Posts Tagged ‘Migraines’
Tuesday, April 16th, 2013
Do bright lights make your eyes squint painfully, and trigger headaches? Photophobia, or light sensitivity is a common symptom of migraines, but it can also result from a life-threatening injury. Listed are some causes of non-ocular photophobia, including migraine.
What is photophobia?
First, what it’s not: photophobia isn’t an irrational fear of bright lights. People with hypersensitivity to UV glares, strobe lights, and bright white LEDs need to avoid exposure in order to prevent suffering intense eye pain, sharp headaches, dizziness, and nausea; these are all symptoms that occur with photophobia, a comorbid condition of migraines.
For many, photophobia becomes a disability. Bright fluorescent lighting in the workplace make it difficult to concentrate, as pounding migraine headaches, intense pain between the eyes, and stomach cramps worsen. Even driving a car can be challenging, as bright rays of sunlight can catch you off-guard and make you lose your focus, even for a moment.
Lights…Camera…Migraine! 10 Curious Facts about Light Sensitivity
Worse, when photophobia is a constant sidekick of migraine disorder, it decreases your chances of catching life-threatening conditions that cause similar symptoms when exposed to bright white light.
Common causes of photophobia
Assuming that you don’t have vision problems, ultra-light sensitivity can have several causes, including the most common, which is migraine.
- Migraines- A whopping 80% of migraine patients experience severe eye pain, headaches, and nausea when exposed to bluish-white lights, fluorescent bulbs, flickering images, and stark white backgrounds.
- Blepharospasm- Involuntary facial twitching is the second-most common cause of light sensitivity, causing pain while watching television, driving, or reading. Stress may also trigger photophobia.
- Depression- Although photophobia is not a psychological fear of lights, it does seem to become more severe during bouts of depression and anxiety.
- Head injury- Sudden intense headaches and extreme sensitivity to light may occur following a severe head injury.
- Meningitis- Brain inflammation caused by meningitis can produce symptoms similar to migraine, including crushing headaches and eye pain.
- Pituitary tumors- Cancer in the pituitary gland may cause hypersensitivity to light, and can be ruled out with medical imaging.
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage- a stroke from bleeding in the subarachnoid cavity of the brain is life threatening, and requires emergency care.
Photophobia treatment and prevention
To prevent head pain from photophobia, it’s important to use a multi-pronged approach to treatment. Most importantly, it’s crucial to address the underlying disorder, whether it is migraines, eye twitching, or depression.
Listed are some helpful tips for reducing sensitivity to bright lights.
- Wear dark or rose-colored sunglasses, indoors and outside.
- Look for FL-41 lenses guaranteed to block blue-green lights.
- Seek FDA-approved safe incandescent light bulbs.
- Try to increase your tolerance to light; resist the temptation to sit in total darkness.
- Get enough sleep at night.
- Take any medications or supplements that help to reduce migraine triggers, in addition to treating depression.
- Get your eyes checked regularly.
- Use eye drops to prevent dry eyes.
Your turn!
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Like this? Read more:
Headaches can Cause Blindness- 4 Facts about Ocular Migraines
Rainbow Colored Sunglasses that Prevent Migraines
Sources:
Photophobia: Looking for Causes and Solutions
Photophobia – What Is It? Can It Be Treated?
Image(s) courtesy of stockimages/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: light sensitivity, migraine headaches, Migraines, Photophobia
Posted in Migraine Comorbidities | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 15th, 2013
If chronic pain is triggered by emotions, then does that mean that migraines are a mental illness? Do people who suffer from fibromyalgia just need to de-stress? People have many misconceptions about chronic pain, half-truths that stem from the brain-pain connection.
Chronic pain is widespread. Migraines inflict millions of people with frequent, debilitating headaches, nausea, and fatigue. Out of all migraine sufferers, approximately 75% are female. Unlike common acute headaches, migraine attacks begin in the brain as a result of a neurological disorder, and are usually hereditary. Migraines become “chronic” when they occur over 15 times each month, for a period of at least 3 months.
Chronic pain triggers. Much of chronic pain is influenced by specific “triggers” that increase your likeliness to suffer from a migraine or a fibromyalgia flare-up. Chronic pain triggers don’t cause migraines- we’re not able to say with conviction exactly what causes chronic pain symptoms, but we do understand that certain things like emotions and thought have a huge effect on their outcome, and how we respond to medication.
#1: Stress increases pain.
The brain is the root of all chronic pain, as it continuously receives messages from neurotransmitters all over your body that relay information about pain…and emotions. In perceiving pain signals, the brain takes into account both physical and emotional cues at the same time.
Overwhelmingly, pain is exacerbated by stress, anxiety, depression, panic, vulnerability, and guilt.
Migraine Triggers in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
#2: Pain is never just “made up.”
The fact that emotionally-triggered pain cannot be viewed from an MRI or X-ray doesn’t make it any less real. Whether pain is caused by tense muscles, arthritis, a fractured hip, or a migraine set off by a hectic work schedule, chronic pain is in every case irrefutably real for the sufferer, even if it’s not always evident through diagnostic imaging.
#3: Positive reinforcement works.
Accepting that emotions like anxiety and depression can trigger migraines or other types of chronic pain, the next logical conclusion is that the power of thought can also be used to decrease or prevent pain. This is true to a certain extent.
Consider the placebo effect- if you believe that a certain medication will work, you increase your own odds of recovery. This has been proven in countless studies, where sufferers of chronic pain who were optimistic not only responded well to treatment, but they also learned how to cope better with their pain symptoms on a daily basis than people with the same ailments who help a more negative view.
Much of chronic pain recovery relies on your mood, which you can manage effectively by repeating positive affirmations.
Instead of, “I hope I don’t get a migraine attack,” switch to, “If a migraine happens, I will deal with it.”
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:
Can Anxiety Attacks cause Migraines?
Migraines, Women, and Depression: 9 Myths and Truths
Sources:
Chronic Pain: It Is All in Your Head, and It’s Real
Diagnosing Chronic Migraine
Image(s) courtesy of Victor Habbick/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: chronic headaches, chronic pain, Chronic pain triggers, emotional pain, fibromyalgia, migraine attacks, migraine headaches, Migraines, neurological disorder
Posted in Chronic Pain | No Comments »
Monday, January 14th, 2013
Contrary to popular belief, some of the most debilitating symptoms of migraines occur in the stomach. Nausea, sharp stomach pain, dizziness, and vomiting can be just as excruciating as the severe throbbing headaches that migraine patients have to endure.
Nausea with migraine statistics
For many migraine patients, nausea interferes with migraine treatment and increases the suffering caused by frequent migraine attacks.
- Approximately 92% of migraine sufferers will experience severe nausea or vomiting with their migraine attacks.
- Over half of migraine patients say that nausea and vomiting occur almost all the time when they get a migraine, listing severe nausea as one of the most difficult migraine symptoms to endure.
- Of migraine patients who suffer from nausea, most are female.
- In many cases, the act of vomiting stops the migraine attack.
- Intense nausea and vomiting make it nearly impossible for migraine patients to hold down their medications long enough to find relief.
- Migraine attacks and vomiting seem to share common triggers, according to researchers.
Migraine Headaches and Then Some…Migraine Comorbidities
What causes nausea and vomiting with migraines?
While scientists aren’t certain exactly what causes stomach cramps, dizziness, fatigue, or the need to vomit when migraines occur, they have noticed some correlations that may provide helpful tips for managing nausea, before and after a migraine strikes.
- Sometimes, stomach pain and nausea are diagnosed as abdominal migraines, a specific type of migraine that usually occurs in children. Abdominal migraine symptoms can last for a few hours, or they can continue for several days. Children who suffer nausea and vomiting from abdominal migraines are four times more likely to develop migraine headaches later in life than their peers.
- When vertigo occurs along with vomiting and nausea, it’s important for your doctor to rule out a tumor or inner-ear disorder, as these symptoms may be overlooked when nausea and headaches occur often.
- Cyclical vomiting syndrome (CVS) and migraines are linked in many studies; both are often triggered by stress, and include symptoms of headache, nausea, and vomiting that can last for hours or days. Many patients of CVS- even non-migraine sufferers- are treated with medications used for migraines.
What Causes Migraine Dizziness?
Treating nausea with migraines
In order to find lasting relief, it’s important to use a multi-pronged approach to migraine management. This is especially true when nausea and frequent vomiting make it difficult to take your migraine medications.
Listed below are some helpful treatments for preventing nausea, as well as finding relief when it occurs with migraine.
- Take magnesium- scientists have noted a correlation between gastro-paresis and magnesium deficiency. Since magnesium deficiency has also been linked with migraine disorder, doctors advise all migraine patients who suffer from frequent nausea to experiment with 400mg doses of magnesium, which is also beneficial for treating constipation that sometimes occurs with migraines. Also read: Getting Enough Magnesium…Are you?
- Lie down- symptoms of queasiness usually get worse with movement, so if you can, find a quiet place to lie still until the nausea passes.
- Try alternative delivery methods for medications that treat migraine or nausea. These include injections, nasal sprays, patches, or sublingual tablets that dissolve under the tongue.
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:
Migraine Auras without Headache: Silent Migraines
Symptoms Migraines or Meningitis- Know the Difference
Migraines and stroke: How to tell the Difference
Sources:
Nausea and Headache
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome
Image(s) courtesy of marin/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: Migraine headaches nausea, migraine symptoms, Migraines, Vomiting and Nausea in Migraine
Posted in Migraines and Nausea | No Comments »
Monday, September 17th, 2012
Migraines and work stress are some of the biggest health crises facing migraine sufferers today. Work stress is not only bad for productivity; it’s also detrimental to your health! Migraines and work stress have been correlated in countless studies, accounting for a rising unemployment rate and disability among migraine patients all over the US.
Some symptoms of job-related stress include:
Headaches- no surprise there. Stress is a frequent trigger of migraine headaches. Daily stress encountered at work is often a source of crippling migraine attacks that never seem to disappear.
Fatigue- constant fatigue is a byproduct of migraines and work stress, but it can also signify problems with depression or other health conditions, such as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Apathy- if you feel that you’re insignificant at work, or that nothing you do at work matters, then you may be suffering from severe work stress requiring attention, and possibly depression, a comorbid condition of migraine disorder.
Insomnia- sometimes, people take work stress home with them, causing them to lose sleep and spend many restless nights worrying about their jobs. Sleeplessness is one of many migraine triggers, so to prevent migraines and work stress, it’s important to learn how to shut off anxious thoughts while you’re in bed, so that you’ll be able to get to sleep quicker and wake up refreshed.
Stomach problems- stomach cramps, diarrhea, or nausea are all common symptoms of migraines and work stress. Gastrointestinal disorder occurs often with people who suffer severe migraines, but it could also indicate mounting stress at the workplace.
Distraction- “brain fog” happens when you’re under intense stress, but it also occurs with many neurological disorders, including migraines.
Please tell us…
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:
Managing your Migraines at Work- 4 Healthy Changes in Attitude
Migraines and Work Stress: 3 Tips for Keeping your Cool
Migraine-ous Fragrances at Work: Know your Rights
Source:
Stress at Work: Tips to Reduce and Manage Job and Workplace Stress
Images courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: migraine headaches, Migraines, migraines and stress, Migraines and work stress, migraines at work
Posted in Stress and Migraines | No Comments »
Thursday, September 13th, 2012
Migraines and work stress are a growing problem for migraine sufferers everywhere- coping with constant migraine headaches while struggling to make ends meet in a shaky economy creates a very tense work environment. About 43% of US citizens have experienced job stress caused by rudeness in the workplace, according to a survey. To manage migraines and work stress, you need to learn ways to relieve tension (a migraine trigger) and create a happier work environment.
#1- Set an example
Always treat your coworkers the way you would want to be treated yourself. Even when others are rude (or downright hostile!), that’s no reason to resort to that behavior, yourself. Practice speaking quietly when you’re stressed, and choose your words carefully. When you’re really angry, it’s probably best not to speak at all, and wait until you’ve had a moment to contemplate. Eventually, other people will get that you’re not into confrontations.
#2- Pretend you’re hard of hearing
Sometimes, fighting fire with fire only creates a raging inferno of more migraines and work stress. When somebody at work makes an impolite remark about your being late or needing to wear migraine sunglasses indoors, don’t retort back at her with an equally unfriendly remark. Just bite your tongue and shrug it off- you’ll feel better for it.
#3- Create a friendship circle
It’s not enough to ignore toxic people- you should also make an effort to befriend other coworkers, people you can chat comfortably with during breaks. Better yet, set up a support system where people can talk openly (but civilly) about changes that would benefit the work environment. This would also be a good opportunity to reduce migraines and work stress by addressing migraine triggers in the workplace, such as strong perfumes, loud noises, or bright artificial lighting.
Please tell us…
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:
Avoiding Migraine Triggers- Here, There and Everywhere
Can Anxiety Attacks cause Migraines?
Source:
Five Ways to Ease Work Stress – How to Avoid Stress At Work – RealAge
Images courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: Migraine headaces, migraine headaches, Migraines, migraines and stress, Migraines and work stress, migraines at work
Posted in Stress and Migraines | No Comments »
Monday, September 10th, 2012
People have suffered from migraines for ages; today, researchers believe that many migraine headaches caused by food allergies can be prevented simply, without the need for prescription drugs. Treating migraines, a neurological disorder that causes crippling headaches and nausea, may be a matter of isolating immune reactions to certain foods. Here are ways you can find out if your migraine headaches are caused by food allergies.
Migraine triggers
Scientists have not found a cure for migraines, but they have known for many years that certain factors increase your odds of having a migraine attack, and have compiled a list of 100 migraine triggers in food, weather, scents, and behavioral patterns. Based on the theory that migraine triggers cause a chemical reaction in the brain that produces migraine headaches, scientists have devised a way for migraine sufferers to reduce migraine frequency, simply by avoiding triggers.
Migraines are an autoimmune reaction
Current research puts a twist on the migraine trigger theory, attributing food allergies- not chemistry- as the cause of migraine headaches. So, for some, migraine headaches caused by food allergies are suffering from an autoimmune disorder, a breakdown in the immune system.
Normally, your immune response kicks in when your body is under attack from viruses and bacteria. With autoimmune disorders, your immune system incorrectly labels certain factors as dangerous, and proceeds to destroy them, triggering inflammation.
Scientists believe that with migraine patients, certain foods trigger an allergic reaction, produce painful inflammation, stomachaches, and nausea, all of which are symptoms of migraine headaches.
Study confirms food allergies in migraines
To confirm the theory of migraine headaches caused by food allergies, scientists in Italy conducted a double-blind study focusing on 30 patients diagnosed with migraine headaches.
By measuring IgG antibodies (which are associated with autoimmune disorder), scientists were able to detect which foods caused high levels of IgG antibodies in the blood for each patient.
When given a diet that restricted foods that produced the IgG antibody, migraine patients saw a dramatic reduction in migraine frequency.
Still, migraines were not eliminated, and migraine headache severity remained the same.
Test for migraines from food allergies
Not all tests for food allergies are effective; skin testing and blood tests are sometimes inconclusive. To find out if you have a food allergy, your doctor must conduct a blood screening for Ige and IgG antibodies to specific foods, and measure your response to about 100 foods known to trigger allergic reactions, including migraine headaches from food allergies.
For treatment, your doctor may advise an allergy blocker- sodium cromoglycate, which may be taken orally before meals, and may effectively prevent food allergy-induced migraines.
Please tell us…
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:
10 Migraine Myths and Misperceptions, Debunked
Migraine Dieting with Gluten-Free Foods: Is it Necessary?
New Research Links Migraines with Celiac Disease
Sources:
Evidence for an immune-mediated mechanism in food-induced migraine from a study on activated T-cells, IgG4 subclass, anti-IgG antibodies and circulating immune complexes
Migraine Headaches: Food and Drink That Cause Headaches
Diet restriction in migraine, based on IgG against foods: a clinical double-blind, randomised, cross-over trial
Images courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: migraine headaches, Migraine headaches and food, Migraine headaches and food allergies, Migraine headaches caused by food allergies, Migraines
Posted in Migraine Prevention | No Comments »
Friday, September 7th, 2012
Migraines cause a variety of neurological disorders that differ for each individual. It helps to understand migraine terms used to describe symptoms that attack your muscles, vision, speech, and reaction to pain. Below are some useful migraine terms that apply to sufferers of migraines with aura, and without.
Aura
Migraine attacks include several phases, the prodrome (earliest) stage, aura, migraine headache, and postdrome (aftereffect) stage. Not all migraine patients necessarily experience all of these stages, though. Migraines that don’t include the aura stage are called, simply, migraines without aura. Likewise, migraine attacks that regularly follow an aura are called migraines with aura, or MA.
Scientists bother to make the distinction in migraine terms for several reason; first, it helps in finding the right migraine treatment to relieve symptoms associated with migraine aura; second, and most importantly, is that patients of migraines with aura are a high risk category for heart disease. If you experience an aura before your migraine, then you are twice as likely to suffer heart attack or stroke as others who don’t get migraine with aura.
Symptoms of aura may include:
- Muscle weakness
- Partial paralysis
- Hallucinatory scents
- Visual disturbances
- Speech slurring
- Disorientation
- Vertigo
Silent migraine
Some people get migraine attacks that cause fatigue, nausea, and strange aura symptoms, but without getting headaches. Migraine attacks that don’t cause headaches are called “silent migraines.”
Basilar-type migraine
“Basilar” is a migraine term used to describe migraines with aura. With basilar-type migraines, neurological symptoms occur either at the base of the brain stem, or from both sides (hemispheres) at once.
For more on basilar-type migraines, read this- Understanding and Treating Basilar-Type Migraine (BTM)- Part I
Familial hemiplegic migraine
Migraine terms for hemiplegic migraines are migraine auras that cause stroke-like symptom. If hemiplegic migraines are hereditary, then they are referred to as familial hemiplegic migraines. To a casual observer, somebody in the throes of a hemiplegic migraine may seem to be having an attack of epilepsy or stroke.
Diplopia
Diplopia (double vision) refers to one of several visual disorders that may occur during the migraine aura phase. Of people who get basilar-type migraines, almost half of them experience diplopia.
Scotoma
Scotoma, in migraine terms, refers to strange, shifting lights that occur in your field of vision, such as oscillating crescent shapes, shimmering arcs, or zigzagging lines.
Migraine trigger
A migraine trigger is anything that increases your chances for a migraine attack. This is an often misunderstood migraine term, as people may think it implies cause. Migraine triggers don’t cause migraines. Rather, the more triggers you are exposed to on a daily basis, the likelier you are to have a migraine headache in the near future.
Migraine triggers differ for each person, but most include certain foods (wine, cheese, and cured meat), scents, weather patterns (humidity or cold), or hormonal fluctuations (pregnancy, menstruation).
Hyperosmia
If scents trigger migraines, then you have hyperosmia. People with hyperosmia react strongly to mostly chemical scents, such as those found in lotions, candles, and air fresheners, but some may also be sensitive to fresh flowers or cut grass.
Photophobia
If artificial lighting triggers migraines, then you are among a large number of sufferers who experience photophobia. Exposure to bright fluorescent lights or even intense sunshine can induce eye pain and migraine attacks. Also, stark white backgrounds and severe black and white striped images (such as those seen in bar codes or optical illusions) are painful to the eyes.
Please tell us…
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 Headache Frequently Asked Questions- the Top Ten List
Migraine Pop Quiz: How Well do you Understand your Headaches?
References:
10 Terms Every Migraine Sufferer Should Know
Images courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: Hemiplegic migraine, Migraine, Migraine terms, migraine with aura, Migraines
Posted in Types of Migraines | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
According to a recent study, people with celiac disease are more likely to suffer from migraines than those without digestive disorders. What’s the connection between migraines and celiac, anyways?
Celiac disease
Celiac is an autoimmune disorder that affects the digestive system and involves intolerance for gluten. Most people can eat starchy foods containing gluten- pastries, breads, pastas- without any ill results. For a celiac patient, however, eating a morsel of wheat, rye, or barley can be the kiss of death.
So much so that even trace amounts of the gluten protein can cause severe stomach reactions and chronic pain symptoms like headaches and muscle pain.
10 Golden Food Rules for Chronic Pain Sufferers
Symptoms of celiac disease include:
- Diarrhea
- Stomach cramps
- Stomach bloating
- Osteoporosis
- Depression
- Chronic fatigue
- Headaches
- Vertigo
- Mouth sores
- Sore muscles
- Stiff joints
- Pain and tingling in the legs
- Skin rash
- Frequent bruising
- Unusual weight loss
- Failure to thrive
- Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
Migraines are also a stomach disorder
Scientists have always observed a strong link between the migraine brain and the stomach, but have not been able to explain exactly why the two correlate with each other.
Migraine Headaches and Dizziness- Stop the Ride, I want to get off!
For example, why do migraine attacks cause severe nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting, in addition to pounding headaches?
And why does vomiting during a migraine attack often produce intense relief?
American researchers from New York believe they can provide a useful clue.
The migraine-celiac connection
It’s actually not the first time somebody attempted to link neurological disorder with celiac disease- In the 60’s, scientists observed symptoms like poor motor control and peripheral neuropathy in patients of celiac, explains this study’s authors.
For the Columbia University Medical Center study, scientists focused on celiac disease, in addition to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, both forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Subjects were also asked if they ever experienced any sensitivity to wheat or gluten.
 In addition to questioning participants on their digestive health, scientists also inquired about their history regarding headaches and lifestyle choices like smoking, alcohol, and coffee usage.- Out of 501 people, 188 had celiac disease, 111 had IBD, 25 suffered from gluten intolerance, and the remaining “control group” had no digestive system disorders.
- More than half of the gluten sensitive participants suffered from chronic headaches.
- About 30% of celiac disease patients also had chronic headaches.
- Twenty-three percent of IBD sufferers also experienced chronic headaches.
- The lowest occurrence of chronic headaches was in the control group, at 14%.
- Migraine-specific headaches were reported among 21% of celiac patients and 14% of IBD patients, compared with only 6% from the healthy control group.
“We found significantly higher prevalence of headaches in patients with celiac disease compared to those without it,” states Dr. Alexandra Dimitrova, who co-authored the Neurological Institute study.
Unfortunately, scientists are still unable to determine why symptoms of IBD and celiac disease often affect the brain. Theories range from celiac disease antibodies that attack the nervous system to widespread inflammation throughout the body.
These preliminary finding were recently presented at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting in New Orleans.
What we learn from this:
There is no one cure for migraines, but determining your migraine triggers is the first step towards successful chronic pain management.
Have you tried eliminating gluten from your diet, for at least a few months? Gluten-free dieting is not necessary unless your body has a bad reaction to gluten products. But for many migraine sufferers, eliminating certain foods from their diet, including gluten, has led to a significant reduction in migraine headaches.
Migraine Dieting with Gluten-Free Foods: Is it Necessary?
- If you’re unsure of your migraine triggers, start logging into a migraine diary.
- If your migraine drugs aren’t performing to your full satisfaction, experiment with restrictive dieting. Perhaps you’ll discover a migraine triggers of which you were unaware.
- Vitamin deficiency is another possible factor. Make sure you get enough B vitamins and minerals like magnesium.
- Other dietary ingredients that are healthful include butterbur and Co-Q10.
Read more about migraines and diet
To Prevent Migraines, eat 11 Pounds of Beef
The Do-it-Yourself Migraine Detox Diet: What to Expect
Eat like a Migraineur- 7 Migraine Diet Tips
Please tell us…
Have you found relief from migraines by changing your diet? Please share your experience!
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+.
References:
Migraines More Likely for People With Celiac Disease, Study Says
Images:
Ohmega1982, stockimages,
Tags: migraine attacks, migraine headaches, migraine triggers, Migraines, Migraines and celiac disease
Posted in Nutrition and Migraines | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 25th, 2012
People have a lot of theories on ways to relieve migraine headaches, and while some work, many are based on misconceptions about migraines. In coping with chronic headaches, it’s important to be able to sift the facts from the fiction. Here are 15 common fallacies about migraines:
Migraine Myth #1: Migraines are just really strong headaches.
Any chronic migraine sufferer can attest to the fact that migraine symptoms involve more than excruciatingly strong headaches. For many, severe nausea, cyclical vomiting, stomach cramps, photophobia, vertigo, stroke-like symptoms, and visual disturbances occur prior to or during a migraine attack. Because of its debilitating nature, migraine disorder can destroy the quality of life for its sufferers, creating feelings of depression, anxiety, despair, and anger.
Unlike common headaches, chronic migraine headaches can make it impossible to hold a job, care for yourself, or perform simple household duties. For that reason, the ADA accepts migraine disorder as a disability qualified for compensation.
Social Security Disability for Migraine- 5 Tips for Filing
Migraine Myth #2: Alternative treatments for migraines are a waste of time and money.
Actually, modern medicine has been slowly incorporating alternative medicine alongside conventional treatments like drugs, physical therapy, and psychotherapy. This is especially true regarding chronic pain disorders such as migraines and fibromyalgia.
Popular natural ingredients for migraines include:
- Vitamins and herbs, such as butterbur, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), coenzyme Q10, and magnesium
- Acupuncture
- Biofeedback
- Meditation
- Tai chi
- Yoga
- Oxygen therapy
- Restrictive dieting
Cure Migraines with Functional Medicine; Part 1
Migraine Myth #3: If OTC pain relievers like Excedrin help, then your migraines can’t be that bad.
Swallowing over-the-counter pills like Excedrin for migraines or Advil can have bad side effects. For one, NSAIDs often cause rebound headaches. Over time, frequent use of OTC pain relievers can take its toll on your digestive system, liver, and kidneys, in addition to causing tinnitus (ear ringing).
Migraine Myth #4: Only middle-aged women get migraines.
While it’s true that women are three times more likely to suffer from migraines than are men, it’s important to recognize that millions of men get migraines as well, and that often age doesn’t play an important factor. It’s not unusual for migraineurs to experience their first migraine attack before entering high school or college.
12 Ways to spread Migraine Awareness without saying a Word
Migraine Myth #5: Migraine sufferers who complain are just attention seekers or lazy.
Contrary to popular belief, chronic pain sufferers don’t want to be in the spotlight. Far from it, many migraine patients resort to the “grin and bear it” strategy, rather than have to ask for help or make any mention of their agony. This kind of approach is actually detrimental, because they end up not getting the help they need, for fear of being called “weak” or worse, a hypochondriac.
35 Things you should never tell a Chronic Migraine Sufferer
Please tell us…
Can you think of any more migraine myths that you would like to add?
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+.
Sources:
Chronic Pain Myths
Myths About Treating Chronic Pain
Images:
psyberartist, Venture Vancouver, Colin_K
Tags: chronic headaches, Excedrin for migraines, migraine attacks, migraine headaches, Migraines, Natural remedies for migraines
Posted in Migraines | No Comments »
Monday, April 23rd, 2012
Part 1 of Curing Migraines with Functional Medicine discussed migraine headaches in the presence of magnesium deficiency. In functional medicine, another possible cause for migraine headaches is mitochondrial disorder, a condition affected by Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and other essential migraine nutrients.
Mitochondria make energy
The mitochondria are structures in your cells that are responsible for taking fat, protein, and starches from food and converting them into energy. Your body uses the product, ATP, as its fuel to perform many important biological functions.
With mitochondrial disorder, your body doesn’t get enough energy to carry out everyday tasks, and you suffer symptoms like fatigue, muscular aches, brain fog, and sometimes, chronic headaches.
If necessary, your doctor may order a urine sample to diagnose mitochondrial disorder.
Mitochondrial disorder
 Many health experts believe that the following illnesses are linked with mitochondrial dysfunction:
- Migraine headaches
- Autism
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic fatigue
- Anxiety disorder
- Depression
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Cyclical vomiting syndrome
- Seizures
- ADHD
What causes mitochondrial imbalances?
There are many possible reasons for migraines from mitochondrial disorder to occur; the most common are:
- Malnutrition
- Environmental toxins, such as metals or chemicals
- Viral infection
- Irregular oxidation rate
- Lifestyle choices, such as inactivity and a diet consisting of high sugar, saturated fats, alcohol, and refined flours
Natural migraine tactics
Based on a functional medicine approach, doctors recommend the following for migraines and other illnesses caused by poor mitochondria health:
- Coenzyme Q10 - CoQ10 is the most prescribed nutrients for mitochondrial health, particularly in migraines. Numerous scientific studies, such as this one on coenzyme Q10 confirms that CoQ10 is crucial for maintaining cellular health with no negative side effects, a boon for migraine patients. Recommended dose is 150-600mg of coenzyme Q10 per day. (For more, read Coenzyme Q10 Benefits and Dosage Information
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) – B vitamins play an important role in neurological health. Migraine specialists recommend at least 400mg of riboflavin per day for maximum migraine health.
 Folic acid – Another essential B vitamin for migraines and mitochondrial disorder is folate.- Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) – Vitamin B12 is vital for maintaining the myelin sheathe which protects your nervous system.
- Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) – Vitamin B6 works with vitamin B12 in boosting neurological health.
- Vitamin D – Although we absorb vitamin D via sunlight, many of us still do not get enough of this necessary nutrient. Recommended dose is 60-100mg
- Zinc – healthy trace metals like zinc are also beneficial for mitochondrial functioning.
- Omega-3 fatty acids – If mitochondrial disorder is caused by poor diet, then supplementing with healthy fatty acids is crucial for healing
- Antioxidants – Mitochondria are essential for protecting your cells from free radicals. With mitochondria disorder, it is necessary to eat a diet rich in antioxidants. For migraineurs, good options are wild blueberries, artichoke, apples, pecans, potatoes, and berries.
- Herbs and seasonings – Butterbur, rosemary, cloves, turmeric, ginger, oregano, and cilantro are all beneficial for mitochondrial health and migraine prevention.
- Exercise – Including at least 20-30 minutes of exercise per day is helpful for boosting mitochondrial health, relieving stress, increasing energy, and preventing migraine headaches.
- Avoid environmental toxins- Mercury, pesticides, air pollution, preservatives, harsh cleansers, and nonstick cookware all contribute to mitochondrial illness and migraine triggers.
Please tell us…
Have you tested for mitochondrial disorder as a possible explanation for migraines? Have you tried all the suggestions listed for natural nutrients for migraine headaches?
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.
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Read more about migraine prevention:
Cure Migraines with Functional Medicine; Part 1
Integrative Medicine for Migraines- East meets West
Got your Vitamin Q?
Sources:
Mitochondrial dysfunction and migraine: evidence and hypotheses, PubMed, NCBI
Open label trial of coenzyme Q10 as a migraine preventive, PubMed, NCBI
Mitochondrial DNA and gastrointestinal motor and sensory functions in health and functional gastrointestinal disorders, PubMed, NCBI
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Tags: coenzyme q10, CoQ10, Curing Migraines, Functional medicine and migraines, migraine attacks, migraine headaches, migraine prevention, Migraines
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