relief to people who suffer from chronic migraines. According to the American Migraine Foundation, Botox is injected around nerve endings and blocks the release of the chemicals that are responsible for pain transmission. This can prevent migraines before they even begin. Another form of migraine relief comes from trigger point injections. A trigger point is a muscle, or tight knot, that occurs when a muscle fails to relax. This trigger point can irritate surrounding nerves, causing pain or a migraine attack. By injecting a type of steroid into the trigger point, it can force the muscle to relax and eliminate pain that is being caused by the trigger point. You can read more about this procedure here.
At Phoenix Family Medical Clinic, it is our goal to treat your migraines so you can return to normal, day-to-day life. Whether it is through prescribed medication or alternative medicine, a doctor at one of our five valley-area clinic can determine the right treatment plan for you. Don’t live another day in agony. Visit us online to schedule your appointment.