Migraine Headaches
What is Migraine?
Migraine is the 3rd most common disease in the world (behind tooth decay and tension-type headaches) and affects over 3 million Australians. Migraine headaches can affect people of any age, although they are most common in women between 35 to 45 years old. Most migraines are felt as one-sided throbbing or pulsating headaches that are at least moderately intense and can be aggravated by physical activity. The headaches are very often associated with nausea and vomiting, as well as increased sensitivity to light, sound and even some types of smell. Some types of migraine can cause particularly distressing symptoms such as vertigo (a sense of spinning) or can mimic a stroke. It is common for people who suffer from migraines to experience other problems such as Anxiety, Depression and Fibromyalgia.
What causes Migraine ?
Many people with migraines know that stress, lack of sleep, neck tension and certain foods can set off a migraine attack. However research over the past decade has confirmed that these are simply just “triggers” and that whilst the underlying cause is not precisely known migraines are the result of abnormalities in brain function - in other words a “brain problem”. Brain scans that look at how the brain is working, such as QEEG, can help to localise the areas of the brain that are not working normally (which can be different from one person with Migraine to another). This important information can be used to help guide advice and to develop personalised treatment programmes.
Drug-Free Treatment for Migraine
Everyone is different and there is no single migraine treatment that helps or works for everyone. Traditionally, treatment has been limited to medication to try and prevent attacks, or to stop one when it starts. Many people will also look to identify and minimise any “triggers”, and this is a sensible approach that can often be helpful.
There is no “one size fits all” approach to help people with migraine headaches, and we believe that people should be able to make an informed choice based upon the range of treatments now available. Perth Brain Centre focuses on providing drug-free and evidence-based treatments for migraine headaches including Biofeedback Training, as well as offering targeted lifestyle advice.
