Migraine pain can isolate you from your family and friends and lower your quality of life. If you experience frequent migraines, it’s time to explore your options for preventive treatments.
At Primary Care Walk-In Medical Clinic, we create personalized migraine therapies to address existing pain and prevent new migraines from occurring.
Our highly skilled physicians offer the latest migraine medications to ease your pain and can suggest the lifestyle and diet changes you can make to keep migraines at bay.
A migraine is a severe headache that causes pulsating, throbbing, or stabbing pain on one side of your head. Pain can be intense enough to also make you feel dizzy, nauseous, and extra sensitive to light, sounds, and smells. Pain and other symptoms can last for several hours or days.
The root cause of migraines isn’t clear, but there are known factors that can trigger a migraine attack, including:
Women and people with a family history of migraines may also be more susceptible to experiencing these painful headaches.
Our migraine specialists at Primary Care Walk-In Medical Clinic recommend that you learn more about preventive treatments if you have chronic migraines that occur 15 or more times a month.
You should also seek preventive care if your existing migraines no longer respond well to over-the-counter or prescription migraine medicines.
Preventive medications are available to prevent migraine attacks before you experience pain. Several medications are available to meet your needs based on your existing health and the frequency of your migraines. These medications include:
Our providers can also recommend Botox® injections for chronic migraine sufferers. We inject precise amounts of Botox into the muscles around your face. The medication temporarily paralyzes the muscles to prevent migraines from occurring. You only need four treatments a year as part of your migraine prevention plan.
In addition to medications or Botox therapy, you should also be mindful of your habits that play a role in migraines. Here are five tips from the American Migraine Foundation based on the SEEDS acronym:
Poor-quality sleep can trigger a migraine attack and make existing migraine pain worse. It’s important to follow a consistent sleep schedule, waking up and going to sleep at the same time each day. Aim to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night.
You should also make changes to your sleeping environment to promote deep sleep. This includes removing electronics from your space, using room darkening shades, and keeping the room temperature cool.
Daily exercise can reduce the frequency and intensity of a migraine attack. Look for low-impact exercises you can do for at least 30 minutes a day to maintain good health and lower your risk for migraines.
Consider swimming, walking, yoga, and other physical activities that won’t overexert you.
Missing meals and not drinking enough water can trigger migraine attacks. Avoid processed foods and eat fresh fruits and vegetables daily.
You should also drink plenty of water and minimize your use of alcohol, sugar, and caffeine.
The foods you eat and the activities you engage in may play a larger role in your migraine attacks than you realize. Our physicians recommend keeping a diary of your activities to help pinpoint your migraine triggers.
You should also note when you have pain and whether it’s mild, moderate, or severe so you can keep track of your migraines monthly.
Chronic stress is a known migraine trigger. If you’re stressed out about family matters, work, or other day-to-day issues, be proactive about getting your stress under control.
Consider incorporating relaxation techniques such as breathwork or meditation into your routine. Also, take time for yourself every day to unwind with a good book or other relaxing activity.
Call the Primary Care Walk-In Medical Clinic in Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, or Gilbert, Arizona, today to learn more about migraine prevention. You can also book an appointment online or visit the clinic as a walk-in.
