Expert Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Migraine Headaches
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can be a safe, effective treatment option for migraine headaches if other treatments have been unsuccessful or you want to treat your migraines using a holistic, non-invasive, and non-surgical approach. For migraines, HBOT therapy can be used as an alternative to prescription medication and other treatments or as a complementary therapy.
HBOT benefits for migraines include:
- Restoration of blood flow to your brain tissue
- Reduced swelling and inflammation of tissue
- Decreased blood vessel spasms
- Generation of new blood vessels
- Decreased inflammation of brain tissue
- Less sensitivity to migraine triggers
- Improved immune response
- Reduced pain
- Drug-free, non-invasive treatment option
- A holistic approach to migraine treatment
Common Migraine Symptoms
Migraines are different from common headaches, and they present a unique cluster of symptoms. A migraine often starts with a visual disturbance that serves as a warning sign of the impending headache.
The main event, the migraine itself, is characterized by intense, throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head. Along with this pain, you may experience nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines can last from hours to days.
On the other hand, regular headaches are often described as a dull, aching sensation all over the head. They lack the associated symptoms that make migraines so debilitating.
The Four Different Phases of a Migraine
Migraines typically go through four distinct phases, but not everyone experiences all stages. You might experience one or two during one attack and all four phases during another. The four phases or stages of a migraine include:
- Prodrome – The prodrome stage of a migraine can occur one or two days before a migraine or just hours before. You may notice warning signs that indicate a migraine is coming, such as irritability, light sensitivity, food cravings, constipation, mood changes, frequent yawning, or excessive thirst.
- Aura – Some people experience an aura before or during a migraine attack. An aura is a nervous system response that causes visual or sensory disturbances. Visual symptoms may include flashing lights, floaters, loss of peripheral vision, difficulty reading or seeing clearly. Other symptoms may include numbness or tingling in the arms or legs, trouble speaking, auditory disturbances, uncontrolled movements, and weakness or numbness on one side of the body.
- Attack – The migraine attack phase can last anywhere from four hours to three days. During this stage, symptoms may include severe or dull headache pain on one or both sides of the head, throbbing pain, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, smell, and touch.
- Postdrome – The postdrome stage occurs after the migraine attack ends. It may cause confusion, disorientation, fatigue, and lack of interest in normal daily activities. This stage can last up to a full day.
What Causes Migraines?
While there is no one specific cause for migraines, genetics, stress, and lifestyle habits like smoking and alcohol overuse may put you at an increased risk.
The most common migraine triggers are:
- Stress
- Changes to your sleep schedule
- Hormones
- Caffeine withdrawal
- Alcohol overuse or alcohol withdrawal
- Food sensitivities
- Dehydration
- Light, noise, or odors
- Medications
- Extreme exercise
- Exposure to cigarette smoke
Schedule Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Your Headaches
We’re ready to help you alleviate your migraine headache symptoms. Our medical team at Premier Hyperbaric Wellness Center Los Angeles has decades of experience and can help you identify your migraine triggers and understand what to expect from HBOT therapy for migraines.
We’ll have you fill out a simple form to determine if you need a doctor consultation, and we’ll answer all your questions about HBOT so you can make an informed decision about your treatment. Then, we can begin hyperbaric oxygen treatments for your migraines.