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Migraine Headache Center - Odessa, TX

Odessa Neurologist Doctors for Migraine Headache

Type of Physician: Neurologist

What is a Neurologist?

A certification by the Board of Psychiatry & Neurology; practitioners focus on the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease or impaired function of the brain, spinal cord, muscles and nervous system, as well as the blood vessels that relate to these structures. The neurologist is often the primary physician but also serves as a consultant to other physicians and may render all levels of care, including the continuing care of outpatients and/or inpatients. The neurologist will often perform and interpret tests that relate to the nervous system or muscles.

Specialty: Neurology

Common Name:

Neurologist Doctors in Odessa *

Carl D Brown DO
Carl D Brown
6100 Eastridge Rd
Odessa, TX 79762
(432) 332-2858

Odessa, Texas

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Migraine

What is a migraine headache?

A migraine headache is a form of vascular headache. Migraine headache is caused by vasodilatation (enlargement of blood vessels) that causes the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the large arteries of the brain. Enlargement of these blood vessels stretches the nerves that coil around them and causes the nerves to release chemicals. The chemicals cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. The increasing enlargement of the arteries magnifies the pain.

Migraine attacks commonly activate the sympathetic nervous system in the body. The sympathetic nervous system is often thought of as the part of the nervous system that controls primitive responses to stress and pain, the so-called "fight or flight" response, and this activation causes many of the symptoms associated with migraine attacks; for example, the increased sympathetic nervous activity in the intestine causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

  • Sympathetic activity also delays emptying of the stomach into the small intestine and thereby prevents oral medications from entering the intestine and being absorbed.
  • The impaired absorption of oral medications is a common reason for the ineffectiveness of medications taken to treat migraine headaches.
  • The increased sympathetic activity also decreases the circulation of blood, and this leads to pallor of the skin as well as cold hands and feet.
  • The increased sympathetic activity also contributes to the sensitivity to light and sound sensitivity as well as blurred vision.

Migraine afflicts 28 million Americans, with females suffering more frequently (17%) than males (6%). Missed work and lost productivity from migraine create a significant public burden. Nevertheless, migraine still remains largely underdiagnosed and undertreated. Less than half of ind...

Recommended Reading Related to Migraine

Double Vision »

What Causes Double Vision?

Opening your eyes and seeing a single, clear image is something you probably take for granted. But that seemingly automatic process depends on the orchestration of multiple areas of the vision system. They all need to work together seamlessly:

  • The cornea is the clear window into the eye. It does most of the focusing of incoming light.
  • The lens is behind the pupil. It also helps focus light onto the retina.
  • Muscles of the eye -- extraocular muscles -- rotate the eye.
  • Nerves carry visual information from the eyes to the brain.
  • The brain is where several areas process visual information from the eyes.

Problems with any part of the vision system can lead to double vision. It makes sense to consider the causes of diplopia according to the part of the visual system that has the problem. Double vision is not normal and should be reported promptly....

Emergency Contact for Odessa

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Odessa Hospitals *

Medical Center Hospital Odessa
500 W 4th St
Odessa, TX 79761
(432)640-4000

Regency Hospital of Odessa
500 W 4th St
Odessa, TX 79761
(432)552-4000

Odessa Regional Medical Center West Campus
520 E 6th St
Odessa, TX 79761
(432)582-8000

Odessa Regional Medical Center East Campus
515 N Adams Ave
Odessa, TX 79761
(432)582-8002

HEALTHSOUTH Midland Rehabilitation Hospital
1800 Heritage Blvd
Midland, TX 79707
(432)520-1600

Midland Memorial Hospital West Campus
4214 Andrews Hwy
Midland, TX 79703
(432)522-2273

Midland Memorial Hospital
2200 W Illinois Ave
Midland, TX 79701
(432)685-1111

Desert Springs Medical Center
3300 S FM 1788
Midland, TX 79706
(432)563-1200

Crane Memorial Hospital
1310 S Alford St
Crane, TX 79731
(432)558-3555

Martin County Hospital District
610 N St Peter St
Stanton, TX 79782
(432)756-3345

Ward Memorial Hospital
406 S Gary St
Monahans, TX 79756
(432)943-2511

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