By Loreen Morris, APRN-CNP
Certified Nurse Practitioner, Blanchard Valley Pain Management

If you suffer from migraine headaches, you're not alone. More than 39 million Americans live with migraines, a complex neurological disorder that extends far beyond a typical headache. The good news? Effective migraine treatment is available, and it starts with understanding your symptoms and available options.

There are many types of headaches, such as tension, cervicogenic and migraine headaches. Identifying the type of headache is critical to choosing the proper treatment. Tension headaches present with tight, band-like pressure. Cervicogenic headaches typically arise from the neck. Migraines are more than "just bad headaches." They are a neurological disorder that often presents as one-sided, pulsating pain lasting hours or even days. 

Unlike tension headaches, migraines often involve light, sound and smell sensitivity, nausea and vomiting, and visual disturbances such as flashing lights or aura. Other migraine symptoms include neck stiffness or pain, brain fog, mood changes and food cravings. Many people who experience migraines don't realize that early warning signs, called prodrome symptoms, can begin hours or days before a migraine attack. Prodrome symptoms may resemble those of migraines, but can also involve irritability, sleep disturbances, fatigue and challenges in speaking or reading. 

While there are many common causes for migraines, recognizing your specific triggers can significantly reduce the frequency of migraines. Key triggers include stress, poor sleep and hormonal fluctuations (especially in women). Dietary changes, like missing meals, dehydration and caffeine withdrawal, may also be triggers. Alcohol, aged cheese and artificial sweeteners can also be potential culprits. Environmental factors, such as shifts in weather, bright lights or strong scents, can provoke migraines. Using a headache journal to track your habits and symptoms can help you and your provider pinpoint patterns and discover what may trigger your migraines.

Determining when to seek help with migraines can be difficult. If you have more than four migraine days each month, or if your symptoms disrupt your daily activities, it's time to see a specialist. Depending only on over-the-counter medications may worsen symptoms through rebound headaches. 

Since migraines may resemble other conditions, consulting an expert ensures accurate diagnosis and effective treatment which can include nerve blocks, rapid-relief injection therapies, Botox® injections (FDA-approved for chronic migraines) and CGRP inhibitors.