Migraine and headaches Treatment in West Hollywood
Migraine and recurring headaches can disrupt work, relationships and the days you have planned. Our primary care practice in West Hollywood works with you to find the cause, relieve attacks and build a plan that reduces how often they return.
Understanding Migraine and headaches
Headache is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. Migraine is a neurological condition, not simply a bad headache, and it affects roughly one in seven people worldwide, with women affected about three times as often as men. Attacks typically last from four hours to three days and may bring throbbing pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound. Other common types include tension-type headache, which feels like a tight band of pressure, and cluster headache, which causes severe pain around one eye. Together, these conditions lead to missed work, cancelled plans and a real toll on quality of life, and many people go years without a clear diagnosis.
The causes are not fully understood, but migraine involves changes in brain activity and in pathways that carry pain signals, with a strong genetic component. A family history of migraine raises your risk. Common triggers include stress, irregular or insufficient sleep, skipped meals, dehydration, alcohol (especially red wine), caffeine changes, bright or flickering light, strong smells, weather shifts and hormonal fluctuations around the menstrual cycle. Tension-type headaches are often tied to muscle strain, posture, screen time and stress. Frequent use of over-the-counter pain relievers can itself cause medication-overuse headache, which keeps the cycle going.
Professional evaluation matters because headaches have many causes, and the right treatment depends on the right diagnosis. A careful history and examination can distinguish migraine from tension-type headache, sinus disease, blood pressure problems, medication effects or, rarely, a more serious condition that needs urgent care. Effective prescription options exist for both stopping attacks and preventing them, and guidance on triggers and lifestyle can make a major difference. Without a plan, many people either suffer needlessly or overuse pain relievers in ways that worsen the problem.
Signs & Symptoms of Migraine and headaches
- Throbbing or pulsing head pain. Pain is often moderate to severe and may beat in time with your pulse.
- One-sided pain. Many migraines affect one side of the head, though the side can change between attacks.
- Nausea or vomiting. Stomach upset frequently accompanies an attack and can make oral medication hard to keep down.
- Light and sound sensitivity. Bright light and noise can feel intolerable, driving people to rest in a dark, quiet room.
- Visual aura. Zigzag lines, flashing lights or blind spots may appear before or during the headache.
- Pain worsened by activity. Walking, climbing stairs or bending over can intensify the pain.
- Neck and shoulder tension. Tight muscles often accompany both migraine and tension-type headaches.
- Fatigue and mood change. A warning phase with yawning, irritability or food cravings can precede an attack by hours or a day.
What to Expect
- Detailed history of your headaches, including timing, triggers, associated symptoms and medications tried
- Physical and neurological examination, with testing or imaging only when your findings call for it
- A plan covering relief during an attack and, if needed, prevention
- Trigger management, sleep and hydration habits, and medication choices that fit your health and preferences
- Follow-up using your headache diary to adjust the plan
How We Treat Migraine and headaches
Assessment
We take a detailed history of your headaches, including timing, triggers, associated symptoms and medications tried. A physical and neurological examination follows, with blood pressure and other checks as needed. Testing or imaging is considered only when your findings call for it.
Treatment Plan
Together we build a plan that covers relief during an attack and, if needed, prevention. It includes trigger management, sleep and hydration habits, and medication choices that fit your health and preferences. You leave knowing what to take, when to take it, and when to call.
Ongoing Care
We review how the plan is working using your headache diary and adjust doses or medications as needed. Follow-up also checks for medication overuse and side effects. As your pattern changes, the plan changes with it.
Benefits
A Personalized Care Plan
Your headaches are not the same as anyone else's. Your plan reflects your triggers, health history, schedule and goals rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol.
Thorough Time to Ask Questions
Good headache care depends on a thorough conversation. We make room for your questions about diagnosis, medication and what to expect.
Coordinated Follow-Up
Finding what works takes adjustment. Follow-up keeps your plan on track and connects you with further care if it is needed.
Your Treatment Journey
First Evaluation (Week 1)
We review your history, examine you, and identify the likely headache type. You may be asked to start a headache diary, and you will leave with an initial plan and clear safety guidance.
Treatment Begins (Weeks 2-4)
You start acute and, if appropriate, preventive strategies. Preventive medicines often need several weeks to show their effect, so early improvement may be partial.
Progress Review (Months 2-3)
We look at attack frequency, severity and side effects, then adjust. It is common to need a change or two before the plan fits well.
Long-term Management
Migraine tends to wax and wane over time. Ongoing check-ins keep your plan current, and we revisit it as life, hormones or health change.
Warning Signs That Need Prompt Care
Sudden "thunderclap" headache. A severe headache that peaks within a minute needs emergency evaluation.
Headache with fever and stiff neck. This combination can signal meningitis and should be assessed immediately.
New weakness or numbness. Weakness, facial droop or loss of sensation on one side may indicate a stroke.
Speech or vision loss. Slurred speech, confusion or sudden vision loss is not typical of ordinary migraine aura.
Headache after head injury. New or worsening pain following a blow to the head warrants prompt care.
First headache after age 50. A new headache pattern later in life should be evaluated to rule out other causes.
Progressively worsening pattern. Headaches that become more frequent or severe over weeks deserve a medical review.
Seizure or fainting. Loss of consciousness with a headache needs urgent attention.
If you recognize these signs, help is available. Early treatment leads to better outcomes.
Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches
Evidence-based care for migraine and headaches generally combines several approaches. For acute attacks, options include NSAIDs, triptans, and anti-nausea medicines, taken early in an attack for the best effect. When attacks are frequent or disabling, preventive options may include certain blood pressure medicines, anti-seizure medicines, antidepressants, or CGRP-targeting therapies, chosen according to your other health conditions. Non-drug measures matter too: consistent sleep, regular meals, hydration, aerobic exercise, stress reduction, limiting caffeine and alcohol, and a headache diary. Some people also benefit from supplements such as magnesium or riboflavin, which we can discuss. Any medication decision is individualized.
Common Questions About Migraine and headaches
How long does migraine treatment take?
It varies. Some people notice improvement within a few weeks of starting an acute or preventive plan, while finding the best combination can take two to three months or longer. Migraine is usually a long-term condition, so the goal is fewer, milder attacks and quicker relief rather than a single cure.
Is medication required?
Not always. Many people benefit from identifying triggers, improving sleep, regular meals, hydration, stress management and exercise. When attacks are frequent or disabling, medication for acute relief or prevention may be recommended, and we discuss the benefits and risks together.
Does insurance cover migraine care?
Coverage depends on your individual plan, and I cannot state which plans are accepted here. Please call the office to ask about billing and coverage questions before your visit.
What if the first treatment does not work?
This is common and does not mean you cannot be helped. Treatments are adjusted by changing the dose, timing or medication type, and by revisiting your headache diary and possible triggers. Follow-up visits exist so the plan can keep improving.
When should I worry that a headache is serious?
Seek emergency care for a sudden severe headache, headache with fever and stiff neck, weakness, trouble speaking, confusion, or headache after a head injury. If your headache pattern changes, make an appointment to be evaluated.
What should I bring to my first visit?
A list of your medications and supplements, notes on when headaches occur and how long they last, and any past test results. A simple headache diary kept for a few weeks is very helpful for diagnosis.
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