Migraine Specialist

A migraine is a throbbing headache that causes worse pain on one side of the head for many people. Migraines usually start out mild and gradually become more severe, lasting anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

Unlike a headache, a migraine is usually accompanied by additional symptoms, including:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Aura, or visual disturbances
• Sensitivity to light, sound, and smell
• Fatigue and weakness

What causes migraines?

Although scientists haven’t yet pinpointed the cause of migraines, they have substantial evidence to believe they’re related to abnormal brain activity. Brain chemicals and over-excited nerves seem to dilate blood vessels in the head.

Many known triggers seem to initiate this brain response, including:

• Food and drink (i.e., caffeine, MSGs, alcohol, chocolate)
• Physical and mental stress
• Disrupted sleep patterns
• Missed meals
• Strong odors
• Smoke exposure

How do hormones influence migraines?

Changes in hormone levels, particularly during a woman’s menstrual cycle, can trigger migraine attacks. The estrogen and progesterone fluctuations during your cycle influence the brain chemicals that trigger migraines.

Women who experience cycle-related migraines may have worse, more frequent migraines during perimenopause and menopause. Hormone levels dip and fluctuate even more during those phases.

How do you treat migraines?

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy resets your hormones and prevents those premenstrual or menopausal estrogen dips by giving your body a steady supply of estrogen.

Dr. Kunz offers BioTE™ pellet-injection therapy that steadily releases hormones. The plant-derived bioidentical hormones have the same molecular structure as your hormones, so your body readily accepts them.

Unlike other hormone replacement therapies requiring daily attention, the pellet injections give you more freedom. You only need to go in for injections a few times a year, and you can just forget about it in between. The steady-release pellets also allow you to avoid the extreme ups and downs that happen when you’re exposed to more hormones all at once.

If you’d like to discuss treatment for your migraines, contact Dr. Kunz online or over the phone for an appointment.