Migraines

As many as 12% of Americans suffer from regular migraines. These debilitating headaches interfere with work, school, and daily life. Family medicine physician Alexander Owens, DO, in Naples, Florida, is ready to help you avoid emergency room visits due to acute migraines and reduce episodes of regular headaches. He offers osteopathic manipulations, injections, and prescription medications to reduce or eliminate migraine episodes. Call the office or request an appointment online if you’re ready to find relief from recurrent migraines.

Migraines Q & A

What are migraines?

People often describe migraines as intense headaches that usually recur. A migraine is characterized by severe pain on one side of your head and other symptoms, including:

• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Vomiting and nausea
• Seeing flashes of light, blind spots, or zig-zag lines

Some people experience occasional migraines, while others—up to 4 million Americans—have chronic migraines, defined as 15 or more episodes a month. Chronic migraines can disable you and interfere with your ability to work, go to school, or do daily chores and activities.

You may experience just one or two migraines per month or be among the 4 million Americans who suffer from chronic migraines, defined as 15 or more episodes per month. Migraines can be debilitating and disabling, causing lost time from work, school, and life.

Why do people experience migraines?

The exact reason certain people experience migraines isn’t clearly understood. Migraines seem to have a genetic component, and women are more likely to experience them.

Dietary choices can trigger migraines in some people, including the food additive MSG, aged cheese, aspartame, chocolate, and alcohol. Some environmental triggers also make people experience migraines. These include bright lights and flickering images. If you’re prone to migraines, missed sleep, stress, low blood sugar, and dehydration can also cause an episode.

Dr. Owens can help you identify your triggers and help you avoid them. This knowledge allows you to reduce the number of migraines you experience.

What treatments are available for migraines?

As an osteopathic physician, Dr. Owens offers osteopathic manipulative therapy to help alleviate your migraine pain. Research supports these gentle but effective manipulations in their ability to decrease pain intensity, reduce the number of days with migraines, and improve your work performance.

Certain prescription medications can provide relief from migraine pain. Options include antidepressants and antihypertensive medications administered orally or via injection. Lifestyle changes can also ease the number and intensity of migraine episodes. Ensure you get plenty of sleep, eat a wholesome diet, and take steps to reduce stress.

If you suffer from regular migraines and just want relief, call the office of Alexander Owens, DO, or request your appointment using the online tool.