Posts Tagged ‘Migraine Headache’

Migraine, Much More Than A Headache!

January 8th, 2010

If like myself you suffer from migraines then you will know that it is a crippling condition, not just another headache as some people think, and when migrain strikes, “life stops”, as you deal with the visual disturbances, sensitivity to light, smell, sound and debilitating nausea. What makes things worse is that many of the recommended prescription remedies for migraine headaches, just don’t work.

So lets take a look at what’s available as a treatment for migraines:

Physicians often prescribe migraine medicines such as Imitrex and Advil for migraine sufferers but as I mentioned before these don’t work for everyone, may have side effects and can interact with other medications, which is the reason so many, myself included, search for a natural home remedy for migraine. However, before I talk further about these I have an area of concern that I would like to mention first.

I talk to many fellow sufferers and have noticed that there is a great deal of interest in Topomax, a treatment for migraine, which is not yet widely available on prescription. To this I say, “thank goodness”, as according to FDA warnings being sent out to physicians, it increases the risk of glaucoma and acute myopia. What worries me most about this is that you often see cheap generic Topomax advertised on websites as relief from migraine headaches. When you buy from these websites you are buying medications from another country and they can be substandard, or even potentially dangerous.

If you are skeptical about using natural cures for migraines, then there is no cause for concern as many medications originate from plants and their extracts. In fact Native Americans used willow bark to treat pain long before the drug companies purified it and turned it into aspirin, and the drug dihydroergotamine or as it is commonly known DHE, which is used to treat acute migraine headaches originated from a fungus that grows on damp rye grain.

Today herbal migraine prevention is commonplace and vitamins; minerals and herbal supplements are used to treat various health conditions including migrane. However it is necessary to remember that not all herbs and vitamins and minerals treat migraine consistently, and you will find rows upon rows of herbal remedies together with vitamins and minerals in most pharmacies, nutrition or grocery stores. Yet there are only a few of these that are an effective migraine headache remedy.

So lets take a look at a few preventative measures and natural remedies for migraines:

Migraine preventions include eating bran cereal, which is high in magnesium. This is an essential mineral that occurs naturally in nuts and whole grains, and levels are often low in the blood of those who suffer from migraine headache pain. According to research taking a 600mg magnesium supplement each morning can bring migraine relief by reducing the incidence of attacks by forty two percent and its severity by thirty four percent.

Riboflavin migraine supplementation is often combined with fewerfew in proprietary herbal remedies

Research has indicated that taking a 50mg supplement of the root extract of Butterbur twice a day for three months lessens the incidence of migraines by up to forty two percent and another study showed that it was effectual in preventing migraine.

Other vitamins and herbs, which have often relied upon for help with migraines, include peppermint oil, co-enzyme Q10, 5HTP and Melatonin. Although herbs are natural it is necessary to remember that some may have side effects, so it is wise to discuss this with your health practitioner before you start taking anything that has not been thoroughly researched.

Health and Personal Care Disclaimer

The content in this email is for reference purposes and is not intended to substitute for advice given by a physician, pharmacist or other health care professional. You should not used this information for self diagnosis or for treating a health problem or disease. When you receive an item carefully read all labels, warnings or directions before use. Actual product packaging and materials may contain more and/or different information than that shown in this email or on our website. Contact your health care provider immediately if you suspect that you have a medical problem. Information and statements concerning dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent and disease or health condition.

Patrick Ogunnaike has suffered from migraine attacks for over 25 years but has developed natural techniques to reduce his migraines attacks from 3-4 times a month to 1 attack or less. And where his migraines previously lasted 12-24 hours now they tend to only last between 4-6. Now with the release of his nutritional supplement Migraine Complex he is helping other migraineurs find drug free solutions. To learn more visit http://www.migrainecomplex.com



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What Is The Difference Between A Headache & A Migraine?

January 5th, 2010

Whether you are a man, woman or child if you are constantly suffering from headaches or migraines, it is important for you to learn the difference between the two. Understanding what makes a headache different from a migraine and visa versa is essential for knowing how to treat them individually. Headaches and migraines are different bodily conditions and therefore need to be treated differently and understood in order to do so.

A migraine is a headache which initiates your blood vessels to dilate and constrict. This then releases the pain throughout your head which can last anywhere from 4hours to 72 hours. You may experience anything from mild to severe pain but the length of the pain is what can easily identify it as a migraine versus a headache. Take a look at the list of symptoms below that can aid in identifying a migraine from a headache.

Sensitivity to light Blurred vision Abdominal pain Vomiting Pale complexion Loss of appetite Dizziness Fever Feeling warm and then cold

A simple headache is not capable of creating these symptoms throughout your body. If you can relate to any combination of these symptoms, you are not merely suffering from an everyday headache.

An everyday headache is often referred to as a tension headache. This type of headache produces tightness in the neck as well as the muscles in the scalp and fascia. These headaches are often caused by lack of sleep or stress. A mere lifestyle change is all that is required to eliminate these tension headaches from your life permanently.

On the other hand migraine headaches deal more with the chemicals within your body, cells and energy production. Changing your lifestyle is often not enough to eliminate migraines from your life, especially if they are as frequent as a few times a month. With many more symptoms associated with migraine headaches than tension headaches it is important to understand that aspirin is not enough to correct this health problem.

By comparing the effects of headaches and migraines you will see that a simple headache, although it does cause a great deal of discomfort does not disrupt your daily activities. On the other side of the spectrum, migraines can be quite debilitating the longer they last and more the severe they become.

If you find that you are experiencing either a headaches or migraines on a regular basis it is time to consult with your physician regarding treatments. Over the counter products may be enough to temporarily heal your headache but if they come and go more than 3-4 times per month than you need to find out why. Migraines on the other hand are more common to be experienced several times a month and more intense forms of treatment need to be considered. Many people today are leaning towards natural vitamins and minerals they more and more studies prove their abilities to heal migraines without side effects.



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8 Triggers of Migraine and 6 Ways to Kiss Your Headache Goodbye

January 2nd, 2010

“A migraine is like a tornado; it attacks fast without any warning and wreaks havoc.”

Migraines usually start during the teenage years or early in adult life, affecting more women than men with a ratio of three to one. Migraines are caused from constricted (tightening) arteries that supply blood flow to the brain. When the arteries constrict, blood flow to the brain is reduced as well as the brains oxygen supply. The brain reacts by dilating (enlarging) arteries to meet the brain’s need for energy. The dilation spreads to the arteries in the neck and scalp and is the culprit of the pain in migraines.

If you live with migraines, make sure to have your Doctor rule out an underlying illness or other medical conditions that mimic migraines with the appropriate tests: for example, x-rays determining sinus infection, EEG for seizure activity or a CAT scan to detect blood clots or a brain tumor. Your Dr. may determine a drug to help ease your pain.

Eight Migraine Triggers

1. Cerviogentic Headache:

Some people who have a tender neck and suffer from sore bone and joint problems are diagnosed with this type

2. Temporomandibular Migraine:

Triggered by teeth grinding

3. Sinus Migraine:

Triggered by allergies and caused by excessive mucous and often accompanied by a fever. If you have this type of migraine, you may experience pain around both eyes and also may feel nauseated and sensitive to light.

4. Genetic Migraines:

Studies have lined a gene to people affected with migraines. Often when the gene for migraines is passed on to the next generation, the recipient will also experience headaches around the same age as the person who passed on the migraine.

5. Stress Migraine:

Stress can be a major contributing factor to the onset of a migraine. Type A personalities are more likely to experience migraines. Type A is ambitious, bright, perfectionist, emotionally repressed, cautious and has a decreased ability to manage stress. However, this is the easiest type of migraine to treat because a type A personality can acquire the skills necessary to manage stress.

6. Hormonal Migraine:

Fluctuating hormones in women are often the cause of migraines and can happen during menstrual cycles.

7. Cigarette Migraine

An equal opportunity source of migraines is because the nicotine alters blood vessels. High carbon monoxide levels in a person who smokes or even inhales second hand smoke can lead to a migraine.

8. Food Migraines Food allergies are another factor that leads to migraines. However, migraine sufferers are able to eat chocolate without falling prey to a migraine. Some patients actually report relief from eating chocolate.

Foods that Can Cause Migraines

1. Aged cheese such as Roquefort, Stilton and Sharp Cheddar

2. Fermented Dairy such as Sour Cream, Buttermilk and Yogurt

3. Citrus: Oranges or Grapefruit, including juice

4. Nuts: Peanuts, Walnuts or Pecans

5. Legumes: Peas, Beans and Soy product 6. Onions and Garlic

7. Bananas

8. Pickled foods: picked herring is the most common instigator

9. MSG found in Chinese food

10. Alcohol

Now that you know the common triggers, also note that skipping meals also causes migraines. Skipping meals causes your blood sugar to drop, which in turn causes a migraine.

Eight Ways to Kiss Your Migraine Goodbye

1. Medicine

Medicines have been used for centuries to treat migraines. Today Dr’s prescribe Beta Blockers to treat migraines by maintaining adequate dilation of blood vessels. Antidepressants: The brain chemical ’serotonin’ plays a role in migraine attacks because the levels of serotonin may cause or relieve migraine and that’s why Drs sometimes prescribe antidepressants for migraines. Antidepressants reduce migraine frequency by regulating serotonin levels in the brain. Other drugs are triptans available as an injection or nasal spray. This type of drug shuts down the inflammation and transmission of migraine pain.

2. Surgical Treatment

Nerve stimulators have been used to control back and muscle pain and in 2003 a nerve stimulator was successfully used to treat chronic headaches. With nerve stimulation, one end of a wire is connected to a nerve that controls pain and the other is connected to a small battery powered generator. The patient controls the generator via a remote device. Once turned on, it disconnects the pain signal.

Not only do chronic migraine suffers face agonizing physical disabilities, they also have the psychological fear of not being able to earn a living or manage their home life because daily activities can suddenly become unbearable with the onset of a migraine.

3. Holistic Intervention

Rarely are people offered a non drug approach to treating migraines. Treating a migraine holistically not only can treat the migraine at onset but can also act as prevention.

Create a headache diary listing the 5 W’s.

A. Who were you with?

B. Where? Did someone irritate you? At work with glaring lights?

C. What? What medications were you on?

D. When? When did the headache start?

E. Why? Did some particular food or drink aggravate the situation? Did you get enough sleep?

4. Review your diary after 30 days and see if you can isolate the trigger.

5. Use heat to help dilate the blood vessels in the body. This must be done at direct onset of your migraine. Soak your hands in hot water for 20-30 minutes. As the migraine progresses and the blood vessels enlarge, apply ice to the back of the neck and forehead to help constrict capillaries that are pressing against the nerves.

6. Relaxation techniques

You can use relaxation techniques to manage stress. Research has found that people who consciously practice yoga daily for 30 – 45 minutes can learn to positively manipulate involuntary bodily responses like migraine pain. Studies have shown that relaxation practiced on a regular basis achieves a 45 to 80% reduction or elimination in both migraine severity and frequency. Yoga triggers a boost in the brain chemical serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is involved with your body’s anger, pain, sleep and migraine and can be a cure for headaches. Frequent headaches are a sign that you are stressed out and it’s your body’s way of saying slow down and take care of me. Especially if you are a type A personality. My type A patients often say they can’t sit still and have a difficult time with the relaxation/mediation part of yoga. My reply? What’s more difficult to live with. Meditating daily or living with a migraine, a stroke or a heart attack? These are very real situations that afflict people with constricted arteries and that’s why it’s vital that you make time for your health. Unfortunately for my patients, I often meet them after they’ve suffered from a condition of vascular abnormality. They are very motivated to participate because they have experienced what happens when blood flow to the heart or brain is compromised. Consequently they practice my techniques daily to reduce a recurrence. Why not make time now? There are 1440 minutes in a day. 45 minutes a day practicing yoga is a wise investment in your health that offers a positive life style with increased energy without the use of toxic drugs polluting your liver and fewer Doctor visits which equals fewer co-payments. Yoga Chi for Energy DVD includes medically engineered relaxation techniques with an 11 minute meditation by a crackling fireplace.



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