According to the National Headache Foundation (NHF), more than 28 million suffer from migraine headaches. Migraine headaches can be more than just a tension headache. Migraine headaches can be disabling, severe, and recurrent. Migraine headaches can last several days, which is even more frustrating. You might be able to get migraine treatment if you are one of the 28 million people suffering from this debilitating condition. Your doctor is the first step to migraine treatment.
Migraines
Your doctor must be able to diagnose the exact type of migraine you are experiencing. The symptoms may not be enough to make a diagnosis. A thorough physical exam and headache evaluation will be necessary to diagnose migraines. Your doctor and you can narrow down your treatment options only after all other possible causes have been eliminated.
Your doctor may recommend that you keep a headache diary if there are no obvious causes of your migraines. To help you identify migraine triggers, a headache diary can be used.
Triggers
There are many migraine triggers. Stress, fatigue, lack sleep, foods or additives to them, alcohol, nicotine and caffeine, as well as bright lights, can all trigger migraine headaches in some people. You are more likely to find the causes of migraines by keeping a migraine diary. Once you have identified the causes of your migraines you can start working towards a migraine treatment. It is possible to reduce or eliminate migraine headaches by avoiding certain foods and conditions.
While it is possible for some to use a headache diary as a preventative treatment, others may need additional support. When you feel the symptoms of a migraine, it is time to stop taking medication. If your headaches are severe or frequent (more than three per month), then you might not want to wait to start taking medication.