Migraines can cause extreme pain and agony, and finding effective treatment options during an episode is difficult. Even though not all migraines are preventable or reversible, getting relief with the correct techniques is feasible. As a neurologist, Dr. Risa Ravitz New York, assists patients in managing migraines, reducing discomfort, and preventing recurrent episodes. Contact Modern Migraine MD to discuss your concerns and what options can provide you lasting relief. Meanwhile, read on to find out everything you need to know about migraines alexandria mn and when to consult a neurologist.

What Exactly Are Migraines?

Migraine is a neurological disorder characterized by incapacitating headaches. Typically, there are two primary types: some with aura and others without aura. Although these headaches can affect anybody, women are more susceptible to them than men. Based on the individual, the pain could be serious enough to disrupt your routine activities. 

What Are The Common Migraine Symptoms?

Up to 60% of persons will exhibit signs before experiencing a headache. This prodrome phase might result in weariness, neck stiffness, and irritation. Approximately one-third of people will then feel an aura. For instance, individuals might see light flashes, bright spots, or shapes. In some instances, patients might also experience a temporary loss of eyesight.

The subsequent phase is the offensive phase. Symptoms include vertigo, throbbing headache (one-sided or on both sides), nausea, vomiting, and heightened sound and light sensitivity. Often, movement aggravates the pain.

After the offensive phase, patients will experience the postdrome phase, which is the fourth and last stage and follows the cessation of pain. The postdrome phase can last anywhere from several hours to days.

What Are The Potential Triggers Of Migraines?

The precise reason for migraines is unclear. Nonetheless, experts have found potential triggers of migraines, including:

• Stress
• Reduced blood sugar
• Sensory overload due to loud noises, bright lights, or strong smells
• Insufficient sleep
• Dehydration
• Hormonal changes (like during pregnancy, menopause, or menstruation)
• Caffeine
• Medication overuse

Considering all the variables, your physician might request that you keep a migraine journal. Besides allowing you to monitor your headaches, this journal will assist you in identifying their triggers; thus, helping you avoid them.

When To Consult With A Neurosurgeon?

There is nothing incorrect with seeking medical attention for a migraine. Nevertheless, based on the severity, you might have to consult a neurosurgeon. Neurosurgeons are physicians who specialize in the nervous system and brain problems. Here are several indications that you should consult a neurosurgeon:

• Your headaches are serious enough to compromise your professional and personal life
• You have vision changes
• You suffer from over 15 headaches every month
• You have suffered a seizure along with your headaches
• You frequently use over-the-counter drugs like NSAIDs

How To Diagnose And Treat Migraines?

When diagnosing your migraines, your neurosurgeon starts by reviewing your health history. Some diagnostic procedures to expect include an electroencephalogram (EEG), MRI, and laboratory tests like a spinal tap or blood test. Once the underlying reason for your migraine is identified, Dr. Ravitz employs various care techniques, including nerve blocks, medications, or even nerve decompression surgery.

Although occasional headaches are a common occurrence, when these headaches develop repeatedly or are accompanied by other troubling concerns, you should seek expert help. Neurologists are specialists in brain and nervous system issues and can assist you in finding lasting solutions to your migraines. Schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Ravitz today through mobile or request online.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a very effective type of noninvasive brain stimulation therapy that stimulates nerve cells through electromagnetic pulses. It may improve the symptoms of mental health or neurological conditions and is primarily used to treat treatment-resistant depression. Approved by the FDA in 2008 for depression treatment, it has since been adopted for the treatment of other conditions. Let’s review how TMS providers like Dr. Bryon K Evans can use this treatment.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

The FDA approved TMS for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) treatment in 2018. As is the case with depression, it is usually recommended for patients whose symptoms are not responding to psychotherapy and medication. People with OCD have a hyperconnectivity between their striatum and prefrontal cortex and TMS can inhibit the activity in the latter, to eliminate the cause of symptoms.

Depression

Primarily, TMS is used to treat people with depression, or major depressive disorder (MDD). It is mostly recommended for patients for whom psychotherapy and medication have not brought relief – a condition referred to as a treatment-resistant depression. According to estimates, about 3 in every 10 people with depression do not respond to traditional treatments. Research done in 2015 shows that TMS can stimulate the nerve cells and increase the activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain behind depression symptoms, such as appetite changes and low energy levels.

Anxiety

Because TMS addresses psychological conditions like OCD and depression, it could also alleviate anxiety. This is because these conditions often result in anxiety symptoms. The treatment could also help treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) by reducing the nerve cell activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is often heightened in people with anxiety.

Schizophrenia

One of the primary symptoms of this chronic psychiatric disorder is auditory hallucinations. In fact, over 75 percent of people with schizophrenia experience them. A 2019 report shows that TMS can effectively alleviate auditory hallucinations by targeting the temporoparietal cortex. Which often becomes overactive in people with schizophrenia.

 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A 2019 review showed the effectiveness of TMS treatments on PTSD. Because it targets the prefrontal cortex, TMS can regulate how you process worry and fear. This treatment is often more effective when combined with cognitive processing therapy and can create a therapeutic effect lasting 6 months.

Nicotine Addiction

Nicotine releases the aptly called “happy hormone” or dopamine, which signals your brain’s reward system and prefrontal cortex, leading to addiction and cravings. A 2013 study shows that TMS treatments that target the prefrontal cortex can promote dopamine release, decreasing the need for nicotine and reducing cravings.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia. Some reports show that TMS could have benefits for patients with this condition, which results in progressive cognitive decline and memory loss. According to recent research, the treatment could alter the neural connections responsible for learning and memory, in turn improving the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Sometimes, medication and therapy fail to alleviate symptoms of anxiety or depression. This is when transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) comes into play. As one of the most effective and innovative modern treatments, it can be used to address several mental health conditions. You can contact the team at Psychiatric Consultants of Atlanta to learn more about this treatment and how it can help you.

Suffering from a mental disorder affects you as an individual and greatly impacts those close to you. As a result, you are advised to seek medical help for your good and the good of those close to you. Most mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and cyclothymia, require medical management and psychotherapy to help you recover and resume your daily chores. Suppose you have Bethesda Cyclothymia no need to worry about how you can deal with the condition because there are various treatment options available. Examples of ways of managing and treating cyclothymia include:

• Psychotherapy

According to research, people suffering from cyclothymia, a type of bipolar disorder, but its symptoms are less severe than those of bipolar disorder I and II, can benefit from any therapy that meets their specific needs. In most cases, cyclothymia is often connected to impulsivity, personality disorders, anxiety, or substance abuse. Since cyclothymia is bipolar disorder, its treatments also come from treating mood conditions. Some forms of psychotherapy that are very helpful in managing cyclothymia include cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoeducation, and well-being therapy.

• Medications

When your symptoms are severe and negatively impact your day-to-day living, your care provider may recommend certain medications to stabilize your mood. In most cases, your physician determines which medications best suits your condition. Examples of medications that might be effective include:

• Mood stabilizers

The reason for giving mood stabilizers to people suffering from cyclothymia is to help balance the high and low moods commonly associated with this condition. In most cases, lithium is a common mood stabilizer to help deal with hypomania, depression, or mixed symptoms.

• Anticonvulsants

Other common medications are anticonvulsants, often used to treat bipolar disorders and seizures. These medications might also help manage the symptoms of cyclothymia. Even though there is very little research available to support anticonvulsants’ effectiveness in treating cyclothymia, lamotrigine and valproate are common anticonvulsants used.

• Antipsychotics

In most cases, antipsychotic medications are given to help deal with severe mood changes commonly referred to as high moods. However, when antipsychotic medications are used to treat cyclothymia, they should be given in very low doses. The reason is that antipsychotics can trigger depression in people diagnosed with cyclothymia when given in very high doses. For this reason, doctors are advised to be very keen and cautious while prescribing antipsychotics for cyclothymia. Some of the antipsychotics that might help when you have cyclothymia are olanzapine and quetiapine. The role of antipsychotics in people with cyclothymia is to help reduce the feeling of impulsivity and irritability associated with hypomanic periods.

• Antidepressants

Mostly the treatment of cyclothymia with antidepressants is controversial. Examples of antidepressants that are effective in dealing with cyclothymia include tricyclic antidepressants. However, antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, may worsen cyclothymia because they trigger severe mood symptoms and hypomania. Most providers avoid using antidepressants while treating cyclothymia, but if other treatments are no longer effective, they might be the treatment of choice.

Living with cyclothymia might be quite challenging because it might affect how you take part in your daily chores. Therefore, if the condition is causing severe symptoms and you seek treatment, you can start by booking your appointment at Washington Center for Women’s and Children’s Wellness (WCWCW) today.

Annual physicals are routine exams that help your doctor assess your overall health. The exams allow your doctor to evaluate your current health state and risk of developing health conditions. Doctors recommend people get annual physicals yearly. If you are at risk of developing chronic diseases, your doctor may suggest you get routine exams frequently. Lansdowne annual physicals help strengthen your relationship with your primary care provider and detect conditions in the early stages for effective treatment. If you are at risk of certain diseases, your primary care doctor educates you on how to avoid the infections. Annual physical involves various procedures, which include:

Checking vital signs

Vital signs include your doctor checking your blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and respiratory rate. Depending on your history, you should take a blood pressure test at least once every year or every three years. Your doctor may also measure your height and weight. A sudden weight loss may indicate a health condition.

Visual and physical exams

Your doctor may do a visual or physical exam if you have signs of potential conditions. The doctor checks your body parts that could indicate existing health problems, such as your head, eyes, and chest. Observing your skin, hair, and nails can also help tell signs of certain health conditions. Your doctor may palpate your body parts, like the abdomen, to feel if you have any abnormalities.

Laboratory tests

Your annual physical may include several laboratory tests like a complete blood count and a complete metabolic panel. Panel tests involve your blood plasma to check kidney, liver, and immune system problems. Your doctor may recommend a cholesterol test if you have an increased risk of heart attack, heart disease, or stroke.

Screenings

You might have many screenings during annual physicals based on gender. These screen tests include:

Annual screening in Women

Mammogram

Doctors recommend women get a mammogram every two years between fifty and seventy-four years. If you have a personal or family history of breast cancer, earlier and more frequent tests should be done.

Breast exam

Breast exam checks for breast cancer. Your doctor observes and palpates your breast to check for abnormal lumps that may indicate breast cancer.

Pap smear

Pap smear screens for cervical cancer. Women should get Pap tests from the age of twenty-one. After that, you may have the test every three years if you have a healthy immune system. After thirty, you can get a Pap smear every five years until the age of sixty-five.

Pelvic exam

A pelvic exam involves your doctor examining your vagina, cervix, and vulva to check for signs of sexually transmitted infections and other reproductive issues.

Annual screens in men

Prostate cancer screening

Prostate cancer screening often starts after a man attains fifty years. Your doctor may recommend the screening earlier if you have a family history of prostate cancer.

Testicular exam

A testicular exam involves your doctor checking each testicle for signs of conditions, including lumps, size change, and tenderness.

Annual physicals are routine exams that help your doctor assess your overall health. They involve your doctor checking your vital signs, visual exams, laboratory tests, and screening. Schedule an appointment at CN Internal Medicine for an annual physical to evaluate your overall health.