What is a migraine?

A migraine is a headache that causes a severe, throbbing pain, usually on one side of your head. Migraines can be debilitating and may last several hours or several days.

What are the symptoms of a migraine?

Prior to the onset of a migraine headache, you may experience blind spots, flashing lights, or a tingling in one side of your face or limbs. During a migraine, you may experience severe headache pain on one or both sides of your head.

Other common migraine symptoms include:

• Sensitivity to light
• Pulsing pain sensations
• Nausea or vomiting
• Vision problems
• Dizziness or fainting

Following a migraine, you may feel fatigue, confusion, and continued sensitivity to light and sounds.

What causes a migraine?

The root cause of migraine headaches isn’t fully understood. Genetics and environmental factors may contribute to your risk for migraine headaches, and they may be brought on by certain triggers, including:

• Stress
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Sleep problems
• Hormonal changes
• Food sensitivities

Bright lights, loud noises, and strong smells can also trigger a migraine.

What are the risk factors for migraines?

Migraines affect both children and adults. You may have an increased risk for developing migraine headaches if other members of your family get them. Women are also more likely to have migraines than men, possibly due to hormonal changes during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause.

How is a migraine treated?

Dr. Thampoe reviews your medical and family history, as well as your current symptoms, to diagnose migraines. She may also request additional testing to rule out other medical conditions. Tests may include:

• Blood work
• MRI
• CT scan

To relieve the pain of a migraine and prevent future attacks, Dr. Thampoe may prescribe medications.

Dr. Thampoe also offers Botox as an effective treatment for chronic migraine headaches. Botox weakens or paralyzes the muscles that are responsible for headache pain. She injects Botox into the muscles of your neck and forehead to relieve pain and other migraine symptoms.

For follow-up care, Dr. Thampoe creates a customized treatment plan for future treatments, usually spaced 12 weeks apart.

Learn more about migraine treatments at West Houston Internal Medicine by calling the office or booking an appointment online.