Health Issues Linked to Migraines
Description:
A migraine headache is usually a band-like pain that affects the
whole head. Throbbing pain on one side of the head is typically
experienced with a migraine, which can sometimes be severe and
incapacitating. Nausea and vomiting may also accompany the migraine
headache.
Migraine headaches are three times more common in women than in men,
and can also run in families. Migraines typically begin between the
ages of 10 and 40, and typically resolve or become less severe after
age 60.
There are some known factors that can trigger a migraine. Estrogen
can trigger a migraine, which partly explains why it is more common in
women than in men. Many women will typically experience their migraines
during puberty, menstrual periods, and when taking oral contraceptives.
Insomnia, changes in barometric pressure, and hunger can also trigger a
migraine headache. Once a migraine is triggered, physical activities,
light sounds, and smells can make it worse.
Most people will experience a prodrome, aura, and postdrome along
with the pain of the migraine headache. The prodrome can occur up to 24
hours before the pain of the headache and involves a change in mood or
behavior. The aura can occur up to an hour before the headache and
involves disturbances in vision, sensation, balance, movements, or
speech. The aura usually subsides at the onset of pain of the migraine.
In the postdrome, there is another change in mood or behavior after the
migraine has subsdided.
-- Causes of Migraines --
A typical theory of what causes a migraine headache suggests that
the pain is caused by the arteries in the brain narrowing and widening.
However, this theory is too simple and does not explain the changes in
blood flow that occur.
Migraines are considered vascular headaches and although the exact
cause of this conditionn is unknown, many triggers exist including food
allergies, blood sugar disturbances, stress, injury, and hormonal
fluctuations. Many clinical experiences have found iron deficiency to
be common in migraine headaches, especially in women.
-- The Nutritional Approach --
Foods that have been proven to help with Migraines:
Peppers. Increasing fluid intake and incorporating foods rich in
omega-III fatty acids, like flaxseed, walnuts (which contain
alpha-linolenic acid [ALA], an important omega-III fatty acid), and
fish, into your diet may help to stave off migraines.
Things to Avoid:
caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, foods containing additives or citrus
fruit, dairy products, tuna, mackerel, processed meats (bacon, hot
dogs, salami, cured meats), nuts, peanut butter, fermented or pickled
foods, and onions.
Nutrients that have been proven to help with Migraines:
Magnesium, Vitamin B2, Vitamin D and Calcium, Iron, Bitter Melon, Chasteberry, Black Cohosh, and Omega III oils. |
