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Posts Tagged ‘Migraines’

To Prevent Migraines, eat 11 Pounds of Beef

Tuesday, March 6th, 2012

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which occurs in beef and fish, is vital for preventing migraines, boosting the immunity, and protecting your nerve cells from free radicals. In many studies on migraine disorder, patients with severe migraine headaches who took Coenzyme Q10 saw a significant reduction in migraine attacks after only one month of migraine treatments. But other than eating 173 ounces of fried beef, what are some other ways to get enough CoQ10 to prevent migraines?

What is Coenzyme Q10?

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), otherwise known as vitamin Q and ubiquinone, is a fat-soluble compound produced by your body for generating cellular energy in the mitochondria. Health benefits associated with coenzyme Q10 include:

Preventing heart disease
Strengthening your immune system
Lowering blood pressure
Improving your response to cancer treatments
Protecting your brain cells from free radical damage
Preventing fibromyalgia and migraine attacks
Also read Got your Vitamin Q?

Proof that Coenzyme Q10 prevents migraines

Numerous studies have been conducted in finding the most effective cure for migraines, and several have included coenzyme Q10 as one of many natural migraine treatments.

In a study published by Cephalalgia, 150 mg of CoQ10 was given to 32 patients who suffered from chronic migraines, with and without aura.
After one month of migraine treatment, migraine attack frequency was reduced by 13.1%.
Three months of treatment with CoQ10 resulted in 55.3% fewer migraine headaches than previously.
No side effects from CoQ10 supplementation were noted by scientists during this trial.
Overall, 61.3% of migraine patients who took 150 mg of coenzyme Q10 each day were rewarded with at least 50% migraine headache prevention in frequency and severity.
Also read Coenzyme Q10 Benefits and Dosage Information

Which foods have the most coenzyme Q10?

The richest food sources of CoQ10 have only a few grams per serving, and much of that is lost during cooking over high heat, such as frying.

Here are some migraine-preventing foods that are high in CoQ10, according to the Linus Pauling Institute:

Fried beef, one 3-ounce serving- 2.6 mg
Pickled herring, one 3-ounce serving- 2.3 mg
Fried chicken, one 3-ounce serving- 1.4 mg
Soybean oil, 1 tablespoon- 1.3 mg
Canola oil, 1 tablespoon- 1.0 mg
Steamed rainbow trout, one 3-ounce serving- 0.9 mg
Roasted peanuts, 1 ounce- 0.8 mg
Roasted sesame seeds, 1 ounce- 0.7 mg

Other sources of CoQ10 include broccoli, pistachios, cauliflower, oranges, strawberries, and eggs.

How much fried beef can one person eat?

If you don’t suffer from migraines, fibromyalgia, or hypertension, then you get plenty of coenzyme Q10 from food sources- enough to avoid deficiency.

But what if you need extra doses of CoQ10 in order to prevent recurring migraine attacks? How many ounces of beef, fish, or beans would you have to eat, assuming that soybeans and peanuts are not migraine triggers?

57.7 servings of fried beef, or about 11 lbs.
65.2 servings of marinated herring, or about 12 lbs.
20 lbs. of fried chicken
150 tablespoons of canola oil
11.7 lbs. of roasted peanuts

Wouldn’t be easier to take CoQ10 supplements?

Yes. Many natural migraine treatments include enough coenzyme Q10 to provide maximum migraine prevention.

To keep migraine attacks at bay, look for quality ingredients, including a mixture of the following potent vitamins, minerals, and herbs:

Coenzyme Q10
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
Magnesium
Butterbur, PA-free

Please tell us…

What natural migraine treatments have you tried for preventing migraine attacks?

Have you asked your headache specialist about the effectiveness of riboflavin, magnesium, and CoQ10 in reducing migraine severity and frequency?

If you’ve tried many prescribed migraine drugs without finding relief, what is the main reason that is holding you back from trying alternative medications for migraines?

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Please share this article with your friends, family, or anybody you care about!

Hunger headache

Migraine brains like consistency; any deviation from your normal eating habits- skipping meals, or fluctuations in your blood sugar- will likely trigger a migraine attack the size of Texas.

Of course, what you eat is just as important as how much or how often you eat. A cup of cooked white pasta might have the same amount of calories as a cup of whole-wheat spaghetti, but nutritionally, they are worlds apart. Ounce for ounce, whole-grain foods are packed with more vitamins, minerals, and tummy-filling fiber than starchy white processed foods, leaving you feeling more satisfied after finishing a meal and less likely to suffer a hunger headache.

Solution:

When cutting back on calories, make it gradual. Avoid crash dieting. Aim to lose one or two pounds per week…or month. The slower you lose the weight, the longer you will keep it off, anyways.
Don’t skimp on quality while shopping for low-calorie foods to stock your pantry. Avoid “diet” foods that are devoid of vitamins and minerals, yet packed with preservatives, refined sugars and flours, and artificial fillers. Include filling foods in your diet, like protein, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables that do not trigger migraines.
Don’t fall for imitation foods like “fat-free cream cheese” or sugarless pancake syrup. Instead, opt for natural maple syrup and real butter, and just use less.
Eat small meals throughout the day to keep your metabolism moving and to keep migraines at bay.
Be prepared. Always keep an emergency stash of your favorite non-perishable treat in your car, purse, and work desk.

Which Foods Trigger the Most Migraines? See our Checklist

Dehydration headache

Sometimes your become dehydrated when trying to lose weight. When this happens, your blood vessels constrict in an effort to retain moisture, causing spasms, and decreased oxygen to the brain. The result is dehydration headache. So, how much water do you need? Currently, experts recommend that you drink half of your body weight in ounces. If you weigh 180 pounds, then you should drink at least 90 ounces (approximately 11 cups) of water each day.

Solution:

Make it easy to fulfill your daily water requirement. Stock up on plenty of good drinking water, and stash water bottles around your house. Keep a bottle by your telephone or computer. Stash one in the car and your emergency migraine tote bag.
Invest in a good quality stainless steel water bottle, and keep it clean. Metal water bottles stay ice cold longer than plastic bottles, and they last forever.

Stay Hydrated without Drinking Water- 5 Hydrating Foods

Detox headache

Ironically, eating healthier can give you a headache. If part of your migraine diet plan includes following a restrictive diet, then you’re eating fewer foods that supply toxins to the body. As a result, your body goes into detox mode, sweating out toxins throughout your day. A few side effects of detox, however, include migraine-like headaches and skin disruptions like acne.

Solution:

Hang in there! Detox is a temporary phase and worth the efforts. Countless studies prove that weaning your body off migraine triggering foods and chemicals significantly reduces migraine frequency and severity.
Supplement with natural vitamins, minerals, and herbs that aid in detoxifying the body and preventing migraines. Some excellent curative nutrients for migraine prevention are magnesium, riboflavin, and coenzyme Q10.

Beat Migraines with these 5 Magnesium-Rich Foods

Please tell us…

Are you currently using a migraine treatment that causes weight gain as one of its side effects?
Have you been successful in losing weight while battling with migraines at the same time?
Please share your success stories with our readers!
As always, we welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

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Please share this article with your friends, family, or anybody you care about!

Migraines are equal-opportunity destroyers

When “Get him to the Greek” star Russell Brand had an on-stage migraine attack recently, his audience got a taste of what it’s like to be struck suddenly with crippling migraines.

First came the light sensitivity; he apologized to his audience for the delay as he halted his routine for a moment, explaining that the bright lights of the stage were probably triggering his migraines.

Next, he revealed that he had terrible pain, and needed painkillers. “I feel nauseous now,” he said. “I feel sick. Sorry about this.”

A stagehand brought him some migraine painkillers, and Russell continued his show, still apologetic.

“I think I’m such a professional showman this is beyond ridiculous stopping to take medication.”

For most migraineurs, getting on-the-spot medical attention for a migraines is like squeezing sugar from a lemon; it’s a long, nasty process with fruitless results.

Why the apologies?

We’ve all been there, yet it’s still hard to watch. When people suffer from chronic pain, they shouldn’t have to apologize for it. Yet that’s exactly what Russell Brand did for his audience when he felt the first symptoms of a migraine attack striking while he was performing onstage, fresh after signing divorce papers for his estranged ex-wife, Katy Perry.

Such is the dilemma for all people who get frequent migraines, celebrities included; once you feel the telltale signs of an approaching migraine, your only thought is to escape by whatever means possible. Locate your nearest exit, retreat, and apologize profusely along the way. (Except when you can’t.)

By the way…

Coincidentally, rapper Diddy was recently hospitalized for a migraine attack that occurred after a post-Grammy party at the Playboy Mansion.

Imagine anybody else calling 911 and explaining that he was hung over from a giant Hollywood bash, and was suffering from a killer migraine, and could somebody please take him to the hospital; or strolling into ER, wanting attention for a migraine headache that was triggered by too much partying.

For most migraineurs, getting on-the-spot medical attention for a migraine is like squeezing sugar from a lemon; it’s a long, nasty process with fruitless results.

Migraines are disabling

Fortunately, Russell Brand only had to endure 90 minutes of work time before being allowed to go home and wait out the migraine storm. And most likely, his job prospects are still good. Not to begrudge him his well-deserved fame, but for millions of blue-collar migraine patients, that is not the reality.

Most migraine patients have only three options regarding migraines and work:

suffer the migraine attack in silence until 5:00,
miss work, or
miss work while trying for months or years to qualify for disability insurance, which is always a gamble.

Please share your thoughts…

Do you think media attention on migraines will bring us closer to getting a cure?
Have you been denied disability, even though your migraines keep you from working?
What migraine treatments do you currently use, and how satisfied are you with their results?
As always, we welcome your comments, suggestions, and questions!

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Please share this article with your friends, family, or anybody you care about!

Tip #1: Lose the clutter

What’s the definition of clutter? If you ask the packrat, he’ll say that it’s “everybody else’s stuff.” But if you suffer from chronic migraines and fatigue, then clutter is “anything you haven’t used in over a year that requires dusting or organizing and takes up space.”

Take a good hard look at your closet, your kitchen counter, and your bathroom sink. When was the last time you wore that pair of shoes, or those pants? If you can’t remember, then you probably don’t wear them often enough to justify the amount of closet space they use.

What about your bathroom counter? Can you reduce the amount of migraine medicine bottles, brushes, and bath supplies that are littering your shelf space? If so, then swiping a wet cloth along the counter will be a cinch.

Getting to the kitchen- the fewer kitchen gadgets, dishware, and serving sets you have, the less stuff you’ll have to clean later when you’re having a migraine attack.

Lesson learned: Donate to charity- let your stuff be somebody else’s headache!

De-Clutter your Home, De-Clutter your Mind for Stress Relief

Tip #2: Don’t try to be Martha Stewart

Know your strengths and weaknesses, and make no apologies. Yes, it would be nice if your living space was skillfully streamlined and artfully arranged with bright white toss pillows…but nobody ever felt comfortable lying down with a headache on one of those rigid, overstuffed grandma couches, anyways.

Comfort should be your design scheme. Just focus on keeping the books in the bookcase, the dishes in the sink (yes!), the dirty laundry in the laundry room, and the mop in the storage room where you left it the last time you almost cleaned the kitchen floor, but your migraine wouldn’t let you.

Lesson learned: Nobody’s gravestone ever read, “She suffered migraines, but at least she kept a clean house.”

Tip #3: Waste not, rest not

It might not be the most environmental thing to do, but substituting disposable plates, napkins, forks, cups, foil, and pans is a great way to reduce migraines and cut down on the amount of kitchen cleanup later. And while cleaning your kitchen counter with paper towels might be seen as wasteful, it’s still a lot healthier than using a kitchen sponge, which is often laden with disease-causing headache-producing germs.

If the notion of using paper plates still offends your Greenpeace loyalties, then seek out paper goods made from recycled fibers that are also recyclable.

Lesson learned: Be kind to the earth, and yourself.

Tip #4: I am the tortoise

Who says you have to clean every room in the house at once? For that matter, why do all the dishes in the sink need to be cleaned right now? Gauge your energy level and migraine status, and pace yourself accordingly. On three-alarm migraine days, only clean something if you absolutely need to have it right this minute. Other days, when you have moderate energy, take 30 minutes to tidy up one room.

If you’ve got the time and your head isn’t hurting terribly, pull up a chair to the kitchen sink, and spend an hour or two washing dishes. Take lots of breaks. Think baby steps.

Lesson learned: Slow and steady prevents migraine attacks and wins the housekeeping prize!

Tip #5: Just don’t answer the door

Even if you follow all the above-mentioned advice, there are going to plenty of days when you’ll wish you could just move clutter telekinetically.

Nothing’s more awkward than having people drop by unannounced when your living room is in utter complete chaos. There’s no reason you should have to suffer migraines and embarrassment at the same time! If you’re not up to receiving guests for whatever reason- a killer migraine, nausea, fatigue, bad hair day, or just messy room- try this:

Carefully crack the door open an inch, keeping the chain latched, and politely say,

“Due to (fill in the blanks), I don’t feel well enough to receive visitors right now. Please call later (much later), and I’ll let you know how I’m feeling then.”

Lesson learned: If your garbage can falls over, spilling trash in the middle of your kitchen and your friends aren’t there to see it, did it still happen?

Please tell us…

Although this article is more of a tongue-in-cheek look at managing your household with chronic illness, have you found any of these tips helpful?

If you would like to add to this list of suggestions for managing migraines and a household, please comment!

Spread the love…

Please share this article with your friends, family, or anybody you care about!

#1) You can maintain a Positive Mental Attitude

What’s the first thing you notice in the image above? Is it the black dot? What about all the whiteness surrounding the black dot- did you notice that?

Recognizing that there is a vast amount of light (or positive energy) that surrounds darkness (migraines) is a crucial step in achieving a positive mental attitude. It’s easier said than done, and it might take years of practice. But it’s worth it- studies prove that people with chronic pain illnesses who think positive, pray, and refuse to give up hope are statistically more likely to cope, reduce stress, and reduce their pain symptoms.

#2) You can talk about it…

Sometimes, sorting out your feelings about migraine illness feels a bit like trying to rake leaves during a storm. If you feel like it, you can talk about how migraine headaches affect your life with friends, family, migraine support groups, or even anybody who will listen.

Overcoming Social Isolation in Migraine Disorder

#3) There’s strength in numbers

Surround yourself with people who make you feel good about yourself, and try to avoid toxic relationships at all costs. Join a support group for migraine patients online, in person, or on Facebook, and seek out new friendships as determinedly as you would seek out a spouse.

#4) Inspiration is everywhere

Seeing is believing- Gain strength from others who have successfully managed their migraines. Like looking at a before and after picture for weight loss, you’ll see that controlling your migraines is no dream, but a possibility. (This is especially easy to do if you have joined a support group for migraineurs.)

5 Simple Ways to Build a Migraine Support System of Friends

#5) Winding down is key

Practice relaxation and stress reduction techniques. If you have a hard time meditating quietly, then put on some soothing music. If tinnitus with migraines makes it hard to concentrate, then try playing environmental white noise.

#6) Alternative medicine is preventative medicine

Preventing migraines should be a multi-pronged strategy that doesn’t rely on prescription migraine treatments alone. Rather, it should incorporate healthy lifestyle choices like exercise, relaxation, diet, and necessary supplements for reducing migraine attacks. That doesn’t mean that you have to give up prescribed painkillers in order to benefit from alternative migraine therapy. Many migraine patients are able to cut down on migraine drugs while using natural remedies for migraines as complimentary preventative medicine. In studies, the most valuable dietary supplements for promoting a migraine-free environment are magnesium, butterbur (PA-free), riboflavin, and coenzyme Q10.

Please tell us…

If you could offer one piece of advice on coping with migraines, what would it be? Please share by providing your comments!

Migraine triggers in food

Migraine headaches occur when your brain sends abnormal messages to your trigeminal nerve, prompting it to produce pain-causing chemicals that result in migraine headaches in people who are prone to migraines. Sometimes, food ingredients are the triggers that set the process in motion. Like allergies, it all depends on your sensitivity to stimuli. While a single slice of chocolate cheesecake might send you to the ER with a migraine attack, other migraine sufferers can eat dairy and chocolate with no reaction whatsoever.

Some of the most common migraine food triggers are:

MSG
Tyramine (found in red wine, cured meats, and olives)
Tannins (found in tea, grapes, and beans)
Sulfites (found in dried fruits and wine)
Dairy products, specifically choline and casein
Artificial sweeteners

For more migraine triggers in food, read Top 35 Foods and Preservatives that Trigger Migraines

What’s in a label? Not everything…

Food manufacturers are ordered by the FDA to list all product ingredients on a food label. Sort of. Actually, there are loopholes that allow them to leave out certain ingredients.

For example, if a package of oatmeal cookies with raisins contains a trace amount of sulfites, a migraine trigger, then the manufacturer is under no obligation to declare it as one of their ingredients. Also, they are not required to declare cross-contamination ingredients to which their products have been exposed.

Can I call you by your first name?

If you’re in the habit of scrutinizing food labels for any mention of MSG, then had better be prepared. Since the FDA considers MSG to be a perfectly safe substance, they have granted food manufacturers permission to use creative, alter-ego names for monosodium glutamate, lest you be swayed from buying their product.

As a result, thousands of people suffer from migraines, allergic reactions, and other health problems from eating foods that they didn’t know contained MSG or other migraine triggers.

**The following ingredients always contain MSG:**

Ajinomoto
Autolyzed yeast
Calcium caseinate
Calcium glutamate
Dry milk powder
Dry milk protein
Gelatin
Glutamate
Glutamic acid
Hydrolyzed corn gluten
Hydrolyzed protein
Hydrolyzed soy protein
Hydrolyzed wheat protein
Magnesium glutamate
Monoammonium glutamate
Monopotassium glutamate
Monosodium glutamate
Natrium glutamate
Sodium caseinate
Soy protein
Soy protein concentrate
Soy protein isolate
Textured protein
Vetsin
Whey protein
Whey protein concentrate
Whey protein isolate
Yeast extract
Yeast food
Yeast nutrient

**The following ingredients sometimes contain MSG:**

Barley malt
Bouillon
Broth
Carrageenan
Citrate
Citric acid
Corn Starch
Corn Syrup
Enzymes
Fermented food
Flavors/Flavoring
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Malt extract
Malt flavoring
Malted Barley
Maltodextrin
Natural beef flavoring
Natural chicken flavoring
Natural flavors/flavor
Natural pork flavoring
Pectin
Protease
Protein fortified food
Seasonings
Soy protein isolate
Soy protein or soy protein concentrate
Soy sauce
Soy sauce extract
Stock
Ultra-pasteurized
Whey
Whey protein
Whey protein concentrate
Whey protein isolate

The following ingredients are thought to contain enough cross-contaminated MSG to trigger migraines in people who are hypersensitive to food triggers:

Brown rice syrup
Corn starch
Corn syrup
Dextrose
Enriched foods
Lipolyzed butter fat
Milk powder
Modified food starch
Reduced fat milk
Rice syrup
Vitamin enriched foods

Please tell us…

If you know of any other ingredients that contain hidden MSG or causes migraines, please send us your comments. Also, if you have found this article helpful, or have any questions, we would love to hear from you!

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Please share this article with your friends, family, or anybody else you care about!

Getting to know the trigeminal nerve

The trigeminal nerve is one of the largest nerves in your head. The trigeminal nerve rests at the base of your brain and has three branches that reach through your skull and towards your face. Its “fingertips” can access every nerve in your face, including your eyes, brow, forehead, nose, gums, cheeks, temples, chin, lips, and jaw. Literally, every single point on your face is affected by the trigeminal nerve branches.

Whenever your facial nerves receive stimulation, be it the whisper of a knit shawl or the warmth of a hot shower, the trigeminal nerve deciphers that stimuli and sends coded messages back to the brain.

What is trigeminal neuralgia?

With trigeminal neuralgia, or facial neuralgia, the trigeminal nerve relays false information back to the brain, triggering sharp, stabbing pains, sometimes similar to electric shocks. Like migraines, trigeminal nerve pain strikes one side of the face. TN attacks last only seconds, but they can occur repeatedly throughout the day, sometimes hundreds of times per 24-hour period.

With trigeminal neuralgia, only sleep and sporadic periods of remission bring relief.

What causes trigeminal neuralgia?

Scientists aren’t certain exactly what causes trigeminal neuralgia. They believe it is caused by a large artery near the base of the brain that presses down on the trigeminal nerve root, slowly wearing away the myelin sheath, a shield that protects the trigeminal nerve. This explains why multiple sclerosis (MS) patients suffer from trigeminal neuralgia, as MS destroys the myelin sheath of the nervous system.

Triggers of trigeminal neuralgia

To give you an idea of how intrusive trigeminal neuralgia can be, here are 15 everyday activities that can trigger intense, mind-numbing pain:

Talking
Smiling
Brushing your teeth
Touching your face
Shaving
Putting on makeup
Chewing food
Swallowing food
Drinking
Kissing
Combing or brushing your hair
Showering and shampooing
Feeling a cold blast of wind
Hearing high-pitched sounds
Hearing a loud noise

The migraine-trigeminal link

Migraine headaches are similarly agonizing, and a single migraine attack can last for days. With migraines, hundreds of triggers like food, weather conditions, lights, scents, hormones, stress, and exertion trigger symptoms like throbbing head pain, nausea, vomiting, visual distortions, brain fog, weakness, speech slurring, and temporary paralysis.

Migraine causes involve the the trigeminal nerve, only instead of the disorder being in the nerve itself, the dysfunction occurs in the brain. With migraine disorder, the brain triggers a reaction in the trigeminal nerve that causes it to excrete pain-producing chemicals, neuropeptides, which cause swelling in the brain’s blood vessels, resulting in intense migraine headache.

You might say that trigeminal neuralgia is the yin to migraine’s yang.

Can I have migraines and trigeminal neuralgia?

Even though migraine attacks and trigeminal attacks are two separate disorders involving the same nerve, it is possible for one person to suffer from both illnesses at the same time. Some migraine patients experience electric-shock pain symptoms similar to those felt by trigeminal neuralgia sufferers.

Treatment for trigeminal neuralgia and migraines

Not surprisingly, doctors prescribe similar drugs for treating migraines and trigeminal neuralgia.

Popular trigeminal nerve and migraine medications include:

Anticonvulsants such as those prescribed for epilepsy
Muscle relaxants
Tricyclic antidepressants

Alternative medicine for trigeminal neuralgia and migraines include:

Acupuncture
Biofeedback
Vitamin and mineral therapy- magnesium, B vitamins, including vitamin B12 and riboflavin
Herbal medicine- butterbur and feverfew

Please tell us…

Have you tried alternative treatments for trigeminal neuralgia or migraines? Please share your experiences with our readers…we’d love to hear from you!

What is Meniere’s disease?

Meniere’s disease is an inner ear disorder that causes dizziness and tinnitus (ear ringing). Most people who get Meniere’s disease are between the ages of 40 and 60, although it can happen in any age group. Meniere’s disease is caused by excess fluid in the ears that gets in the way of sound messages between the inner ear’s cochlea and the brain. Scientists do not agree as to why people get Meniere’s disease. Theories range from viruses, autoimmune disorder, allergies, or hereditary predisposition.

What are the symptoms of Meniere’s disease?

Three main symptoms indicate Meniere’s disease:

Sporadic vertigo: Sensation of spinning or rocking that includes nausea and vomiting; vertigo is not constant, and doesn’t usually last longer than one day.
Sensorineural hearing loss: Hearing loss that is caused by abnormal brain processing and communication between the brain and the cochlea is a symptom used to diagnose Meniere’s disease.
Tinnitus: Constant ear ringing; with Meniere’s disease, tinnitus symptoms are usually low pitch.

How are migraines and Meniere’s disease related?

Like Meniere’s disease, migraines are a disorder that occurs in the brain. One popular theory is that your nervous system, responding to migraine triggers, causes a spasm at the base of your brain that causes blood vessels to constrict, setting into motion a series of chemical reactions that lead to debilitating migraine headaches.

Some scientists believe that migraines are caused by intercepted messages between the brain and the blood vessels in the head. This bears striking resemblance to the cause of Meniere’s disease, which involves intercepted sound messages between the brain and the inner ear’s cochlea.

More facts correlating Meniere’s, tinnitus and migraines

Overwhelmingly, migraine disorder occurs more often in people with Meniere’s disease than in the general population.
The classic symptoms of Meniere’s disease- nausea, vertigo, ringing in the ears- are also common symptoms of a migraine attack.
Some scientists believe that like migraines, Meniere’s disease is also caused by constricted blood vessels.
Current research suggests that tinnitus in migraine sufferers is a symptom of allodynia, a neuropathic pain disorder that also occurs in fibromyalgia patients. Central sensitization caused by a hypersensitive nervous system causes symptoms like headaches, skin pain, and tinnitus.

Please tell us…

Do you suffer from tinnitus and migraines? If so, do you experience migraines with aura, or migraines without aura?

If you liked this article, then please share it with your friends!

Tip #1: Make your own app- it’s easy!

Here’s a dilemma- you want to keep up with your favorite migraine blogs from the convenience of your iPhone home screen, but…there’s no app for that! If only you could just paste an icon onto your home screen that would take you straight to the pages that you use most. Well, you can, and it’s simple.

Go to your favorite page. For example, let’s make an icon for the Migravent order page.

Click on the arrow at the bottom of the screen.

Now, choose “Add to Home Screen.”

The official title of the home page is Vita Sciences but you can change it to Migravent; just remember to keep it short and easy to identify.

That’s it! Now you have a shiny new custom-designed icon on your home page that you can’t get at the iTunes store. You can use this great trick for any website. Use it for pages that you use often, or just for something that you want quick access to in case of emergency. Pretty nifty, huh?

Tip #2: Set up pill reminders!

The iTunes app store offers lots of daily reminders that are inexpensive. You can track everything from your menstrual period, to your migraine triggers, to your bills. Sure, you could buy a pill reminder for 99-cents, but why bother? Your iPhone already came with an excellent calendar, and it’s just humming to remind you to take your migraine medications, vitamin supplements, or to order a new bottle of Migravent! You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to program it, either. Here’s how:

Go to your calendar. Click the “+” sign at the top right corner to add an event. (Question: When did remembering to take your migraine treatment become an event? Answer: When you found the one that gets rid of your migraines!)

Okay. Type in all the important details, like the name of the migraine remedy (Migravent), repeat sequence (daily), and the specific times you want to get your reminder. Steve Jobs must have foreseen that chronic pain patients would need to use this, because he cleverly programmed two alerts to remind you to take your meds; one initial reminder, and then another one, in case you missed the first warning because you were busy beating your head against the wall…

And here’s your gentle reminder to take your Migravent!

Tip #3: Find free migraine apps on iTunes!

iHeadache- The name says it all. This clever app helps you keep track of your migraine triggers with their innovative migraine headache diary.

10 Clues your should Include in your Headache Diary Today

The WebMD iPhone app offers valuable up-to-date medical information in the same practical, easily accessed format as viewed on their website. Check on the latest in migraine research, painkillers, and chronic pain symptoms.

20 iPad Apps for Migraine Sufferers

Tip #4: Google Map your nearest pharmacies!

Google Maps is another excellent iPhone tool for people who don’t have the time…or the opportunity to run to their desktop every time they need to locate their nearest pain clinic, ER, or 24-hour pharmacy.

If Walgreens is your pharmacy of choice, then store their address in your contacts file. Google Maps can access any of your contacts from the search bar- Just click on the little blue book icon.

Tip #5: Follow migraine groups on Twitter!

Finally, you don’t like to be in the dark. 24-7, people are talking about things that importantly impact your life; things like Overcoming Social Isolation in Migraine Disorder or 34 Migraine-Inducing, Stomach-Turning Toxic Chemicals in Perfume.

You want to join in on the conversation, and be “in the know,” right? The best way to do that is to follow them on Twitter. This way, if the FDA decides to ban your one and only migraine medication, like butterbur supplements, you can be among the first to Occupy Migraine Research. ;-)

Learn more about migraine headaches, migraine awareness, and more:

Why do Migraines cause Nausea and Vomiting?

Killer Migraines Might be Fatal after All- Mortality Rates among Migraine Sufferers

What are the Signs of Migraine Attack? 30 Migraine Symptoms

Tags: chronic pain, chronic pain management, Migraine apps, migraine medications, migraine remedy, migraine symptoms, migraine symptoms app, migraine treatment, migraine triggers, Migraines, migravent, Vita Sciences Migravent
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Is Adult ADHD Giving you a Migraine? Maybe…

Monday, January 16th, 2012

If you’ve tried every other migraine remedy to relieve crushing migraine headaches with no success, maybe it’s time you tried remedies for ADHD. According to recent findings, an unusually high correlation exists between migraine disorder and adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

ADHD- It’s not just for kids anymore

In a new approach towards understanding ADHD, scientists have started including adult ADHD patients in their research, finding that many grown-ups suffer the same sort of social awkwardness and psychiatric problems faced by children with ADHD. Although the rate of attention deficit hyperactivity in adults is much lower than in children- 1-4% versus 2-12%- the consequences are just as devastating.

Symptoms of adult ADHD

Some of the most common symptoms of ADHD in adults are:

Anxiety
Depression
Mood swings
Work problems
Impulsive behavior,
Low attention span
Restlessness

How does ADHD correlate with migraine headaches?

It’s unknown if ADHD and migraines have a causative relationship (where one causes the other), or simply a comorbid (simultaneous) association. Some suspect that anti-ADHD medications contribute to migraine headache symptoms, while others wonder if a deeper explanation is in order.

In a European study on adult ADHD and migraines, scientists made some interesting observations:

They found a significantly higher occurrence of migraine headaches among adult ADHD patients than in the general population.
Despite the fact that migraine illness is a neurological chronic pain disorder, where ADHD is a cognitive and behavioral disorder, the two conditions seem to share a comorbid relationship.
ADHD patients with migraines are more likely to suffer from depression than ADHD patients who don’t get migraine headaches.

Beat Migraines with these 5 Magnesium-Rich Foods

Surprise- Magnesium eases migraine and ADHD symptoms

In a European study on magnesium and children with ADHD, scientists found that children who took magnesium and vitamin B6 supplements experienced significantly reduced symptoms of hyperactivity, aggressiveness, or attention problems in school after only two months of vitamin supplementation. Many researchers today speculate that ADHD may indicate a magnesium deficiency.

Likewise, numerous studies focusing on magnesium and migraine headaches have confirmed a dramatic decrease (40%) of migraine symptoms with the introduction of routine magnesium supplements, suggesting a possible correlation with migraine disorder and magnesium deficiency.

Posts Tagged ‘Migraines’

What is Coenzyme Q10?

Proof that Coenzyme Q10 prevents migraines

Which foods have the most coenzyme Q10?

How much fried beef can one person eat?

Wouldn’t be easier to take CoQ10 supplements?

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Read more about natural migraine treatments:

Hunger headache

Dehydration headache

Detox headache

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Read more about migraines and nutrition:

Migraines are equal-opportunity destroyers

Why the apologies?

By the way…

Migraines are disabling

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Read more about migraines at work:

Tip #1: Lose the clutter

Tip #2: Don’t try to be Martha Stewart

Tip #3: Waste not, rest not

Tip #4: I am the tortoise

Tip #5: Just don’t answer the door

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Read more about managing migraines:

#1) You can maintain a Positive Mental Attitude

#2) You can talk about it…

#3) There’s strength in numbers

#4) Inspiration is everywhere

#5) Winding down is key

#6) Alternative medicine is preventative medicine

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Read more about migraine prevention:

Migraine triggers in food

What’s in a label? Not everything…

Can I call you by your first name?

The following ingredients always contain MSG:

The following ingredients sometimes contain MSG:

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Read more about migraine triggers:

Getting to know the trigeminal nerve

What is trigeminal neuralgia?

What causes trigeminal neuralgia?

Triggers of trigeminal neuralgia

The migraine-trigeminal link

Can I have migraines and trigeminal neuralgia?

Treatment for trigeminal neuralgia and migraines

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Read more about migraine headache treatments:

What is Meniere’s disease?

What are the symptoms of Meniere’s disease?

How are migraines and Meniere’s disease related?

More facts correlating Meniere’s, tinnitus and migraines

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Read more about migraine symptoms and causes:

Tip #1: Make your own app- it’s easy!

Tip #2: Set up pill reminders!

Tip #3: Find free migraine apps on iTunes!

Tip #4: Google Map your nearest pharmacies!

Tip #5: Follow migraine groups on Twitter!

Learn more about migraine headaches, migraine awareness, and more:

ADHD- It’s not just for kids anymore

Symptoms of adult ADHD

How does ADHD correlate with migraine headaches?

Surprise- Magnesium eases migraine and ADHD symptoms

Read more about magnesium as a natural migraine treatment:

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**The following ingredients always contain MSG:**

**The following ingredients sometimes contain MSG:**