If you suffer from migraine headaches, you’re not alone. Almost twelve percent of the U.S. population experiences them. Migraines are recurring attacks of moderate to severe throbbing or pulsing pain that is often on one side of the head. During a migraine, people are very sensitive to light and sound and they may also become nauseous or vomit. Migraines are three times more frequent in women than men, probably because migraines can occur as a result of hormonal changes in the body. Many women experience them when they have their period or when they become pregnant.
Some people have aura with their migraines in which they see flashing lights or zigzag lines or they temporarily lose their vision. These often precede the migraine headache and can last from thirty minutes to one hour before the pain from migraine sets in.
There are many things that can actually trigger a migraine headache. These include:
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Lack of food or sleep
• Exposure to light
• Hormonal changes (in women)
It is important for you to know what causes your migraine headaches. If you can isolate the triggers for migraine, then it is possible to control the frequency and severity of the headache by abstaining from whatever brings it on.
Doctors used to think migraines were linked to the opening and narrowing of blood vessels in the head. Now they believe the cause is related to genes that control the activity of some brain cells. While medicines can help prevent migraine attacks or help relieve symptoms of attacks when they happen, for many people, alternative treatments to relieve stress are better and have no side effects.
LEARNING YOUR TRIGGERS FOR MIGRAINE
There are many ways to manage your migraines at home. Knowing what gives you a migraine is half the battle. Many foods are found to be the culprit for migraines. Some of these are:
• Any processed, fermented, pickled, or marinated foods, as well as foods that contain MSG
• Baked goods, chocolate, nuts, and dairy products
• Fruits (such as avocado, banana, and citrus fruit)
• Meats containing nitrates (such as bacon, hot dogs, salami, and cured meats)
• Red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, and certain beans
Alcohol, stress, certain odors or perfumes, loud noises or bright lights, and smoking may also trigger a migraine. Keep a diary of what you consume and any activities you do. Do this for about three months to really get a handle on what triggers your migraines. Once you find the pattern, you can eliminate the triggers from your diet or use alternative treatments to relieve the stress from your life.
Knowledge is your friend. Take the time to evaluate your situation and the effort to find the triggers behind your migraine headaches. Through evaluation and control, your life can return to a normal pace without the threat of migraine.
Tags: blurred vision, dizziness, head pain, lightheadedness, migraine symptoms, nausea, vomiting
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