Dr. Elizabeth Ferluga, UT Erlanger Neurology; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical SocietyQ: I get frequent headaches that really knock me out. I need to lie down and rest when they come on. Are they migraine headaches?
A: Migraines are moderate to severe throbbing pains often isolated on one side of the head. For some, they are preceded by an aura, for example, a flashing light or blind spot, and/or numbness and tingling. Migraines may cause nausea, and they tend to worsen with movement, light and noise. Eight out of 10 patients with the condition report sinus pain and pressure, so they’re often confused with sinus infections. But migraines are a neurological disease that involves cranial blood vessels as well as nerve pathways and chemical changes in the brain. Diagnosis is made clinically from a good medical history, so you should talk with your primary care physician, who may refer you to a neurologist for specialty treatment. Migraines can be managed with a good treatment plan.
– Dr. Elizabeth Ferluga, UT Erlanger Neurology; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society
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