Migraines cause an intense throbbing or pulsing pain that usually occurs on one side of your head. This pain is usually accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and vomiting. These painful attacks can last for hours or days and can be debilitating. If you experience severe migraines, visit a migraine doctor Los Angeles today.

Symptoms

Migraines typically begin during childhood or early adulthood and progress in four stages. The four stages are listed below:

  1. Prodrome. The first stage, called Prodrome, typically occurs one to two days before the onset of a migraine. There are subtle warning signs that indicate that you may be getting a migraine, those signs are:
    • Sudden mood swing
    • Constipation
    • Craving
    • Increased thirst, accompanied by increased urination
    • Excess yawning
    • Neck stiffness
  2. Aura. The second stage occurs before or during a migraine, but many people don’t ever experience this stage. Auras are a symptom of the nervous system and include visual disturbances. You may also experience movement disturbances, speech disturbances, and touching sensations.
  3. Attack. This third stage lasts anywhere from 4 to 72 hours if left untreated. The frequency of these attacks varies from person to person and can occur several times a month. Symptoms include:
    • Throbbing or pulsing pain
    • Pain on one or both side of your head
    • Light, sound, smell, and touch sensitivity
    • Blurred vision
    • Lightheadedness, fainting
    • Nausea and vomiting
  4. Post-drome. This stage occurs after the attack and you may find yourself feeling drained. However, some people have a feeling of elation. About 24 hours after the attack, you may also feel some moodiness, confusion, dizziness, sensitivity to light and sound, and weakness.

Causes

The causes of migraines aren’t completely understood, but it is believed that genetics and environmental factors play a role. However, there are a number of other possible triggers that include:

  • Diet – Aged cheese and processed, salty foods may be triggering your migraines. Fasting and skipping meals can also be a contributing factor
  • Hormonal changes- Migraines can be triggered when estrogen level fluctuates in women
  • Drinks – Alcohol and caffeinated beverages are migraine triggers
  • Stress
  • Bright lights, strong smells, and loud sounds
  • Food additives such as aspartame and monosodium glutamate
  • Jet lag, too much or too little sleep
  • Physical factors such as sexual activity or intense physical exertion
  • Changes in environment
  • Some medications

Treatment

Your migraine doctor Los Angeles may recommend some treatments that will help alleviate symptoms and prevent attacks. Migraine medications fall into two main categories:

  1. Pain-relieving Medications
    • Pain relievers like ibuprofen and aspirin made specifically to treat migraine symptoms
    • Triptans that constrict blood vessels to block pain pathways
    • Glucocorticoids combined with other medications can be used to decrease pain
    • Drugs that combine ergotamine and caffeine aren’t as effective as triptans, but they are more effective if you experience migraines that last 48 hours or longer.
  2. Preventative Medications. There are several factors that may make you a candidate for preventative therapy:
    •  You experience more than four attacks a month
    • If pain-relieving medications don’t work
    • Attacks last for 12 hours or longer
    • If you experience prolonged numbness, weakness, or aura

Common migraine prevention medications include:

  • Antidepressants
  • Cardiovascular drugs
  • Botox
  • Pain relievers
  • Anti-seizure drugs

If you are experiencing debilitating migraines and would like to schedule a visit to our migraine doctor Los Angeles, please call (213) 386-2511 or schedule an appointment online, here.