Is it necessary to have a scan or MRI to diagnose migraine?
There is no test that will diagnose migraine. The diagnosis is based on the symptoms that you describe to your doctor. After you have described your symptoms, your doctor will examine you to make sure that there is no sign of any other reason for…
Can children be affected by migraine?
Yes! Many people think children and teenagers do not get migraines. However… 2% of children under 6 years old have migraines (approximately 1 child out of 40). 4 to 11% of children from 6 to 11 years old have migraines (approximately 1 child out of…
Is migraine’s presentation the same in children and adults?
No, there are a few differences. In children: Pain is most often located in the forehead or on both sides of the head. In adults, pain is usually located in only one side of the head. The duration of the attack is shorter. The attacks…
How to plan a preventative treatment trial?
Before starting a preventative treatment, it is important that you understand what the steps are. In order to assess the effectiveness of a preventative treatment, knowing the initial situation is required. What is the frequency of your attacks? Using a migraine diary is very useful….
What do I do if I already have medication overuse and very frequent headaches?
The key is to stop the medication overuse. This is not always easy, as the headaches often become temporarily worse when the overused medication is stopped. There are five important components which are necessary for most people with migraine and medication overuse headache if they…
Why take antidepressants to treat migraine?
Antidepressants often have a bad reputation with patients. However, they are efficient when it comes to reducing the frequency of migraines. Read this article to know more about antidepressants. Clinical scenario : You consult with a migraine specialist. He or she prescribes Elavil, saying this medicine…
STOP THE ATTACK
When you feel a migraine coming on, you only have one thing in mind: “it has to stop, otherwise I will lose the whole day.” But what medicine to take, and when? “Do I need a prescription?” This section presents treatments you can use to…
What is the best way to stop an attack?
You have to stop the attack at its onset. Treating an attack that is already well established is harder. Identifying the onset of an attack is a primordial step. To successfully control your migraines, you have to: know your attacks and be able to identify…
Help! My acute treatment does not work. Why?
No treatment is 100% effective. It happens that attacks are very strong and do not respond to usual treatments. What can you do? Adjusting the acute treatment is not always an easy task. The cause of the failure has to be identified. This table presents…
What are the triggers of migraine?
Being able to identify your triggers can help you avoid migraines. How can you identify them? Keeping a migraine diary is very helpful. Read on to know more about triggers. Some important points about triggers: They are not the same for every migraineur They accumulate,…
Migraine & Relationships
Coping with migraine is rarely a solitary undertaking. Support from family and friends is often key to managing and coping with migraines. Sometimes, in the health care field, the focus is on the migraine patient, and the needs of family and friends are forgotten or…
Does weight have an influence on headaches?
If you are overweight, you are 3 times more likely to develop chronic headaches than people with a healthy weight. Several studies have established an association between weight and headaches (not only migraines): overweight or obese people are more likely to suffer from frequent headaches….
