Top 10 Lifestyle Modifications to combat migraine
It has been observed that women tend to suffer more from migraine than men. There is completely no reason to believe that women who suffer from migraine live a life in constant dread of the symptoms.
Try incorporating these general nutritional guidelines to combat or even overcome migraine:
1) Correcting and preventing low blood sugar level:
One of the most common triggers of migraine is a low blood sugar level. This in other words is called Hypoglycaemia, a health state in which the blood sugar level in your body drops below the normal range, which is not safe and comfortable for your body. This however does not indicate that you should end up eating something sugary, for a increase in sugar level will lead to production of more insulin, which in turn will cause the sugar level to fall again. The symptoms may vary from weakness, shaking, irritability, nausea, fatigue and pallor. The good news is that sensible snacking and adopting good eating habits both high in fibre and sweet can prove beneficial. This could be fruit, a slice of wholemeal bread with a topping of banana, honey, biscuit, etc. Always keep healthy snacks readily available at work and at home.
2) Try sticking to fresh foods:
Focus your eating plan on fresh vegetables, fruits and whole gram cereal foods, with lean proteins, small amounts of fat and plenty of water. Avoid processed meats such as salami and other sausages, mangetout and the flavor enhancer "Monosodium glutamate" (MSG). MSG is found in a lot of ready-made meals, bottled sauces, crisps and often in Chinese restaurant food. Stick to fresh foods and avoid MSG intake. Eat a variety of foods to keep your body well nourished and disease free.
3) Avoid excess of caffeine, alcohol and desserts:
Most people regard that having caffeine, strong red wine and an irresistible chocolate dessert makes up for a good dinner-but they hardly come to realise that after over-feeding on these foods, they fall into the bed tired and wake up feeling awful, head heavy, eyes cloudy, neck stiff and stomach nauseous. You need to remember that caffeine, strong red wine, aged cheese, and chocolate are classic migraine triggers. Try working out on a personal 'damage limitation' plan? By maintaining a diary and writing down what you are eating that might have triggered off migraine. Triggers such as eating cheese can cause a migraine within 20 minutes. If you think estrogen might be a trigger, consult your doctor regarding oral contraceptives or ask for an alternative hormone therapy.
4) Have small well-balanced meals:
Aim for having small, regular well balanced meals. Try avoiding a gap of more than three or four hours between your snacks or meals. Regular meals not only help to keep your blood sugar level steady, they also help protect your stomach from too much acid and ensure that there is a regular flow of food through the bowel.
5) Shed extra body weight:
Try to keep your weight within the ideal range of your height. If you are overweight, start making changes towards consuming healthy food and incorporating exercise into your daily routine. Make concerted effort to establish healthy eating habits. Remember, being overweight can adversely affect your blood pressure and this heightens the potential for migraine headaches. To check your target weight, click here. Also, aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes three times a week will help reduce frequency or severity of migraine. Exercise on a regular basis, even if there is a change in daily routine (such as when traveling, when you have houseguests, or when your workload increases).
DO'S AND DON'TS
For controlling migraine
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Do keep a record of attacks, noting
When and what you eat and drink, how much under stress you feel and any other possible triggers.
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Do keep as fit as possible. Regular exercise will also help you to relax more easily.
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Do eat regularly. Low blood sugar can set off migraine attacks.
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Do learn to cope with stress.
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Do rest in dark, quiet place if you feel an attack coming on, and take preventive medication.
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Do discuss medication or treatment regularly with your doctor.
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Don't drive when you have an attack.
Don't prolong attacks by trying to ignore them.
6) Try maintaining a regular sleep pattern:
Irregular sleep pattern can often contribute to migraines. Oddly enough, oversleeping at weekends can induce migraines as much as under sleeping due to stress. Try to get regular amount of sleep each night.
7) Take out time to relax:
It is vital to reduce both physical and emotional stress and take out time, even if it's only 15 minutes a day, to relax. Make a serious date with yourself everyday to relax and Just do it! Even if you can't identify that it's stress that provokes your migraines, you should still take the stress/relaxation aspects of your life seriously. Focus on deep breathing number of times throughout the day to nourish every part of your body with an essential nutrient - Oxygen.
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8) Are you a case of lactose intolerance?
This is one of the less common trigger ingredients, but nevertheless one that can cause severe headaches in some people. The problem seems to occur when your digestive system is deficient in an enzyme called Lactase, which breaks down Lactose, found in diary products such as cream, butter, yoghurt, cheese, ice-cream and milk. Avoid having too many foods high in Lactose; anyone who is in particularly sensitive to Lactose should completely avoid it.
9) Avoid artificial sweetness:
Artificial sweetness which manufacturers use in low-calorie drinks, squashes, tonic waters and other soft drinks, can trigger Migraine in women particularly who are sensitive to it. So avoid consuming them as far as possible.
10) Act quickly:
As soon as you feel severe headache, act quickly and consult your doctor. Maintain the medication treatment plan designed by you and your physician. Early intervention may help prevent the migraine from progressing into a severe, disabling attack. Some women apply cold cloths or soft ice packs on the back of their neck , while others find warmth more helpful, as the pain is caused by the constriction of blood to the head. Medications should not be taken without the consultation of the Physician as few of them carry serious side effects and are contraindicated in pregnancy, ischaemic heart disease and peripheral vascular disorders.
2007-01-11 23:09:08
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Excercise and Yoga helps to over migraine. I found the following for and hope it works. Try and see if this works:
Below are 10 simple solutions to ease your migraine pain:
Get a good night sleep. Changes in sleep patterns, changing shifts, and jet lag can trigger migraines. Try to maintain a regular schedule and get up and go to bed at the same time every day.
Lie down, put an ice pack wrapped in a towel or a cold compress on your throbbing head to soothe swollen, pulsing blood vessels until the pain subsides.
If for some reason you don't want to put a cold compress on your head to relieve the pain, soak one or both of your hands in ice water for only as long as you can tolerate it. While your hands are in the water, ball them into fists and open and close them repeatedly. It can have the same effect as a compress on your head.
Believe or not, caffeine works! It's a paradox of headaches: Ingest too much caffeine and you may get a headache, but take a little bit and it can help make the pain disappear. Studies have shown that aspirin and ibuprofen are more effective when combined with caffeine. So if you take aspirin or ibuprofen at the onset of a migraine, wash it down with a cup of coffee.
Keep the room dark. Light aggravates migraine symptoms, lie down in a dark room.
Do not skip meals. Skipping meals can trigger a migraine attack. If you can, eat smaller meals throughout the day or be sure to eat three meals.
Make note of what you eat. Certain foods triggers a migraine attack in about 10% of migraine sufferers. It can take from 30 minutes to 12 hours for a food to cause a reaction. If you get a migraine, think back to what you ate in that time frame and try eliminating some of those foods from your diet.
Take riboflavin. Studies have shown that taking 400 milligrams a day of riboflavin can help eliminate migraines.
Spice it up. The hot ingredient in red pepper, capsaicin, is a terrific painkiller and may help those who have migraines feel better during an attack. You do not need to include red pepper in all your meals. You can buy cayenne pepper capsules in health food stores.
Try not to sleep late on weekends. Though it might seem like a reward to relax and sleep in, giving yourself that letdown after stress is a common trigger. Waking up late can also trigger a migraine by changing your normal sleep pattern and may cause you to miss breakfast which also triggers a migraine
2007-01-11 22:17:10
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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Very difficult. Try pranayam. Ayurvedic pills Shirashooladri Vajra Ras 1-1-1 for one month will help you a lot. Drink Noni herbal fruit juice which is excellent for migraine. My 35 years old migraine disappeared within one month with Noni.
2007-01-12 04:05:28
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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Drink a cup of strong black sweet coffee, and soak your hands and feet in a bucket of hot water. The hot water pulls the blood from your head, and eases the pain.
I've had migraines for 50 years, and this works almost all of the time.
Good luck
2007-01-11 22:17:55
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answer #4
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answered by Kate 6
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i think it's thru self councelling. i'll tell u how it's done. just think that u hv the pain in the back or neck & u'll c the pain there after some time cox ur assuming some. so in the same manner if u stop thinking that u hv migrane or smothing like that then i think there wont be any. it's just a matter of positive thinking. just try next time if u feel that again just think that u dont hv & start thinking of the things which u like the most. it can be frm food 2 the place also. i think it will be gone after few minutes. main thing is POSITIVE THINKING
bye
2007-01-11 22:24:15
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answer #5
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answered by bobby 2
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Pour half of 100Plus in a glass and another half of mineral water, drink it. Do it few times in a day with one hour interval, if it still don't work out.
2007-01-11 22:10:09
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answer #6
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answered by Revolusi Akal 1
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prayanam is only answer to migraine. It cures the deasease without medicine.
2007-01-11 22:19:46
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answer #7
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answered by J P S 1
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Follow ramdeve baba's pranayama exercises....
you will get rid of all your problems
2007-01-11 22:10:42
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answer #8
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answered by girishjo 2
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Drink coffee.I tried it.and it worked.
2007-01-11 22:13:06
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answer #9
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answered by grace 2
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http://www.neurologyreviews.com/feb04/nr_feb04_foramen.html
2007-01-12 10:05:37
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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