Mahaska Health Partnership Raises Migraine Awareness
Adult Nurse Practitioner Lisa Nelson, ARNP
MAHASKA COUNTY – Mahaska Health Partnership wants to inform you of the causes, symptoms and treatments for migraines.
According to the National Institutes of Health, a migraine is a very painful type of recurring headache that often causes nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. People who are prone to migraines describe the pain and throbbing in a specific area of the head. Women are three times more likely to have migraines than men.
“If you suffer from migraines you are familiar with the debilitating affects the condition can have,” commented Adult Nurse Practitioner Lisa Nelson, ARNP. “Migraine attacks can last for hours and be so brutal that all you can think about is finding a quiet, dark place to lie down.”
The American Council for Headache Education states that migraine sufferers can increase their risk of having a migraine attack if they skip meals, change their sleep pattern or overexert themselves physically as well as other triggers. Not everyone reacts to these factors the same way so migraine sufferers are encouraged to keep headache diaries to help identify what specific factors can lead to their migraine attacks.
“Up to two days before a migraine attack, you may start to feel strange. By learning your migraine cues, you may minimize the effects,” said Nelson. “Take special note if you experience cravings for certain foods, excitability, hyperactivity, tiredness, yawning or a change in mood.”
If you suffer from frequent migraine attacks, there are treatment options. Talk with your doctor to discuss your triggers and possible treatment options.
Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, call 641-672-3240 or visit www.mahaskahealth.org.
