Posts Tagged ‘migraine headaches’
Monday, March 11th, 2013
“Warning: This head will self-destruct in 20 minutes, and counting…” Does that sum up the typical migraine attack for you? To prevent a migraine, it’s important to be able to recognize the earliest symptoms, so you can nip it in the bud, because your first twenty minutes are your most crucial in migraine prevention.
Migraine is a neurological disorder that occurs when your nerve cells are “triggered” into producing symptoms of immense headaches, intense nausea, and dizzying vertigo.
From the moment your nerve cells swing into action, you have about twenty minutes to prevent them from spreading throughout your entire nervous system and initiating a full-fledged migraine attack.
Those first few minutes are your most critical; your only window of opportunity to effectively reduce the severity and duration of a migraine attack is when you first notice the warning symptoms- fatigue, headache, wooziness, queasiness, or brain fog.
That is why some of the most successful migraine treatments are abortive medications that you use during those first few key minutes of a migraine attack.
Which meds should I take?
Prescription migraine medications vary according to their specific action.
In the first twenty minutes: At the very onset of a migraine attack, you have the option of using abortive migraine medications, such as triptans, which are commonly prescribed to people suffering from chronic migraines. These can be helpful for killing a migraine headache immediately…but only if you act fast, during the first twenty minutes or so. Long-term side effects may include brain fog, dizziness, memory loss, and fatigue.
Before the migraine: There are many types of prescription migraine prophylaxis (preventive) medications available on the market which, taken daily, may work to prevent migraines. These may include antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and calcium channel blockers.
As with abortive medications, preventative drugs may also cause harmful side effects which you should discuss with your doctor.
Preventing Migraines with Beta Blockers, Part 2: Warnings and Tips
What else can I do for prevention?
Natural preventive tactics may be just as effective for reducing the number of migraines you get in a month, while also enabling you to take fewer prescription medications.
Natural supplements that affect migraines by promoting neurological health include vitamins such as riboflavin, vitamin B12, and folate.
Also, nutrients such as magnesium, CoQ10, and iron help to sustain chromosomal integrity.
Other helpful natural ingredients include butterbur, turmeric, and vitamin C for proper response to inflammation.
Your turn!
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.
Share with your friends!
If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.
Like this? Read more:
Coming Soon: Turn Off Headaches with a Remote!
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Helps Migraines
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for Chronic Pain
Sources:
Act fast at first sign of a migraine
Image(s) courtesy of Danilin/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: migraine headache, migraine headaches, migraine medications, migraine symptoms, Prevent migraine
Posted in Migraine Prevention | No Comments »
Thursday, March 7th, 2013
Depression is often a comorbid condition of migraine disorder, as continuous crushing headaches, nausea, and fatigue feed into feelings of helplessness and despair. While antidepressants help to reduce migraines and depression at the same time, many natural alternative treatments are also beneficial for keeping symptoms at bay.
Please note that you should never discontinue use of antidepressants for migraines or depression without consulting in your doctor. None of these suggestions are meant to take place of prescription migraine treatments or medications for depression, and do not constitute medical advice.
Still, the following natural strategies have been proven to help significantly, and are recommended by physicians as part of a multi-pronged approach to combatting depression that occurs with chronic migraines.
#1 Choose an exercise that feels good
Countless medical studies confirm that regular physical activity has the power to curb mood disorders, enhance neurological health, and impart an overall sense of wellbeing.
Daily exercise reduces stress, boosts pain-killing endorphins, and regulates healthy serotonin and dopamine levels for improved relaxation response and more restful sleep.
Additionally, exercise is also recommended as a natural way to reduce migraine attacks, as stress is one of the most vicious trigger of migraines.
To benefit from exercise as a means of fighting depression, start small- try walking for twenty minutes each day, and work your way up to longer sessions.
#2 Sleep, but not too much
Getting enough restful sleep at night is instrumental for fighting migraines, as well as depression. Good sleep habits include going to sleep at a reasonable hour each night, avoiding electrical gadgets several hours before bedtime, and keeping it consistent.
Too much sleep can backfire, though, as migraine headaches and depression are often made worse by irregular sleep schedules, such as napping in the afternoon or hitting the snooze button on weekends.
#3 Think positive thoughts
Keeping your chin up and hoping for the best isn’t just great advice for conquering depression; it also helps with migraines. In studies that focused on patients who suffered from chronic pain, scientists noted that participants who kept a positive attitude and refrained from dwelling on their pain symptoms were most likely to achieve better results in pain management.
#4 Stick to routines
When chaos reigns, depression and anxiety are not far behind. While reckless abandonment of your daily routine may appeal to your spontaneous side, resist the temptation to drop your most basic healthy lifestyle habits. Following a regular routine adds an element of structure to your life that soothes the nerves and fends off feelings of melancholy and despair.
Some good routines that help with depression and migraines may include:
- Getting fully dressed each morning before you leave your bedroom, including shoes
- Sticking to daily hygiene, including showering, tooth-brushing, and hair-combing
- Fixing your bed every morning
- Check your calendar
- Keep dirty dishes at bay
- Do one load of laundry each day
- Taking your vitamins and minerals
- Exercising
- Allowing time to fix a healthy, nutritious meal
- Devoting some time to personal reflection, relaxation, or positive affirmations
Your turn!
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.
Share with your friends!
If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.
Like this? Read more:
5 Effective Natural Supplements for Depression
Migraines, Women, and Depression: 9 Myths and Truths
Can Anxiety Attacks cause Migraines?
Suicide Rate in Migraine Patients- Some Surprising Statistics
Sources:
Fighting Depression with Natural Remedies
10 Natural Depression Treatments
Image(s) courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Enter to win a free supply of Migravent- Sweepstakes
Tags: Depression and migraine, migraine headaches, Natural depression treatment, Natural migraine prevention, Treat migraines
Posted in Migraines and Mental Illness | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 5th, 2013
Almost half of women who suffer from migraines get headaches during their period. But not all menstrual migraines are alike- here are some tips for recognizing hormone-triggered migraine attacks, and natural ways to treat them.
What defines a menstrual migraine?
According to the International Headache Society, there are two types of menstrual migraines, or hormonal migraine headaches.
Menstrually-related migraines without aura begin two days before menstruation, and up to three days following the first signs of a period. With menstrual migraines without aura, headaches follow a similar pattern for at least two out of every three menstruation periods, although you may also experience migraine attacks during any time of menstruation.
Approximately half of all female migraine patients experience menstrually-related migraines without aura.
Pure menstrual migraines without aura follow a similar pattern, except that migraine attacks only occur during the first few days of menstruation, and not during any other time of the month.
Purely menstrual migraines without aura are less common, but still significant, striking almost 20% of all women who suffer from migraine headaches.
Also see: Symptoms of a Menstrual Migraine
Natural menstrual migraine care
If you suffer from chronic migraines, it’s important to speak with your health care practitioner or neurologist to discuss ways you can reduce headache frequency, both naturally and with the help of migraine medications.
That being said, here are some healthy complementary treatments that help many women suffering from menstrual migraines:
Get more magnesium!
About half of all women who suffer from migraines also exhibit magnesium deficiency, according to the latest studies.
Magnesium is an essential nutrient that promotes natural relaxation, and is crucial for numerous biochemical reactions throughout your body.
Magnesium helps to relax your arteries, a huge advantage for women who suffer from migraine headaches caused by constricted blood vessels.
In countless experiments focused on patients of chronic migraine, supplementation of magnesium consistently provided favorable results in migraine frequency, severity, and duration.
Women wishing to boost magnesium in their diet as a means of reducing the effect of menstrual migraines can choose to take supplements while also increasing their intake of magnesium-rich foods, such as dark leafy greens, whole grains, legumes, and seafood.
Open yourself up to butterbur!
Another star in the world of natural alternative medicine, the herb butterbur (Petasites hybridus) has been turning heads with its ability to benefit migraine patients efficiently and without side effects, at least 50% of the time.
Butterbur extract is completely safe for migraine patients, including women suffering from menstrual migraines caused by hormonal imbalances.
Always look for butterbur supplements that are PA-free, as pyrrolizidine alkaloids found in second-grade butterbur treatments can have toxic side effects.
Your turn!
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.
Share with your friends!
If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.
Like this? Read more:
6 Safe Migraine Treatments for Pregnant Moms
Migraines and Menopause Symptoms
Natural Migraine Ingredients for Women
Sources:
Menstrual Migraine: New Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment
Image(s) courtesy of marin/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: Hormones and migraine, menstrual migraines, migraine headaches, Women and migraine
Posted in Women and Migraines | No Comments »
Monday, March 4th, 2013
Is it still a migraine if OTC painkillers help? Some, not all, migraine headaches can be relieved with over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications such as Advil and Tylenol. Still, despite assurances of safety by the FDA, even the most trusted of all mass-manufactured migraine relievers- pills like Excedrin Migraine and aspirin- can come with a heavy price tag.
Types of painkillers
First, an introduction to the many different types of OTC painkillers, what they have to offer for migraine sufferers, and what risk factors are involved with long-term usage.
Note: Never begin any new migraine treatment, including OTC painkillers, without talking with your health care provider first.
Ibuprofen
(Advil, Motrin IB, Nuprin)
Benefits include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), blocks chemicals that trigger pain
- Effective for migraine headache pain relief
- Reduces fevers, inflammation, and relieves general body pain
Health risks include:
- Long-term usage of ibuprofen as an OTC painkiller for migraines can exacerbate gastrointestinal ailments, such as stomach ulcers, painful heartburn, and stomachaches
- Risk of damage to the stomach increases with alcohol use in conjunction with OTC painkillers such as ibuprofen
- Increases your risk for heart attack and stroke
- Unsafe during the last trimester of pregnancy
- Long-term usage may cause tinnitus
- May cause hives in people who are allergic
- Possibly unsafe for people with asthma
- Possibly impairs your ability to heal from injuries naturally
You’ll also like: Best for Migraines: Advil or Tylenol?
Ketoprofen
(Actron, Orudis KT)
Benefits include:
- NSAID
- Reduces fever, pain, and inflammation
Health risks include:
- May cause or aggravate stomach ulcers
- As with ibuprofen and other OTC painkillers, may exacerbate stomach problems, and may raise your risk for heart attack and stroke
- Possibly impairs your ability to heal from injuries naturally
Aspirin
(Bayer, Bufferin, Ecotrin, Excedrin Migraine)
Benefits include:
- NSAID, blocks pain-inducing chemicals
- Relieves pain, lowers fever, reduces inflammation and swelling
- Thins the blood
- Small doses help to prevent strokes and heart disease
Health risks include:
- Long-term use of aspirin as an OTC painkiller in treating migraines can cause stomach ulcers
- May aggravate underlying gastrointestinal disorders
- May cause stomach cramps, heartburn or nausea
- May lead to build-up of scar tissue in the stomach
- Not safe for people suffering from liver disease, gout, juvenile arthritis, or asthma
- May cause tinnitus
Read this! Top 25 Natural Migraine Treatments: Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs
Acetaminophen
(Paracetamol, Tylenol, Panadol, Tempra, Excedrin Migraine)
Benefits include:
- Acetaminophen is not a “NSAID” OTC painkiller
- Relieves some migraine headaches, lowers fever
- Not likely to cause ulcers
- Safe for pregnant and nursing women
- Doesn’t act as a blood thinner
Health risks include:
- Too-high doses can result in severe damage to the liver
- Continuous usage as an OTC painkiller, particularly when combined with caffeine (as in Excedrin Migraine) or codeine can cause damage to the kidneys.
- Because acetaminophen doesn’t reduce swelling, it’s not helpful for treating pain caused by inflammation
Naproxen sodium
(Aleve)
Benefits include:
- Same as other OTC painkillers, reduces pain, lowers fevers, treats painful inflammation
- May relieve migraine headaches
Health risks include:
- Unsafe for people with ulcers
- Aggravates GI disorders
- Combination with alcohol increases risk for stomach ailments, ulcers
- Increases risk for heart attack and stroke
- Possibly impairs your ability to heal from injuries naturally
Your turn!
What OTC painkillers have you always used for migraines?
Are you still satisfied with the efficiency of OTC painkillers to relieve migraine headaches?
Have you considered switching to natural supplements that benefit migraine, from the inside out?
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.
Share with your friends!
If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.
Like this? Read more:
Natural Migraine Remedies Surge with Prescription Drug Deaths
Migraine Medication Pros and Cons: the Basics
Image(s) courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: migraine headaches, migraine relief, NSAIDs, OTC painkillers, over-the-counter painkillers, pain relievers headaches
Posted in Migraine Medication | No Comments »
Thursday, February 28th, 2013
In learning how to manage migraines and prevent headaches, it’s important to find a migraine doctor who is resourceful, knowledgeable, and most of all, understanding. Good luck with your search, because a true migraine doctor is like the proverbial needle in a haystack of would-be headache specialists.
(Please speak to a migraine doctor, or other qualified physician, before starting any new migraine treatment. What follows is not medical advice.)
Misdiagnosis!
Try Googling for a “migraine doctor” in your area and you’re likely to meet a lot of dead ends. That’s because today’s physicians are sadly undereducated in the treatment of migraine patients, despite the major advancements scientists have been making in the field of migraine-related neurological studies.
As a result, very few doctors become migraine doctors, because few medical students receive appropriate training to recognize the symptoms of migraine disorder, and therefore don’t even take migraines seriously, writing them off as a pseudo-disease that doesn’t even deserve its own classification.
In fact, only about 50% of migraine patients ever receive a diagnosis for migraines, and not for lack of awareness- they know their headaches are from migraine- but because they have given up on the system, and have relented to self-treatment for their chronic headaches, and other symptoms of nausea, fatigue, and dizziness.
Only about half of migraine sufferers ever receive diagnosis, and even fewer eventually find the right treatments to prevent future migraine attacks.
Migraine awareness, please
Migraine awareness efforts on behalf of the many migraine advocacy groups like MAGNUM, Migraine.com, and the Migraine Support Group on Facebook are helping to educate the medical community, but we are still far behind where we should be.
Until scientists receive more grants to fund migraine research, providing an incentive for medical students to pursue the Golden Goose of migraine cures while gaining recognition for doing so, we will continue to see a very meager representation of migraine doctors in the specialty of neurology, or even chronic pain treatments.
Enter alternative treatments
One positive outcome we’re seeing as a result of the lack of quality migraine medical care is a growing interest in a more natural approach to migraine treatments.
More often than not, people are finding that they can reduce migraine severity and frequency by implementing natural migraine preventative strategies, and without all the harmful side effects that many analgesics, opioids, and other prescription migraine medications may cause, such as dizziness, nausea, memory loss, and risk for overdose.
And the science is behind many of today’s natural migraine treatments, including the use of butterbur extracts, magnesium, riboflavin, and Coenzyme Q10 in benefiting patients of migraine.
Your turn!
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.
Share with your friends!
If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.
Like this? Read more:
Epic Fail! Top 10 Migraine Analgesic Errors Doctors Make
Are Doctors Overprescribing Painkillers for Migraines? Fox News Report
Image(s) courtesy of stockimages/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: migraine attacks, migraine awareness, Migraine doctors, migraine headaches, migraine treatments
Posted in Migraine Treatments | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 26th, 2013
If your mother suffers from migraines, does that mean that your headaches are also hereditary? Probably, but migraines not only hereditary; in addition to genetics, other factors that contribute to migraine disorder may include triggers in food, weather, and stress levels.
What is a migraine?
Medically speaking, migraines are a neurological disorder that is often hereditary, but also influenced by “migraine triggers” in the environment.
Migraines cause intense frequent headaches, usually on one side of the head. Chronic migraine patients may also experience extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, joint stiffness, and hypersensitivity to lights, scents, and noises.
Sometimes, migraines are preceded by an “aura” which causes stroke-like symptoms of disorientation, visual disturbances, partial numbness, and temporary loss of speech.
9 Important Migraine Terms you need to know
Who gets migraines?
Migraines are usually hereditary; about four out of five people with migraines have a known family history for migraine headaches.
- About three-quarters of migraine patients are female, making migraine disorder one of the most prominent causes of unemployment and disability among women.
- If one parent suffers from chronic migraines, then you have a 50/50 chance of developing migraine disorder.
- If migraines run in both sides of the family, then your risk of getting migraines is about 75%.
Mommy Migraines linked with Colic in Babies- Breaking News!
Are migraines always genetic?
Not everybody who has a parent suffering from migraines is necessarily going to develop migraine headaches, as well.
In fact, according to some research, it is possible for one twin to have migraines, while the other sibling does not.
Therefore, scientists don’t say that heredity causes migraines, but that a correlation exists, that overwhelmingly, most migraine patients are hereditarily predisposed to severe chronic headaches.
Scientists have even discovered a genetic link, a mutation that correlates strongly with familial hemiplegic migraine. Researchers also believe that a number of genetic abnormalities may increase ones risk for inheriting other types of migraines, as well.
What Causes Migraines? The Long and Short Answers
“We’re trying to find the genetic basis of migraine, and basically speaking, this is the beginning,” explains Dr. Stephen Silberstein, director of the Jefferson Headache Center at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, referring to the study which was published in Nature Genetics, June 2012.
“Now we know in what neighborhood the genes are located, but we still don’t know where the houses are. It’s an important first step.”
Conclusion
If you know that at least one parent gets migraines, then it helps to be prepared. Read up about migraine triggers that raise your risk even higher for developing chronic headaches. Migraine headache triggers may include certain foods, changes in weather, irregular sleep patterns, hormones, or stress.
Even if migraines are hereditary, you can reduce your risks by exercising daily, keeping a migraine diary, learning how to relax, and supplementing with vitamins and minerals that benefit migraine patients, such as riboflavin, CoQ10, butterbur, and magnesium.
Your turn!
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.
Share with your friends!
If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.
Like this? Read more:
Is Migraine Disorder a Real Illness?
PTSD Migraines are from Mars, Genetic Migraines are from Venus, Part 1
PTSD Migraines are from Mars, Genetic Migraines are from Venus, Part 2
Sources:
Migraine Genes Pinpointed By Researchers
Scientists Spot More Migraine Genes
What is Migraine? (the scientific story)
Image(s) courtesy of imagerymajestic/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: Genetics and migraine, Hemiplegic migraine, Hereditary Migraines, migraine aura, migraine causes, migraine headaches, migraine symptoms
Posted in Migraine Causes | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 20th, 2013
Migraine patients suffer many headache triggers, including extreme allergic-like reactions to fragrances and pollutants- Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MSC). Though controversial, awareness of the migraine-inducing effects of toxic chemical exposure is starting to gain publicity.
What is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity?
Although it’s not classified as a real illness, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) causes debilitating side effects in its sufferers, many of which are migraine headache patients.
- Other names for MCS include chemical AIDS, chemical injury, multiple allergy, or environmental illness.
- MCS causes severe headache, nausea, and muscular pain, even after minimal, low-level exposure to chemicals such as perfumes, smoke, diesel, and other fumes.
- Scientists aren’t certain exactly what causes MCS, nor are they in agreement that it is a real “illness.”
- Theories for the cause of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity include immune system damage and neurological disorder.
- Elements that provoke chemical hypersensitivity often include trace amounts of chemical fragrances, smoke, dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and Volatile Organic Compounds. (VOCs)
6 Migraine-Friendly Air Fresheners for the Home
What MCS means for migraine patients
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) list several case studies on MCS, which is one of the strongest obstacles for migraine patients in the workplace.
Most people can tolerate exposure to a number of chemicals and allergens in the workplace or at home.
People who have hypersensitivity to chemicals, particularly migraine patients, suffer excruciatingly debilitating headache, nausea, and other painful symptoms that make it difficult- almost impossible- to concentrate on work, resulting in impaired performance and missed days from work spent recuperating.
Migraines at Work- Can my Employers Fire me from my Job?
If MCS is caused by a neurological disorder, as some scientists believe, then it further contributes to the strong correlation between chronic migraines and hypersensitivity to fragrances, dust, and noxious fumes, and may result in increased awareness and acceptance of the need for migraine-centric reforms in the workplace.
What are the symptoms of MCS?
Symptoms associated with MCS often mimic the start of a migraine attack, and may include:
- Intense headaches, including migraine headaches
- Stiff joints
- Muscle pain
- Overwhelming fatigue
- Dizziness, vertigo
- Disorientation
- Extreme sensitivity to bright lights and loud noises
- Burning, teary eyes
- Sore throat
- Nasal congestion
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Stomach cramps
How do I know if I have MCS?
MCS follows certain patterns that make it easy to identify; they include:
- Severe migraine headaches that consistently result from constant exposure to the same chemicals
- Chronic headaches, nausea, and debilitating symptoms
- Symptoms occur after exposure to trace elements of chemicals that non-migraineurs wouldn’t notice
- Migraine or MCS patient is sensitive to many seemingly-unrelated triggers, like pet dander, laundry detergents, and second-hand smoke, as opposed to being sensitive to only one or two allergens.
- In an allergen-free zone, MCS patient is finally able to find relief from chronic headaches and other pain symptoms.
Your turn!
Do you suffer from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity with migraines? If so, how do you manage in the workplace?
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.
Share with your friends!
If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.
Like this? Read more:
Migraine-ous Fragrances at Work: 20 Civil Tactics and Coping Strategies
34 Migraine-Inducing, Stomach-Turning Toxic Chemicals in Perfume
Enter to win a free bottle of Migravent!
Now, through March 3, 2013
Submit your entry!
No purchase required, see details here.
Sources:
What is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity? (MCS)
Safety and Health Topics- Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (osha.gov)
Image(s) courtesy of twobee/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: Chemical AIDS, Environmental Illness, MCS, Migraine, migraine headache triggers, migraine headaches, migraine symptoms, Multiple Allergy, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Posted in Migraine Triggers | No Comments »
Thursday, February 7th, 2013
You’ve been looking for that “off” switch for your migraine headaches practically since the day you were born; now, a new remote-controlled device may give you the relief from migraine or cluster headaches that you’ve been dreaming about.
Technically, it’s pain relief
There’s no cure for migraines, and prescription drug treatments are often a gamble, causing debilitating side effects and sometimes, not even providing the anticipated relief from headaches.
Enter Autonomic Technologies Inc., a California-based biotech company that hopes to change the face of headache treatment as we know it.
Borrowing from research developed by the Cleveland Clinic in treating Parkinson’s disease, scientists were able to provide headache relief in 67% of European cluster headache patients who participated in the trial…
…within only 15 minutes.
“We could see almost immediately visual changes in the patients,” says Dr. Frank Papay, developer of the surgical implant procedure. “We could just see them relax.”
Migraine Neuro-Stim Procedure: What to Expect
What is it?
The device is tiny, about the size of an almond, and it’s placed among a group of nerve cells that reside behind your nasal passages, near the eyes. Upon activation, it delivers an electrical shock to your nerve cells that effectively stops headaches in their tracks.
Dr. Papay compares the procedure to getting your wisdom teeth pulled out, although it’s worth noting that the area requiring operation is decidedly much closer to the brain than to your jawline.
To initiate, simply press the provided remote control to your cheek whenever you feel a migraine attack coming on.
Where can I get it?
Right now, the headache-killing device is being used to treat cluster headaches in Europe. Developers hope to gain approval to use the device for treating migraines, as well, in the coming year.
Collaborations are being made with the FDA in the hope of bringing the device to the American market, hopefully within three years, but probably longer.
Your turn!
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.
Share with your friends!
If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.
Like this? Read more:
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Helps Migraines
Source:
A remote-controlled device to stop severe headache pain
Image(s) courtesy of imagerymajestic/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: cluster headaches, migraine headaches, migraine prevention, nerve stimulation migraine
Posted in Migraine Prevention | No Comments »
Monday, February 4th, 2013
It’s not your imagination, and you’re not hallucinating. Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, a neurological condition associated with migraines with aura, is a well-documented phenomenon that causes some pretty eerie symptoms such as distorted body image, loss of time perception, and disorientation.
Named after the famed author and migraine sufferer, Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland Syndrome is a rare type of migraine with aura that mimics an “out of body” experience.
Although it most often occurs during childhood, many migraine sufferers continue to experience Alice in Wonderland Syndrome into their adulthood. Occurrences can last for seconds or minutes, may happen chronically or sporadically, and are usually a silent migraine.
Symptoms of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome
Migraine patients who experience the unusual syndrome describe seeing other people and things as topsy-turvy, in slow motion, or through a long tunnel; even body parts appear larger or smaller than they should, similar to the sensation described by Alice in the eponymously named children’s tale.
Frequently, symptoms occur while falling asleep, as a night terror, or as part of a set of symptoms that occur with sleep paralysis.
Common symptoms include:
- Altered body image, notably in the size and shape of the head and hands
- Impaired sense of distance from surroundings
- Loss of spatial awareness
- Objects in environment appear magnified or telescoped
- Distorted time perception
- Abnormal reactions to touch
- Unusual sounds
What’s the cause?
Scientists don’t have an exact answer as to the cause of this rare neurological phenomenon, but they theorize that Alice in Wonderland Syndrome and migraines with aura both occur in the occipital lobe of the brain, a region associated with vision perception.
A separate study on migraine prevention suggests a link between topiramate usage and increased episodes of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, particularly at nighttime.
“After reduction of topiramate to 50 mg/day, the nocturnal phenomena ceased within 2 weeks…’
We agreed with the patient to a rechallenge and increased the daily dose to 75 mg/day.’
Two weeks later the distortions reappeared again and the patient decided to discontinue the drug”
Diagnosis and treatment
Although the symptoms themselves are not dangerous, doctors recommend that patients experiencing unusual migraine auras get tested with an MRI, and screen for possible (although rare) underlying conditions such as brain tumor, brain infection, or epilepsy.
There are no specific treatments for Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, but by following the usual protocol for migraine treatment you can reduce the frequency of debilitating episodes.
- Work with your GP or neurologist to find the most effective migraine treatment
- Keep track of medication usage and other relevant info in your migraine diary, and share the data with your headache specialist
- Follow a migraine-friendly diet that eliminates known triggers in food
- Eat and sleep at the same times each day and night, even during the weekend or while on vacation
- Experiment with natural alternative methods for managing migraines
- Supplement with daily vitamins, minerals, and herbs that benefit migraine patients, including riboflavin, butterbur, CoQ10, and magnesium.
Your turn!
Have you experienced Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, and have you noticed any correlations with migraine treatments?
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.
Share with your friends!
If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.
Like this? Read more:
Are Sleep Seizures, Exploding Head Noises Causing Insomnia?
When Migraine Aura with Aphasia leaves you Lost for Words
Go Ask Alice: Migraine Auras in Wonderland
Sources:
“Alice in Wonderland syndrome” associated with topiramate for migraine prevention
Alice In Wonderland Syndrome
Body image disturbances (Alice in Wonderland syndrome)
Image courtesy of whale05/flickr
Tags: 'Alice in Wonderland' syndrome, migraine headaches, migraine symptoms, migraine with aura
Posted in Migraines with Aura | No Comments »
Thursday, January 31st, 2013
Migraines can make it difficult to get a full night’s sleep, but by practicing migraineur sleep hygiene, you can get to sleep and wake up feeling refreshed, without having your rest interrupted by migraine headaches.
Practice migraine sleep hygiene
What is sleep hygiene? It’s not wearing clean pajamas or washing your face before bedtime; sleep hygiene are tactics you can use to promote good restful sleep.
For migraine patients, good sleep hygiene also reduces your chances of starting the next day with a raging headache and having a migraine attack triggered by insomnia.
So, to avoid morning migraines and get a good night’s sleep, follow these guidelines:
1- Notice daytime symptoms
Often, we’re so caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life that we tend to ignore the early warning signs of an approaching migraine. Sometimes, we’re just too busy to even notice the earliest symptoms of the prodrome migraine phase.
Stiff neck, unusual food cravings, sudden fatigue, irritability, disorientation and even euphoria are signs that should prompt you into activating your migraine attack plan of action, whether it be prescription prophylaxis medications, abortive drugs, or natural supplements for migraine.
If you suffer from chronic migraine, then a good rule of thumb is to take scheduled time out breaks throughout the day and do a quick migraine-symptom “audit.” Then you’ll be better prepared for the impending migraine headache and maybe even nip it in the bud!
2- Unplug
Abstain from using electronic devices two hours before bed. This includes your iPod, iPhone, iPad, or any other smart phone. Don’t watch TV to get to sleep, either. Chatting on the phone, engaging in social media, and watching late-night television are all things that stimulate your brain, when what you really need to be doing is getting into a relaxed state.
3- Eat right
Don’t eat anything heavy after the 6:00 pm hour, and don’t snack within a few hours of beddie-bye. Avoid caffeinated beverages after midday, as well. If you normally use migraine pain relievers with caffeine, take the minimum amount in the evening hours.
4- Set the stage
Establish a relaxing nighttime ritual that is conducive to sleep and also reduces stress. Meditate, practice stretching exercises, or take a warm bath with lavender oil- these are all things that are essential for preventing migraines and inducing the sleep response.
5- Keep it regular
Adopt a regular sleep schedule. Not only will your internal clockwork kick in, telling you when it’s time to go to sleep, it’s also beneficial for preventing migraines, as fluctuations in sleep patterns are common migraine triggers.
6- Take your vitamins!
Take natural supplements that benefit migraine patients while promoting sleep. Good nutrients to try are magnesium, riboflavin, CoQ10, and serotonin. Additionally, many people find that sipping on herbal tea helps to unwind. Natural herbs that promote sleep and benefit migraine sufferers are butterbur, chamomile, and lemon balm. For a complete list of natural ingredients for migraines, see this- Top 25 Natural Migraine Treatments: Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs
Win a free bottle of Migravent!
Enter to win a free bottle of Migravent! No purchase necessary, no obligations involved. Now, through February 10, 2013. Enter our Migravent Giveaway.
Your turn!
What natural supplements do you use to prevent migraines and get a good night’s sleep?
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.
Share with your friends!
If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.
Like this? Read more:
Sleep Paralysis, Hallucinations, and Migraines
Are Sleep Seizures, Exploding Head Noises Causing Insomnia?
Migraine Triggers in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Sources:
Preventing Migraine Headaches from Disrupting Sleep
Image(s) courtesy of David Castillo Dominici/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: fall asleep, Insomnia migraine, migraine headaches, migraines and sleep, Natural supplements for migraine, prevent migraines
Posted in Stress and Migraines | No Comments »
|
