| "A migraine is like a tornado; it attacks fast | | | | the levels of serotonin may cause or relieve |
| without any warning and wreaks havoc." | | | | migraine and that's why Drs sometimes prescribe |
| Migraines usually start during the teenage years or | | | | antidepressants for migraines. Antidepressants |
| early in adult life, affecting more women than | | | | reduce migraine frequency by regulating serotonin |
| men with a ratio of three to one. Migraines are | | | | levels in the brain. Other drugs are triptans |
| caused from constricted (tightening) arteries that | | | | available as an injection or nasal spray. This type |
| supply blood flow to the brain. When the arteries | | | | of drug shuts down the inflammation and |
| constrict, blood flow to the brain is reduced as | | | | transmission of migraine pain. |
| well as the brains oxygen supply. The brain reacts | | | | 2. Surgical Treatment |
| by dilating (enlarging) arteries to meet the brain's | | | | Nerve stimulators have been used to control back |
| need for energy. The dilation spreads to the | | | | and muscle pain and in 2003 a nerve stimulator |
| arteries in the neck and scalp and is the culprit of | | | | was successfully used to treat chronic headaches. |
| the pain in migraines. | | | | With nerve stimulation, one end of a wire is |
| If you live with migraines, make sure to have | | | | connected to a nerve that controls pain and the |
| your Doctor rule out an underlying illness or other | | | | other is connected to a small battery powered |
| medical conditions that mimic migraines with the | | | | generator. The patient controls the generator via |
| appropriate tests: for example, x-rays determining | | | | a remote device. Once turned on, it disconnects |
| sinus infection, EEG for seizure activity or a CAT | | | | the pain signal. |
| scan to detect blood clots or a brain tumor. Your | | | | Not only do chronic migraine suffers face |
| Dr. may determine a drug to help ease your pain. | | | | agonizing physical disabilities, they also have the |
| Eight Migraine Triggers | | | | psychological fear of not being able to earn a living |
| 1. Cerviogentic Headache: | | | | or manage their home life because daily activities |
| Some people who have a tender neck and suffer | | | | can suddenly become unbearable with the onset |
| from sore bone and joint problems are diagnosed | | | | of a migraine. |
| with this type | | | | 3. Holistic Intervention |
| 2. Temporomandibular Migraine: | | | | Rarely are people offered a non drug approach to |
| Triggered by teeth grinding | | | | treating migraines. Treating a migraine holistically |
| 3. Sinus Migraine: | | | | not only can treat the migraine at onset but can |
| Triggered by allergies and caused by excessive | | | | also act as prevention. |
| mucous and often accompanied by a fever. If | | | | Create a headache diary listing the 5 W's. |
| you have this type of migraine, you may | | | | A. Who were you with? |
| experience pain around both eyes and also may | | | | B. Where? Did someone irritate you? At work |
| feel nauseated and sensitive to light. | | | | with glaring lights? |
| 4. Genetic Migraines: | | | | C. What? What medications were you on? |
| Studies have lined a gene to people affected with | | | | D. When? When did the headache start? |
| migraines. Often when the gene for migraines is | | | | E. Why? Did some particular food or drink |
| passed on to the next generation, the recipient | | | | aggravate the situation? Did you get enough |
| will also experience headaches around the same | | | | sleep? |
| age as the person who passed on the migraine. | | | | 4. Review your diary after 30 days and see if |
| 5. Stress Migraine: | | | | you can isolate the trigger. |
| Stress can be a major contributing factor to the | | | | 5. Use heat to help dilate the blood vessels in the |
| onset of a migraine. Type A personalities are | | | | body. This must be done at direct onset of your |
| more likely to experience migraines. Type A is | | | | migraine. Soak your hands in hot water for 20-30 |
| ambitious, bright, perfectionist, emotionally | | | | minutes. As the migraine progresses and the |
| repressed, cautious and has a decreased ability to | | | | blood vessels enlarge, apply ice to the back of the |
| manage stress. However, this is the easiest type | | | | neck and forehead to help constrict capillaries that |
| of migraine to treat because a type A personality | | | | are pressing against the nerves. |
| can acquire the skills necessary to manage stress. | | | | 6. Relaxation techniques |
| 6. Hormonal Migraine: | | | | You can use relaxation techniques to manage |
| Fluctuating hormones in women are often the | | | | stress. Research has found that people who |
| cause of migraines and can happen during | | | | consciously practice yoga daily for 30 - 45 |
| menstrual cycles. | | | | minutes can learn to positively manipulate |
| 7. Cigarette Migraine | | | | involuntary bodily responses like migraine pain. |
| An equal opportunity source of migraines is | | | | Studies have shown that relaxation practiced on a |
| because the nicotine alters blood vessels. High | | | | regular basis achieves a 45 to 80% reduction or |
| carbon monoxide levels in a person who smokes | | | | elimination in both migraine severity and |
| or even inhales second hand smoke can lead to a | | | | frequency. Yoga triggers a boost in the brain |
| migraine. | | | | chemical serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is |
| 8. Food Migraines Food allergies are another factor | | | | involved with your body's anger, pain, sleep and |
| that leads to migraines. However, migraine | | | | migraine and can be a cure for headaches. |
| sufferers are able to eat chocolate without falling | | | | Frequent headaches are a sign that you are |
| prey to a migraine. Some patients actually report | | | | stressed out and it's your body's way of saying |
| relief from eating chocolate. | | | | slow down and take care of me. Especially if you |
| Foods that Can Cause Migraines | | | | are a type A personality. My type A patients |
| 1. Aged cheese such as Roquefort, Stilton and | | | | often say they can't sit still and have a difficult |
| Sharp Cheddar | | | | time with the relaxation/mediation part of yoga. |
| 2. Fermented Dairy such as Sour Cream, | | | | My reply? What's more difficult to live with. |
| Buttermilk and Yogurt | | | | Meditating daily or living with a migraine, a stroke |
| 3. Citrus: Oranges or Grapefruit, including juice | | | | or a heart attack? These are very real situations |
| 4. Nuts: Peanuts, Walnuts or Pecans | | | | that afflict people with constricted arteries and |
| 5. Legumes: Peas, Beans and Soy product 6. | | | | that's why it's vital that you make time for your |
| Onions and Garlic | | | | health. |
| 7. Bananas | | | | Unfortunately for my patients, I often meet them |
| 8. Pickled foods: picked herring is the most | | | | after they've suffered from a condition of |
| common instigator | | | | vascular abnormality. They are very motivated to |
| 9. MSG found in Chinese food | | | | participate because they have experienced what |
| 10. Alcohol | | | | happens when blood flow to the heart or brain is |
| Now that you know the common triggers, also | | | | compromised. Consequently they practice my |
| note that skipping meals also causes migraines. | | | | techniques daily to reduce a recurrence. Why not |
| Skipping meals causes your blood sugar to drop, | | | | make time now? There are 1440 minutes in a |
| which in turn causes a migraine. | | | | day. 45 minutes a day practicing yoga is a wise |
| Six Ways to Kiss Your Migraine Goodbye | | | | investment in your health that offers a positive |
| 1. Medicine | | | | life style with increased energy without the use of |
| Medicines have been used for centuries to treat | | | | toxic drugs polluting your liver and fewer Doctor |
| migraines. Today Dr's prescribe Beta Blockers to | | | | visits which equals fewer co-payments. Yoga Chi |
| treat migraines by maintaining adequate dilation of | | | | for Energy DVD includes medically engineered |
| blood vessels. Antidepressants: The brain chemical | | | | relaxation techniques with an 11 minute meditation |
| 'serotonin' plays a role in migraine attacks because | | | | by a crackling fireplace. |