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Migraine headaches are often debilitating.  They are also extremely common in the United States. Estimates vary between 10-20% of the population suffer from this condition, costing consumers approximately $12.7 billion a year in medical costs (with another $12 billion in lost work days!). Migraineurs lose valuable work and family time, have increased stress levels, and are at double the risk of a heart attack versus people who do not get migraines.

Many people manage their migraines through either polypharmacy (multiple drugs), or understanding the triggers associated with their particular headaches. Chocolate, stress, lack of sleep, alcohol, caffeine, bright sunlight, menses, and barometric changes are all possible triggers. But knowing the a trigger and addressing the cause are not the same thing. Once the cause is addressed, former migraine sufferers can tolerate their previous triggers, without medication,  and live life fully, without the constant threat of severe pain.

At Insights to Health, we categorize migraines into one of the following causes: 

Head Injury: One of the most common causes of migraines is previous head trauma. Between 1.5-3.5 million people each year sustain an injury that could later cause migraine headaches. Even minor bumps on the head or whiplash injuries can add up and lead to headaches later in life. 

Female Hormonal: Imbalances in a women's hormonal cycle can lead to headaches that appear either right before or during menses. 

 It’s that time of year again where businesses start giving options for healthcare packages. With all of the options, which should you choose? To begin, a few definitions and facts about how insurance works may be helpful. Most plans have a deductible. This is the amount that you or your family will pay prior to the insurance company paying anything. There are some exceptions for preventative services that vary by plan. For example, some companies consider a colonoscopy to be preventative but others do not.