Migraine headaches affect millions of Americans annually. They are often experienced as a debilitating, recurring headache which may last from minutes to hours to days at a time. They typically are felt on one side of the head, frequently accompanied by nausea, light-sensitivity, sound-sensitivity, and even feelings of faintness.
Traditionally, migraine headaches are treated through the use of daily medication or as-needed medication, or a combination of both.
Dr. Cooke begins by thoroughly reviewing the possible triggers to migraine, including foods and additives, environmental factors, and hormonal influences. She will outline a treatment plan which may include acupuncture, dietary and hormonal approaches, or vision therapy, as a complement to standard medical therapy. The vast majority of her patients who walk in with a headache, walk out headache-free for that session.
Sometimes, a headache may be a sign of a more serious condition. A headache which awakens you during sleep, or one which is new and different or worse than any other in the past, or associated with fever, or following a blow to the head, ear pain, eye pain, or confusion, for example, may require immediate evaluation through your local doctor or the nearest ER.
Nutrients which may help: feverfew, a medicinal herb from the sunflower family used frequently throughout Europe for headaches, magnesium, or hormone replacement therapy in menopause.
Interventions: Sleep study to rule out sleep apnea or other related conditions.