Archive for the ‘flu’ Category

Migraine: Causes

Thursday, April 24th, 2008

What is Migraine ?

Migraine is a neurological disease of which the most common symptom is an intense and disabling episodic headache. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head. Absent serious head injuries, stroke, and tumors, the recurring severity of the pain indicates a vascular headache rather than a tension headache . More than 28 million Americans three times more women than men suffer from migraine headaches, a type of headache that’s often severe. In some cases, these painful headaches are preceded or accompanied by a sensory warning sign such as flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in your arm or leg. A migraine headache is also often accompanied by other signs and symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.

A migraine can be disabling — with symptoms so severe, all you can think about is finding a dark, quiet place to lie down. Up to 17 percent of women and 6 percent of men have experienced a migraine.

More than 29.5 million Americans suffer from migraine, with women being affected three times more often than men. This vascular headache is most commonly experienced between the ages of 15 and 55, and 70% to 80% of sufferers have a family history of migraine. Less than half of all migraine sufferers have received a diagnosis of migraine from their healthcare provider. Migraine is often misdiagnosed as sinus headache or tension-type headache.

What are the Causes of migraine?

Until recently, the general theory on the migraine process rested solely on the idea that abnormalities of blood vessel (vascular) systems in the head were responsible for migraines. Now, however, experts tend to believe that migraine starts with an underlying central nervous system disorder. When triggered by various stimuli, this disorder sets off a chain of neurologic and biochemical events, some of which subsequently affect the brain’s vascular system. No experimental model fully explains the migraine process.

There is certainly a strong genetic component in migraine with or without auras. Researchers have located a single genetic mutation responsible for the very rare familial hemiplegic migraine, but several genes are likely to be involved in the great majority of migraine cases. Numerous chemicals, structures, nerve pathways, and other players involved in the process are under investigation.

A migraine begins when, for some reason, blood vessels in the brain narrow (constrict) temporarily. When that happens, the amount of blood and oxygen flowing to the brain drops. So the brain sends a message: “Hey guys, we need some more blood and oxygen here!”

What are migraine triggers?

A migraine trigger is any factor that causes a headache in individuals who are prone to develop headaches. Only a small proportion of migraine sufferers, however, clearly can identify triggers.

Disturbances such as sleep deprivation, too much sleep, poor quality of sleep, and frequent awakening at night are associated with both migraine and tension headaches, whereas improved sleep habits have been shown to reduce the frequency of migraine headaches

Caffeine is contained in many food products (cola, tea, chocolates, coffee) and OTC analgesics.

Some women who suffer from migraine headaches experience more headaches around the time of their menstrual periods.

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101 Headache Prevention Tips

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008

101 Headache Prevention Tips:

* Understand that headaches are largely PREVENTABLE.
* Discover a super vegetable that can possibly save you from headache pain.
* Understand how to use meditation to “de-stress” yourself.
* Understand the effect of alcohol on your headaches.
* Understand how to protect yourself from headaches while spending time in the sun.
* Discover how certain colors can actually cause you headaches.
* Discover the three types of headache pain.
* Understand why rain, especially the first rain of the season, can cause you a lot of headache pain.
* Learn exactly what migraines are and why they hurt.
* Learn 4 critical criteria for choosing your next pair of sunglasses.
* Understand what reading in a car is doing to cause you pain.
* Realize that your computer screen could be giving you headaches and what to do about it.
* Learn how to create your own soothing face pack to release tension.
* Learn 7 tips for dealing with hangover headaches.
* Find out what air-pollutants to stay away from.  They may already be causing your headaches.
* Understand what proper ventilation can to do help your headaches.
* Discover how your pillow may be causing you undue pain.
* Understand that your posture may be causing you headaches and how to change that.
* Learn 4 key factors to consider while watching television in order to reduce headaches.
* Learn which breathing exercise can help to reduce your headaches.
* Discover what the effects of hair gel may be having on your headache pain.
* Find out if you should stay away from aerosol.
* Learn to avoid shaking your head - and what it means if you experience pain when doing so.
* Learn the truth about hair dryers and why you should be cautious with them if you have frequent headaches.
* Learn to cool your head correctly - the wrong way can cause you more pain!
* Realize that your computer is giving off radiation and how this can affect you.
* Learn the best way to relax your eyes. Hint: Your eyes should not be closed.
* Learn the proper way to massage your eyes and relieve tension.
* Learn three simple techniques that can help you relax and ease your tension.
* Learn the 2 different types of migraine headaches and how they can effect you.
* Understand the importance of sleep on your headache pain.
* Understand what massages and “touch therapy” can do for your headache pain.
* Learn the 13 easy steps to a powerful exercise that will help relieve tension in your neck and head.
* Discover why hot water is not the best for your head and what you should do about it.
* Understand how organic foods can help you steer clear of unwanted pesticides and hormones.
* Realize that there is such a thing as sound pollution and how this may be affecting you in a negative way.
* Learn 2 simple and effective ways for clearing your sinuses and relieving your pain.
* Discover which ingredients in food and beverages can cause you headache pain.
* Learn which styles of dress may be causing you headache pain.
* Understand the affect that cigarettes and coffee may be having on your headache pain.
* Learn 5 essential factors that need adjusting while reading to avoid headaches.
* Understand the relationship between water and your headache pain.
* Understand that unknown allergies may be causing you headache pain.
* Girls - understand that the way you do your hair may be causing you unnecessary headache pain.
* Learn a great way to exercise your eyes and relieve tension.
* Learn an effective way to “rinse” your sinus pain away.
* Understand that some headache pain is actually heredity.
* Realize the effects of jetlag on your headaches.
* Discover another great tension reliever for your eyes that will leave you feeling very refreshed and headache free.
* Discover tension headaches - any why they are so common yet preventable.
* Learn to use Accupressure to treat and rid yourself of sinus pain. My simple 17 step plan will show you how.
* Learn 4 of the most common triggers for migraine headaches and how to avoid them.
* Understand the effects of exercise and how you can use it to stop your headache pain.
* Discover that the position you read in may be causing you headache pain.
* Realize that too much sleep may be the cause of your headaches.
* Understand why pills may not be helping you at all -and when you should stay away from them.
* Discover that much of your headache pain may be due to your failing eyesight and what you should do about it.
* Understand sinus pain, it’s causes, and the headaches it can cause.
* Learn how to use your time in the shower to relax tension with a simple exercise.

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Headache

Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

Headache is a fairly common complaint. However, it is important to recognise the more serious types of headaches that are actually symptoms of more serious diseases.

Common Types of Headaches

Tension headache:
the most common form with ‘tight band’ especially over the temples. Associated with contractions of head and neck muscles due to physical or mental stress. May be aggravated by changes in the environment, drugs, or factors unique to the individual. Treatment is by simple painkillers, rest and removal of aggravating factors.

Migraine:
there is a heavy throbbing pain usually over one side of the scalp, forehead and about the eye, caused by abnormally dilated blood vessels. May be accompanied by nausea, vomiting or sensitivity to loud noises or bright lights. Known to be triggered by certain factors unique to the individual such as menstruation, alcohol or anxiety. Treatment is by special anti-migraine drugs that reduce the dilatation of blood vessels and painkillers together with resting in a cool, dark and quiet room. Solving the triggering factors also help.

Cluster headaches:
more common in males. It occurs in runs with tearing pain over the forehead or behind the eye(s) with flushing of the face. Associated with alcohol consumption. Treatment is by strong painkillers and rest.

Sinus headaches:
fairly common during acute sinus inflammation attacks. Pain is over the frontal forehead and the upper cheeks. Associated with fever and heavy mucus production. Treatment is by antibiotics for the sinus infection, antihistamines to reduce mucus production and painkillers.

Referred headaches:
these are caused by disorders of structures around the head. Common ones are earaches, toothache causing pain over an entire part of the face and temporomandibular joint dysfunction from mechanical pain from the jaw joint. Rarer causes include a rare blood vessel disease on the temples called temporal arteritis and other autoimmune diseases of the nervous system.

Serious Types of Headaches
These types of headaches are less common but should be recognised as they are potentially life-threatening.

Meningitis / Encephalitis headaches:
caused by infection of the brain tissue (encephalitis) or the membranes surrounding the brain (meningitis). Can be caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites or poisons. Typically presents as a painful stiff neck with fever and other symptoms such as drowsiness, seizures and neurological problems including weakness and numbness. Needs immediate hospital treatment.
Cerebrovascular Accidents (haemorrhagic stroke):
one of the top killers in Singapore, a stroke happens when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or bursts. Bleeding in the brain causes a sudden severe headache. There is also loss of consciousness and other neurological signs such as weakness, numbness and seizures. Needs immediate hospital treatment.

Brain Tumours:
it is rare. It is a gradual headache lasting for weeks, worse especially at night or early morning. Accompanied with nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and loss of weight. By the time neurological symptoms appear such as seizures, numbness, weakness or blindness, the brain tumour has already grown to an advanced stage. Treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Treatment
What you can do

* Lie down in a dark, quiet room.
* Try muscle relaxation techniques or a gentle massage.
* Take a painkiller.
* For tension headaches, take a warm bath.
* For migraines, put an ice bag or cold towel on your forehead.

When to see a doctor:
Go to your family doctor or a government clinic

* If headache lasts for more than a day even after taking painkillers.
* If you get headaches very often.
* If headache feels different from your usual type.

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Stress-relief tips for the season

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

Stress, there’s a word we all know. Every day we are inundated with stress: deadlines at work, bills to pay and commitments to keep. This time of year though, in the height of our snowbird season, it seems people are extra edgy. There is more traffic on the roads, lines in the stores and sometimes, poor attitudes abound.
Stress leads to tension, physical and emotional strain. This in turn can lead to insomnia, headaches, fatigue, weight loss, weight gain and immune system dysfunction. We need all the help we can get, to learn how to relax. Here are some simple stress-relief techniques that can help you through the rest of season and beyond. Read them over, and choose which ones are right for your lifestyle.
• Exercise releases tension and stress. Try adding a little more activity into your daily routine.
• Deep breathing exercises are very relaxing. Breathe in through your nose slowly and deeply, and out through your mouth. Feel all of the tension flow out as you exhale.
• Massage therapy. It helps melt away pent up knots and tension that the body manifests.
• Aromatherapy. Employ other senses to help you relax.
• Walking. Fresh air and sunshine can do wonders to clear the mind. Walk in the park or on the beach; walking is a great stress reliever.
• Have fun, play. Do something you used to do as a child or long ago before you had commitments, such as playing with a train set or eating candy.
• Indulge yourself. Do something you like, such as shopping, taking in a movie or dancing.
• Treat yourself. Get a new outfit, a haircut or spend the day at a spa.
• Talk to someone. Talking relieves stress. Knowing that someone else understands and hears you without judging or necessarily offering advice can be a valuable asset.
• Sleep more. Lack of sleep leads to stress and this becomes a vicious cycle. More sleep can leave you with less stress.
• Eat right. A healthy diet, with plenty of fruits and vegetables is important for maintaining good health and leaving you stronger and better equipped to face whatever life throws at you.
• Stretching. It can take as little as 5 minutes a day and is an incredibly useful tool for releasing stress from the body.
• Focus on visual relaxation. Close your eyes and imagine you are somewhere nice, a deserted island walking along the shore or skiing on a snow covered slope with the brisk wind in your face. Whatever or wherever it is that makes you happy.
• Go outside. There are numerous hiking and biking trails. Nature can be very relaxing.

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Headache Cures, Symptoms and Remedies

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

For centuries, many households experiencing Headaches of all kinds. From Cluster headaches, to Tension Headaches, to Migraines. The majority of us have experienced them at one time or another. Even though we know we have them, how do we determine which one’s we are having and how to treat them? Hopefully this article will help you determine which symptoms you are having and ways to prevent them.

Tension Headaches: Tension headaches are the number one form of headaches in the population today. Though this fact should not be at all surprising considering all of the stress in our day to day lives. It is stated that 90% of all adult will/have experienced them in their lifetime. Here are a few symptoms of Tension headaches:

- Pain around the head
- Pain in the back of the neck
- Pain below the eyebrow

Cluster Headaches: Cluster headaches come in spurts. Most cluster headaches last periods of months sometimes years. it is also known that cluster headaches can go for years in between with no headaches at all. About 85% of cluster sufferers are men. Below are a few of their symptoms:

- Sharp pain in the eye
- Pain behind the ear
- Pain creates a mood of desperation for relief.

With cluster headaches they usually reoccur at the same time each day. Lasting for weeks and many sufferers complain of getting several headaches in a reported day.

Migraine Headaches: Migraines are considered the second leading headache in the world. There are many debilitating factors about Migraine headaches and 12% of the population currently gets migraine headaches. Though they are most common in women, men and children get those more frequently now too. Here are some symptoms of migraine headaches below:

- Pain in one side of the head/sometimes both
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Nausea and vomiting
- Change of taste and smells
- Dizziness or fainting
- Lasting 4-72 hours

Migraines usually cause the sufferer to feel tired or wore down for up to 24 hours after the attack has occurred. The sufferer has trouble functioning after each attack and it can affect the quality of life if they don’t get them treated.

So now that we know a little more about them how do we get rid of them or, better yet, prevent them? There are many theories to this but it is always safer when you use natural remedies. You could make use of some natural plants and herbs like; Noni better known as the “Headache tree” which has been used for centuries in countries like China and India. There is also a treatment for headaches caused by inflammation; Serrapeptase which has been used for the better part of 25 years in Europe. Sometimes however the best treatment is simply finding your triggers and avoiding them at all costs.

Some known triggers are:

- Caffeine
- Cigarette Smoking
- Sugars
- And perfumed items

Keeping track of when you get your headaches and what you are doing right before you get them is another logical way to find your triggers. Over all the best remedies for headaches and other sicknesses is to do it the natural way!
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Migraine Myths

Sunday, December 16th, 2007

There are a number of commonly held beliefs about migraines that make it hard for sufferers to get proper diagnosis and treatment.

1) Migraines are not real (all in the head, an overreaction to a normal headache, etc.).

Not true. Migraines are a biologic primary headache disorder. Even migraine pain is not confined to the head, though that is generally where it is worst.

2) Migraines have a known cause.

Sadly, no. There have been several interesting theories put forward in the last decade, but no single, definitive biological cause of migraines has been identified thus far.

3) All migraineurs have the same symptoms.

No, they don’t. This is one of the things that makes migraines so hard to diagnose, particularly if a patient’s doctor is only familiar with the most common symptoms.

4) A doctor can tell if it’s a migraine or not.

Not always. The wide spectrum of symptoms that can accompany migraine can make it difficult to diagnose, more so if the patient is not forthcoming with their doctor about all their symptoms.

5) Migraines are curable.

Again, no. Once properly diagosed many migraineurs still have to devote a lot of time and energy to managing their condition through medications, natural and homeopathic remedies, and diet and lifestyle changes. The various available coping methods work differently for each individual, so there is not even a single protocol of care.

6) Migraines are a woman’s headache.

Women migraineurs do outnumber the men 3 to 1, but there is no evidence the condition is sex-linked in any way.

7) Only adults get migraines.

Migraines have been diagnosed in adolescents, children, and even infants.

8) Every headache a migraineur is a migraine

Not true. Migraine sufferers can have regular sinus, tension, or stress headaches just like anyone else.

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Tension headache - Nine Things You May Not Know About It

Saturday, December 15th, 2007

Here are nine more things you may not know about tension headache:

* Although sleep may be possible, whensoever the sufferer awakens, the is present.

* Most sufferers will complain of squeezing (non-throbbing) and tightness- ‘like a tight band around the head’ which aches rather than pains. The ache is usually generalized rather than localized to any particular part of the head.

* It can occur in children, adolescents and adults. Females are more afflicted than males. Stress at work/home is an weighty precipitant.

* The onset of a given attack is more gradual than is seen in migraine.

* It is a common continued for both tenseness cephalalgy and common migraine to coexist in the same individual. The management of such persons may need treatment of both types of headache.

* In contrast to migraine, in which pain is periodic and lifelong, with tendency to lessen in late adult years, tension headache occurs more often in middle age and may persist for many years.

* The ache is more due to dilatation of blood vessels in the head rather than sustained muscle .

* A common feature of tension headache is that analgesic remedies have little effect in alleviating the uneasiness. Relaxation almost through all ages relieves it. Such relaxation could include bed rest, massage, and/or formal biofeedback .

* Psychological studies of groups of patients with tension headaches have revealed prominent symptoms of depression and anxiety. It is on record that 65% of depressed patients have tension headache and that over 60% of patients with tension headache have depression.

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How To Manage Chronic Headache

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007

Nowadays headache is very common in our day-to-day life. Sometime headache get healed within few hours but sometimes it take days to heal. For the people who experience headache very frequently, the best feeling is how to get rid of it. They really find themselves plagued with Chronic Headache and have to deal with it on a constant basis. These chronic headaches can be as close together as every few hours with little break in between, or spread out over a week.

Besides obvious ailments such as brain tumors and other serious head injuries, chronic headaches can affect anyone for a multitude of reasons. The following information will impart know how about chronic headache, its causes and its remedy.

What Causes Chronic Headaches There are many causes for Chronic Headache; some are very easy to change while others are really difficult to tackle. Bad Diet is the most common causes of headache. Some people are allergic to some food items, they consume it unknowingly and as result they experience chronic headache (a symptom of these allergy).

Headaches are also caused by wide variety other reasons too such as stress, muscle tension, high blood pressure, medication usage, and spinal misalignment. While the causes of headache vary person to person thats why its very necessary to first analyze the cause and then go for medication. thanks to studies and medical perseverance, there are several remedies for headaches and various ways to avoid chronic headaches.

Avoiding and Dealing With Chronic Headaches There are different ways of handling chronic headache. Following the same remedy for chronic headaches, which you follow, may also help you to eliminate future incidents. Changing your diet is probably the easiest way to avoid and remedy headaches, as it only takes simple changes and is primarily in your control.

many people have unknown allergies to dairy, chocolate products, processed food such as lunch meats, and wheat or white flour and avoiding these products on daily basis can make headaches disappear almost instantaneously.

Practicing relaxation methods like meditation, yoga and massage can really help you when headache are caused by stress and subsequent muscle tension. high blood pressure resulting from stress, tension and particular medication can also cause headaches, as it increases the pressure in the blood vessels putting pressure on the head.

Spinal misalignment can easily be taken care of by getting treated by a chiropractor. They try to keep your back and thus your neck in alignment, making sure that misaligned vertebrae do not affect your head.

Put simply, you need to find out what is the main cause of your headaches and the right remedy for it. There are umpteen causes of headaches but few simple steps and care can help you in long way.

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What is the treatment for tension headaches?

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007

Individuals with occasional tension headaches or mild migraine headaches that do not interfere with daily activities usually medicate themselves with over-the-counter (OTC, non-prescription) pain relievers (analgesics). Many OTC analgesics are available. OTC analgesics have been shown to be safe and effective for short-term relief of headache (as well as muscle aches, pains, menstrual cramps, and fever) when used according to the instructions on their labels.
There are two major classes of OTC analgesics: acetaminophen (Tylenol) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The two types of NSAIDs are aspirin and non-aspirin. Examples of non-aspirin NSAIDs are ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin, Motrin IB, and Medipren) and naproxen (Aleve). Some NSAIDs are available by prescription only. Prescription NSAIDs are usually prescribed to treat arthritis and other inflammatory conditions such as bursitis, tendonitis, etc. The difference between OTC and prescription NSAIDs may only be the amount of the active ingredient contained in each pill. For example, OTC naproxen (Aleve) contains 220 mg of naproxen per pill, whereas prescription naproxen (Naprosyn) contains 375 or 500 mg of naproxen per pill.
Acetaminophen reduces pain and fever by acting on pain centers in the brain. Acetaminophen is well tolerated and generally is considered easier on the stomach than NSAIDs. However, acetaminophen can cause severe liver damage in high (toxic) doses or if used on a regular basis over extended periods of time. In individuals who regularly consume moderate or large amounts of alcohol, acetaminophen can cause serious damage to the liver in lower doses that usually are not toxic. Acetaminophen also can damage the kidneys when taken in large doses. Therefore, acetaminophen should not be taken more frequently or in larger doses than recommended on the label.
NSAIDs relieve pain by reducing the inflammation that causes the pain (They are called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs because they are different from corticosteroids such as prednisone, prednisolone, and cortisone which also reduce inflammation). Corticosteroids, though valuable in reducing inflammation, have predictable and potentially serious side effects, especially when used long-term. NSAIDs do not have the same side effects that corticosteroids have.
Aspirin, Aleve, Motrin, and Advil all are NSAIDs and are similarly effective in relieving pain and fever. The main difference between aspirin and non-aspirin NSAIDs is their effect on platelets. Platelets are small particles in the blood that cause blood clots to form. Aspirin prevents the platelets from forming blood clots. Therefore, aspirin can increase bleeding by preventing blood from clotting though it also can be used therapeutically to prevent clots from causing heart attacks and strokes. The non-aspirin NSAIDs also have anti-platelet effects, but their anti-platelet action does not last as long as aspirin.
Aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine also are available combined in OTC analgesics for the treatment of headaches. Examples of such combination analgesics are Pain-aid, Excedrin, Fioricet, and Fiorinal.
Finding an effective analgesic or analgesic combination often is a process of trial and error because individuals respond differently to different analgesics. In general, a person should use the analgesic that has worked in the past. This will increase the likelihood that an analgesic will be effective and decrease the risk of side effects.
There are several precautions that should be observed with OTC analgesics:
Children and teenagers should not use aspirin for the treatment of headaches, other pain, or fever, because of the risk of developing Reye’s Syndrome, a life-threatening neurological disease that can lead to coma and even death.
Patients with balance disorders or hearing difficulties should avoid using aspirin because aspirin may aggravate these conditions.
Patients taking blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin) should not take aspirin and non-aspirin NSAIDs without a doctor’s supervision because they add further to the risk of bleeding that is caused by the blood thinner.
Patients with active ulcers of the stomach and duodenum should not take aspirin and non-aspirin NSAIDs because they can increase the risk of bleeding from the ulcer and impair healing of the ulcer.
Patients with advanced liver disease should not take aspirin and non-aspirin NSAIDs because they may impair kidney function. Deterioration of kidney function in these patients can lead to rapid and life-threatening deterioration of their liver disease.
Patients should not overuse OTC or prescription analgesics. Overuse of analgesics can lead to the development of tolerance (increasing ineffectiveness of the analgesic) and rebound headaches (return of the headache as soon as the effect of the analgesic wears off, usually in the early morning hours). Thus, overuse of analgesics can lead to a vicious cycle of more and more analgesics for headaches that respond less and less to treatment and occur more frequently.

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Migraine News and Tips

Saturday, December 8th, 2007

Did you know migraine sufferers have different brains from other people?

It’s true. The latest neuroscience reveals that those who experience migraines have marked differences in their brain structures. Migraine-prone individuals experience sensory input – including pain – differently from those who never get migraines. Their brain matter in the area that counts, the somatosensory cortex, is thicker. What scientists don’t know is if migraines cause brain matter changes, or if some folks are simply born with different brains and are therefore susceptible to migraines later in life. Folks with Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis have similar brain differences.

Unlike chronic tension headaches or reactive headaches (such as those brought on by consuming too much alcohol or caffeine withdrawal), migraine headaches are dangerous because they alter the brain permanently. That’s why it is essential for migraine sufferers to treat their migraines through both natural and medical avenues. Experts explain that it is imperative for migraine-prone individuals to limit the severity and frequency of their migraines; that is, it is actually safer for a migraine sufferer to take a limited amount of migraine medication in order to reduce the aggregate damage of ongoing migraines left untreated. This is a case where I don’t come down on the use of a pharmaceutical therapy (yes, you heard it from me). While migraine treatments can have side effects, the alternative – downing huge piles of pills in desperation when a migraine hits – is demonstrably worse for your health. Of course, there are often triggers for migraine, and it’s crucial to examine your lifestyle and eliminate any triggers - especially now that we know such violent headaches may alter your brain structure.

Common Triggers

- Refined carbohydrates
- Chocolate
- Overripe fruit
- Alcohol
- Sweets
- Caffeine
- Sleep deprivation
- Menstrual cycles
- Stress
- Smoke (cigarette/cigar smoke)
- Excess sun (or too little sun)
- Anxiety

Seeing a pattern here? Migraine rates have increased in recent years. While better diagnosis probably plays a significant role in this, I believe our standard American lifestyle is clearly implicated as well. Few folks eat fresh, chemical-free, sugar-free, unprocessed foods as a matter of course. Going further, our modern pace of living is incredibly stressful, both emotionally and hormonally. If you suffer from migraines, give my Primal Health lifestyle a try and see if that helps clear things up (link 1, link 2). If you’re a regular reader you know we focus on fresh, clean, wholesome foods, coupled with stress management (both physical and mental).

Migraine Myths

Curious about migraines? I’m lucky; I don’t get them. But I’ve got friends and family members and staff who have experienced these terrible, gut-wrenching, blinding headaches. For the record, a migraine is not simply a really bad headache. They are a true health condition, like inflammation or bipolar disorder. You can’t will them away and the pain is not an exaggeration.

- Migraines can’t be cured.

While this is generally true, they can often be controlled and even eliminated (if that’s not “cured”…). A staff member suffered migraines for years; after cutting out all carbohydrates from grain sources, the migraines cleared up permanently. Diet, lifestyle, and medical therapy can all help to keep migraines under control for good.

- Migraines are caused by allergies/toxins.

Conspiracy theorists wish it were true. Migraines are not caused by allergies or contaminants. While lifestyle plays a dramatic part in migraine treatment, it is unclear if lifestyle causes migraines, or if some folks are simply more susceptible to migraines due to brain differences. This recent study we discussed above seems to suggest the latter. While we all have a single genetic “blueprint” finished some 10,000 years ago, there are bound to be plenty of variations. Some of us are lactose-intolerant; others cannot metabolize alcohol; and others experience migraines. I believe migraines are likely due to a combination of slight genetic variation combined with modern lifestyle factors.

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