Jump to content

Choose locationChoose Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location

We've expanded your view

You are now viewing all services in the Sutter Health network. You can change your location above to narrow your view to a medical group, hospital, city or zip.
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
  • Locations
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Diseases & Conditions
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Diseases and Conditions
  • Migraines and Headaches
Content

Migraines and Headaches

Headache disorders are painful, disabling and can damage the quality of your life. Migraine attacks can cause significant pain for hours to days, but you may find relief with certain lifestyle changes and by avoiding specific triggers.

African-American-Woman-Holding-Sides-of-Head

Types of Diseases

  • Migraines
  • Tension Headaches

Headache and Migraine Facts and Stats

Headache, one of the most common disorders of the nervous system, includes migraine, tension headache, cluster headache and medication-overuse headache. Here’s what you need to know.

  • Experts estimate that half of the adult population experienced a headache at least once in the past year; among those people, 30 percent reported a migraine headache.
  • Between 1 and 2 percent of the world’s adult population experience headaches with alarming frequency—15 or more days every month.
  • Migraine headaches often begin at puberty and mostly affect those between the ages of 35 and 45.
  • Migraine is the eighth most disabling disorder in the world, costing American employers more than $13 billion each year as a result of lost work days.

Patient Information

Couple sitting on floor in apartment looking at digital tablet

Interested in becoming a Sutter patient? Here’s what you need to know about health plans, choosing a doctor and how to get started today.

 
  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Tips for Choosing a Doctor
  • Health Insurance Guide

Find a Neurology Specialist

Addressing Headaches

Male patient getting MRI

Diagnosing Your Pain

Sutter care centers provide advanced diagnostic imaging technology and medical services to locate the source of your headache.

Male patient with headache

Headache and Migraine Care

Sutter care centers provide care for adults and children who suffer from headaches that interfere with daily life.

Optician examining girl

Pediatric Vision Care

Headaches could be a clue that your child needs glasses. Sutter care centers provide comprehensive pediatric vision care.

Ask an Expert

Mark Saleh

Mark Saleh, M.D.

Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group

I was diagnosed with benign positional vertigo. Is vertigo, sometimes accompanied by nausea, a common precursor to migraines? My migraines don't usually have debilitating headaches; the vertigo is the worst symptom.

Vertigo and nausea can be due to a migraine and may occur without headache (called vestibular migraine), or the headache may be of mild intensity. When these symptoms are related to migraine, they should respon... continue reading  about  I was diagnosed with benign positional vertigo. Is vertigo, sometimes accompanied by nausea, a common precursor to migraines? My migraines don't usually have debilitating headaches; the vertigo is the worst symptom.

Mark Saleh

Mark Saleh, M.D.

Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group

I'm a woman (45) who gets frequent migraines. I'm also about 40 pounds overweight. I read somewhere that being overweight might actually increase the number of migraines that I get. Is this true, and would losing weight help?

Research has shown a link between being overweight and migraines -  headache frequency and severity are increased. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the link, including biological, behaviora... continue reading  about  I'm a woman (45) who gets frequent migraines. I'm also about 40 pounds overweight. I read somewhere that being overweight might actually increase the number of migraines that I get. Is this true, and would losing weight help?

Mark Saleh

Mark Saleh, M.D.

Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group

What is an ocular migraine, and how do I know if I'm having one?

There are two different conditions that are sometimes referred to as ocular migraines. The first consists of a migraine aura that results in visual symptoms, but the headache may not be present. This is due to ... continue reading  about  What is an ocular migraine, and how do I know if I'm having one?

Nobl Barazangi

Nobl Barazangi, M.D., Ph.D.

Sutter Lakeside Hospital

Migraine and stroke symptoms seem to overlap. How do I know I'm just having a migraine and not a stroke?

Some migraines can be associated with neurological symptoms such as weakness, numbness, tingling, vision and speech changes, and some strokes can be associated with headaches. Therefore, sometimes it is difficu... continue reading  about  Migraine and stroke symptoms seem to overlap. How do I know I'm just having a migraine and not a stroke?

Mark Saleh

Mark Saleh, M.D.

Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group

Can Botox help reduce migraines?

Yes, Botox can help reduce migraines. The beneficial effect for migraine was first noted in patients who were treated with Botox for cosmetic purposes. This led to formal studies that demonstrated improvement i... continue reading  about  Can Botox help reduce migraines?

Mark Saleh

Mark Saleh, M.D.

Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group

I am a frequent migraine sufferer and I was told that acupuncture can actually help more than drugs to prevent attacks. Is this true?

This question is frequently asked, and the answer is complicated. The effect of acupuncture on migraine and other chronic pain syndromes has been studied extensively. The data from these studies, unfortunately,... continue reading  about  I am a frequent migraine sufferer and I was told that acupuncture can actually help more than drugs to prevent attacks. Is this true?

Suzanne E. Pertsch

Suzanne E. Pertsch, M.D.

Mills-Peninsula Medical Center

Will taking progesterone help prevent a migraine?

Taking progesterone alone as a cream or tablet has not been scientifically established as an effective treatment for migraine headaches. Many women experience migraines with their menstrual cycles, especially w... continue reading  about  Will taking progesterone help prevent a migraine?

Ling Xu

Ling Xu, M.D.

Eden Medical Center

Now that I'm 50+, I've been getting severe headaches with my periods, and it also seems like my nasal allergy symptoms are worse at those times. Is this just a coincidence, or is this associated with perimenopause?

Yes. Your symptoms could well be associated with perimenopause. The World Health Organization has defined perimenopause as the time period 2 to 8 years prior to menopause as well as the year after cessation of ... continue reading  about  Now that I'm 50+, I've been getting severe headaches with my periods, and it also seems like my nasal allergy symptoms are worse at those times. Is this just a coincidence, or is this associated with perimenopause?

Mark Saleh

Mark Saleh, M.D.

Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group

I've been having visual migraines where I get jagged vision, usually in my left eye, and progressing from the lower right edge to encompass my whole left visual field. Could this be the result of dehydration?

Dehydration is one of several triggers that can exacerbate migraine headaches, including migraine variants like the one you are experiencing. Maintaining good hydration should help reduce the frequency of these... continue reading  about  I've been having visual migraines where I get jagged vision, usually in my left eye, and progressing from the lower right edge to encompass my whole left visual field. Could this be the result of dehydration?

Health and Wellness

10 Simple Stress Strategies

Cope with Stress

Stress is a common source of headaches. Try these 10 simple ways to cope with stress.

Cope with Stress

Experts Who Partner With You

Male patient with headache and ethnic female doctor

Headache and Migraine Care

Sutter care centers offer advanced care for headaches and migraines, including neurodiagnostic tests and the latest in treatment options.

Doctor Profiles

The following doctors are part of the Sutter Health network. Learn about the doctors on this site
Mark W. Koukkari, M.D.

Mark W. Koukkari, M.D.

  • Pediatric Neurology

Ealon Joelson, M.D.

Ealon Joelson, M.D.

  • Neurology

Helen V. Johnson, M.D.

Helen V. Johnson, M.D.

  • Pain Management

Shailesh M. Asaikar, M.D.

Shailesh M. Asaikar, M.D.

  • Pediatric Neurology

Nalini Chandra, M.D.

Nalini Chandra, M.D.

  • Pediatric Neurology

  • Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology

David P. Teicheira, M.D.

David P. Teicheira, M.D.

  • Pain Management

Robert A. Schulman, M.D.

Robert A. Schulman, M.D.

  • Pain Management

Jane MacLean, M.D.

Jane MacLean, M.D.

  • Pediatric Neurology

  • Epilepsy

Leland Greenwald, M.D.

Leland Greenwald, M.D.

  • Neurology

  • Epilepsy

View All Related Doctors

Care Near You

Find Nearby Doctors

Not just a doctor, a partner. Find a Sutter Health network doctor today.

Find Nearby Locations

Convenient care that’s close to home, from urgent care to imaging.

Find Nearby Events

Classes, support groups and more. Because care doesn’t stop at the doctor’s office.

The Sutter Health Network of Care
Expertise to fit your needs
Primary Care

Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

Specialty Care

Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

Emergency Care

For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

Urgent Care

After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

Walk-In Care

Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Annual Report
  • Awards
  • Community Benefit
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Giving
  • Find Care

  • Birth Centers
  • Care Centers
  • Emergency Rooms
  • Hospitals
  • Imaging
  • Labs
  • Surgery Centers
  • Urgent Care
  • Walk-In Care
  • View All >
  • Featured Services

  • Behavioral Health
  • Cancer Services
  • Family Medicine
  • Home Health and Hospice
  • Orthopedics
  • Pediatrics
  • Pregnancy
  • Primary Care
  • Women's Health
  • View All >
  • Patient Resources

  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Classes and Events
  • Estimate Costs
  • Flu Resources
  • Health and Wellness
  • Medical Records
  • Medicare
  • My Health Online
  • Pay a Bill
  • Symptom Checker
  • Our Team

  • For Employees
  • Physician Careers
  • Recruiting Events
  • Sutter Careers
  • Vendors
  • Volunteers
    • ADA Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

    • LinkedIn Opens new window
    • YouTube Opens new window
    • Facebook Opens new window
    • Twitter Opens new window
    • Glassdoor Opens new window
    • Instagram Opens new window

    Copyright © 2021 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

    Cookie Policy

    We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

    Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences