Got An Umbrella?

Having a problem like migraine headaches can feel much like a storm is heading your way and you can’t seem to escape it. Your plans don’t get accomplished because the pain and symptoms of this vascular issue are starting to control your life and mental faculties. I called migraine headaches vascular because of the intense harm and causes that affect the vain and arteries in the body, especially in the brain.

When a migraine start, blood vessels in the brain begin to expand and enlarge causing a chemical to be released into the brain that would normally be there. This chemical begins to attack the arteries in the brain resulting in the pain felt by almost every migraine sufferer. This pain and other symptoms won’t cease until the blood vessels which initiated the mess shrink back down to their original size and viscosity. Next I going walk you through the first two of the four migraine stages

Prodrome Stage

The first stage that migraine sufferers endure is referred to as prodrome or the preemptive headache stage. During the prodrome stage, the soon to be migraine sufferer will begin to experience symptoms that serve as warning signs such as:

• Fatigue
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Changes In Behavior
• Food Cravings
• Irregular Urination Patterns
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Overly Sensitive To Light And Sound

Migraine sufferers can work hard at reducing stress during the prodrome stage and begin to formulate plan as they progress into stage two.

Aura Stage

Stage two hits not long before the actual headache settles in, this phase is called migraine aura and begins to show up twenty to sixty minutes before the intense migraine headache symptoms begin. Fortunately, only about 15% of chronic migraine sufferers ever go through this stage. Symptoms that come with the migraine aura stage typically affect vision and produce the following symptoms:

1. Flashing Lights
2. Vertigo
3. Blank Spots
4. Hallucinations
5. Blindness In One Eye
6. Zigzag lines

It is important that friends, family and employers are notified during this stage that over the next few days; you may be somewhat out of sorts as you cope with your migraine headache. Finding a dark quiet place to rest is important during this stage so that the migraine attack does not intensify.

Help Is On The Way

Now there were a number of symptoms that can out about those first two stages of a migraine so I wanted to share some of the natural supplements that can aid you in your endeavor to minimize the frequency of these symptoms.

• White Willow Bark – White Willow Bark takes on the role of an anti-inflammatory as well as reduces pain caused by constraining prostaglandins.
• 5 – Hydroxytryptophan – 5 – Hydroxytryptophan also known as 5- HTP is an amino acid found in food and is a forerunner to the neurotransmitter serotonin. By adding more 5-HTP one can raise their serotonin levels in the brain while also increasing their endorphin levels helping aide in the overall improvement of their mood and disposition. It has been proven that those suffering with chronic migraines typically have low serotonin and low endorphin levels. The thought process is that low serotonin and endorphins levels make it extremely challenging to tolerate or endure pain.
• Valerian – Valerian is a root that has been uncovered as a form of muscle relaxer. The use of Valerian is helpful in reducing stress, anxiety and even insomnia.
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin) – Vitamin B3 is responsible for several reactions that a body experiences. B3 helps release energy from carbohydrates, fats and cholesterol while regulating blood sugar levels. B3 when used creates a flushing of the face and with the flushing of the face the migraine is flushed right out of the system. One study done on the benefits of Vitamin B3 in relieving migraines revealed that 81% of people suffering from migraines found relief when treating their migraine with B3.
• Butterbur – Butterbur is an herb that when used in a clinical study showed that within sixteen weeks of use the number of migraine attacks was reduced by half. Research from this study also concluded that the severity of migraine pain typically felt was drastically reduced.
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) – Vitamin B6 works as antihistamine and has shown to help lessen histamine-induced migraines by increasing diamine oxidize activity.

Tags: chronic condition, difficulty sleeping, head pain, living with migraines, migraine attack, Migraines, severe pain, tender spots