Migraine Treatment in NYC | Best Headache Specialists Doctors in Midtown Manhattan & UES

A migraine headache can vary in intensity and often occurs with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine headaches can be debilitating and cause other symptoms in addition to headache pain. A severe migraine attack can last for hours or days, and the pain can interfere with everyday activities. Your physician of general healthcare in Midtown. should evaluate all of your symptoms. Our primary care doctors in Manhattan design the best migraine treatment plan to prevent the symptoms and reduce the likelihood of future attacks. Our trusted Manhattan primary care providers and best internal medicine doctors are excellent migraine treatment specialists in New York.

What are the Symptoms of a Migraine Headache?

People may begin having migraines during childhood or adolescence or early adulthood. There are four stages to a migraine: prodromal, aura, attack, and post prodromal. Not everyone will experience all stages.

Warning signs of a migraine headache can include:

• Prodromal, where signs develop one or two days before a migraine and can include mood changes, food cravings, feeling constipated, noticing you are thirsty, and needing to urinate more frequently.
• An aura can affect each person differently, as some people might lose part of their vision, while others will see bright spots or flashing lights. It can cause ringing in the ears. Some people will notice their lips or lower face, or their fingers have begun to tingle with pins and needles. An aura can last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, with most lasting 15 to 30 minutes.
• A severe headache that may be throbbing and which might only affect one side of the head. The headache may worsen over several hours.
• Sensitivity to light and noise
• Nausea and possibly vomiting

After having a migraine, the post prodromal phase may make you feel confused and drained.

Diagnosis and Migraine Treatment in Midtown NYC and New York’s Upper East Side

Some factors may make you more prone to having headaches. For example, your family history, age, and migraines frequency can reach a peak when you are in your 30s.

Women are up to three times more likely to have migraines because of hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause.

Often, migraines are underdiagnosed and untreated, but if you frequently have the signs and symptoms of migraine, make a note of your attacks and how you treated them. Take this record with you when you see our primary care physician discuss your headaches.

Sometimes migraines can be triggered by alcoholic or caffeinated drinks or salty and processed foods or food additives. Other triggers can include sensory stimuli such as strong smells, medications, stress, and even changes to the weather. These triggers are why keeping a headache diary can be so helpful.

A primary care doctor in NYC may diagnose migraine headaches based on your medical history and symptoms and after a physical and neurological examination. Sometimes it may be necessary to carry out other tests such as an MRI or CT scan. Based on this information, our primary care doctor can design the best migraine treatment plan to prevent the symptoms and reduce the likelihood of future attacks.

Your migraine headache treatment will depend on the severity and frequency of your headaches, whether you have other symptoms like nausea and vomiting, and if you have other medical conditions. The medicines used to treat migraines can be pain-relieving, and these are taken during attacks and aim to stop the symptoms or be preventive medications. You should take preventive medications daily to help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.

Medicines Used for Migraine Headache Treatment

The medicines used for migraine treatment include the following:

• Prescription or over-the-counter pain relievers. These include ibuprofen and aspirin.
• Triptans are prescription drugs taken as a nasal spray, an injection, or pill form and block the brain’s pain pathways.
• Opioid medication can be helpful for people needing chronic migraine treatment and who cannot take other medicines. These medications contain codeine, can be highly addictive, and are only prescribed when other treatments are ineffective.
• Dihydroergotamines as an injection or nasal spray, and you should use them soon after the symptoms begin. These medications tend to be most effective for migraines lasting longer than 24 hours.
• Anti-nausea medication can be helpful if your symptoms include nausea and vomiting.

Many different medicines can help with migraines, and our New York physicians in Midtown or on Upper East Side, NY, can help you find the best treatment for your situation. We look forward to meeting you.

Preventive Medications for Migraine Headache Treatment

If you have frequent migraines, preventive medications may be helpful. They help reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. Possible options include:

• Antidepressants like amitriptyline can prevent migraines.
• Botox injections given every 12 weeks can be a helpful migraine headache treatment for some adults.
• Antiseizure drugs can help people who have less frequent migraines.
• Beta-blockers or blood pressure-lowering medications can help prevent migraines with aura.

Medications can cause side effects, and we will discuss each option with you to determine the best migraine treatment for your needs. Often, lifestyle and home remedies can be helpful in conjunction with medication.

Home Remedies That Can Help Migraine Treatment

• When you notice the symptoms of a migraine beginning to start, try to lie down in a quiet, dark room to rest or nap. Some people like to place an ice pack or cool cloth at the back of their neck or forehead.
• Stick to a regular sleeping routine and try to eat at the same time each day.
• Drink plenty of fluids and especially water.
• Regular exercise as aerobic exercise can reduce tension but be sure to warm up slowly as exercising too suddenly and intensely can cause headaches.
• Keep a headache diary as you may notice factors that trigger migraines, which can help us adjust and further customize your migraine headache treatment during your next appointment.

Other Remedies for Chronic Migraine Treatment

Some other remedies can be beneficial for chronic migraine treatment and include:

• Acupuncture.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a specific type of psychotherapy that can teach you how thoughts and behaviors affect pain perception.
• Biofeedback is a relaxation technique that can help you monitor and control specific stress-related physical responses, such as muscle tension.

Common Triggers for Migraines:

Common triggers for migraines may include stress, hormonal changes, skipping meals, weather changes, flashing lights, specific food/drink, and sleeping too much or too little.

If you have any of these symptoms, suffer from Migraine Headaches, or think you may, you should see one of our best-in-class NYC internists and primary care doctors for a comprehensive evaluation for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

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