Headache & Migraine

Migraine is a disorder of the brain and is the result of abnormal brain activity/sensitivity which temporarily affects nerve signals and release of chemicals in the brain.

Most adults with migraine will experience headache, with pain that is usually throbbing in nature, which can also be accompanied by nausea or vomiting along with increased sensitivity to light, noise, movement, or smell. Migraine symptoms however vary from one person to the next and in children especially can present without headache as the major feature.

If you have headache attacks lasting hours or even days, with nausea or a preference for rest (even if you could carry on), you are very likely to have migraine – but you will need to be seen by a doctor for a diagnosis.

It is important to have an accurate diagnosis of headache so that you can target the appropriate treatment to get better control of your condition.

While there is no simple cure for migraine, there are strategies and treatments that will help manage and control migraine and can often greatly reduce the severity and frequency of migraine attacks.

At IslandHealth, our headache service consists of a team of health professionals who can help you manage your headache and migraine through a variety of methods including medication, lifestyle advice, physical therapy (osteopathy and physiotherapy) and our team of psychological therapists, who help manage the emotional impact of headache and migraine.

We follow the latest evidence based diagnosis and management options. We can see both adults and children, so if you or your child are struggling with headache or migraine, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for expert care and guidance.