I just found this today while browsing Huffington Post. I don’t normally read the site but I was surprised to find so much interesting information.

Dr. Mark Hyman recommends -

Make sure you do not have a magnesium deficiency. Symptoms can include muscle cramps, constipation, trouble sleeping, and migraines.

Check for hormone imbalances. Too much of one hormone in relation to another can cause migraines.

Try an elimination diet if you cannot pinpoint dietary triggers.

Avoid artificial sweeteners.

If you suffer from low blood sugar, try a eating fewer carbs and more protein to keep blood sugar balanced.

mark hyman how to eliminate migraines and headaches in less than a week is a post from: real-headache-help.com

Dr Weil suggests the following ideas for reducing migraines in yesterday’s Huffington Post:

Cut caffeine out of your diet – meaning coffee, tea, soda, and any prescription or over-the-counter medications that may contain the stimulant.

Eliminate your dietary migraine triggers.

Try supplements such as butterbur, feverfew, vitamin B2 and Coenzyme Q10 (individually, not together.)

Try biofeedback.

Evolve an “accepting” attitude.

migraine relief andrew weil is a post from: real-headache-help.com

Many migraine sufferers have noticed that changes in weather can bring on headaches – either immediately or after a delay of as much as three days. Of course, many people feel their health conditions are affected by the weather, not just migraine sufferers, but people who experience allergies and arthritis as well.

A new website has launched to support this need called MediClim.com. MediClim offers a free service where they will send you email alerts if changes in the weather are likely to aggravate your health problem. What are the advantages of using this service? Many users report that they like getting the alerts as it helps them plan in advance of an impending attack.

How does this help? If you know you are more likely to experience a migraine attack you can work extra hard to avoid additional personal triggers (dehydration, alcohol, lack of sleep, certain foods, stress, etc), you can make sure you have dinner made ahead or other important errands done, you have your migraine medicine with you, etc.

migraine weather is a post from: real-headache-help.com

A study published in the March 2009 issue of Cephalalgia indicates that women who experience migraines may be more likely to also experience high blood pressure (gestational hypertension and preeclampsia) during pregnancy.

“Overall, a little more than 38 percent of the women suffered from migraine headaches and roughly 9 percent of these women developed high blood pressure or other “hypertensive” disorder while pregnant, compared with just 3 percent of women who did not suffer migraines.

Women with migraine were 2.85-fold more likely than women without migraine to develop high blood pressure while pregnant.”

migraine pregnancy high blood pressure is a post from: real-headache-help.com

I know many people are interested in alternative treatments (or complimentary treatments) for their migraines.

“Researchers in India found that among 72 adults suffering from migraines, patients who were randomly assigned to take part in a yoga therapy program started having headaches less often and endured less pain with each migraine attack compared with the subjects assigned to a self-care group.

What’s more, the pain relief brought considerable improvement in symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to the researchers, led by Dr. P.J. John of the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur.

The complete study findings are reported in the current issue of the journal Headache.”

http://www.costaricayoga.org/?p=1305

Interestingly, if you read more of the info posted in the link, the control group only received information on how to avoid migraine triggers, etc. Those practicing yoga actually saw the most relief. I think this is important to note as its not always easy to add a new routine into one’s schedule. There needs to be the indication that you really are going to see improvement.

I would check this out as its pretty easy these days to get started with yoga.

gentle yoga migraine is a post from: real-headache-help.com

MigraineChick has created a photo set devoted just to migraine moods. Check it out. I know lots of people choose to express their migraine pain through art, and this could be a great way to do this. All you need is a digital camera and then Flickr is free. See what you think.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/migrainechick/sets/72157600389229362/

migraine flickr photo set is a post from: real-headache-help.com

This story has been making its rounds for a few months and I see it is still going strong.

“Childhood maltreatment might lead to an increased probability of migraine among adults. Nevertheless, the relationship between migraine and childhood abuse is unknown in adolescents. To study the relationship, researchers enrolled 3,955 Taiwanese students, aged between 13 and 15 years, from three middle schools. Based on a standard questionnaire, the researchers diagnosed 23 percent of the teens with migraine or probable migraine. A similar percentage – 24 percent – said they had been beaten by a family member sometime in their lives.

It was found that 30 percent of teenagers who reported such abuse had migraine symptoms, versus 21 percent of non-abused teens. The more frequent the abuse, the higher the risk of migraine. Migraine was diagnosed in 28 percent of teenagers who said they had rarely been beaten, and in 38 percent of those who said they had sometimes or often been abused.”

http://doctor.ndtv.com/storypage/ndtv/id/4330/type/news/Childhood_maltreatment_linked_to_migraine.html

Part of me likes stories like this because at least research is being done, but yet I feel on many levels this is a throw back to earlier ideas of migraines as a psychological conditions. I can’t help but wonder if stress could be the link in this case…anyhow, what do you think? Do you worry people will now assume you have been abused?

childhood migraines linked to abuse is a post from: real-headache-help.com

Many people who experience migraines may also experience nausea during an attack. The level of nausea can range from mild to severe, and in some cases result in severe dehydration. Unfortunately, many migraine patients are not told they have options for treating the nausea that accompanies their migraines.

Before you consider taking prescription medicine to treat your migraine induced nausea it is important to understands that all prescription medications carry risk be that of side effects, interactions with other drugs or pre-existing conditions, strong withdrawal effects, etc. Only you and your doctor can decide if the risks outweigh the benefits.

Prescription Medications for the Treatment of Nausea

Metroclopramide (Reglan)

Metroclopramide reduces nausea by increasing the rate at which one’s stomach can empty by increasing muscular contractions in the the upper digestive tract. This medication is available in a fast dissolving oral form.Metroclopramide is not recommended for people with digestive tract problems including bleeding, holes, or blockages of any kind, those with seizures disorders, or people who have adrenal gland tumors. Metroclopramide is only intended for the short term treatment of nausea not for long term use.

Please note that some people will experience withdrawal side effects such as headaches, dizziness, or anxiety. Symptoms resulting from long term usage or higher than recommended doses includes tremors and uncontrollable muscle movements or stiffness.

Metroclopramide will not interact well with all medications, especially those that cause drowsiness (as this is also a side effect of the medication.) As there are other drugs that interact with Metroclopramide, always discuss your full medication history with your doctor – including over the counter medications.

Pregnant? Metroclopramide is a Pregnancy class B drug – meaning it is not believed to harm developing fetuses. However, never take medication during a pregnancy without consulting your doctor first. Additionally, Metroclopramide should not be taken by nursing mothers as this medication is known to pass into breast milk.

Promethazine (Phenergan)

Promethazine works to reduce nausea by affecting the chemicals in one’s brain. Drowsiness and dizziness is a significant side effect. Muscle tremors and twitches are also signs of possible overdose. Promethazine is a Pregnancy Class C drug and as such is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women. Promethazine also has numerous drug interactions including col/allergy medications, any kind of sedative/sleeping pills, muscle relaxants, anti-seizure medications, and medications for depression/anxiety. As such, always let your doctor know any and all medications you may be taking.

Prochlorperazine (Compazine)

Prochlorperazine is a dopamine blocker typically prescribed for severe nausea and vomiting. This medication is also frequently prescribed to treat schizophrenia and generalized anxiety. Common side effects include significant droswiness, dizziness, sensitivity to heat and sun. Prochloraperazine will not mix well with anything else that acts as a central nervous system depressant- this includes common prescription strength pain medications prescribed for migraines including barbiturates and narcotics – as well as alcohol. Pregnancy class unknown, discuss with your doctor.

Ondansetron (Zofran)

Ondansetron is a serotonin 5HT3 blocker commonly prescribed to treat the nausea that accompanies chemotherapy. This medication is beleived to work by blocking chemicals in one’s brain that can sometimes be the cause of nausea or vomiting. Ondansetron is frequently give via injection at one’s doctor’s office. This medication will cause significant drowsiness or dizziness. Pregnancy class unknown, discuss with your doctor.

migraines nausea is a post from: real-headache-help.com

Do you know someone who is constantly afflicted with chronic sinus pain and congestion? With spring right around the corner, lots of people run to the drug store looking for allergy and sinus medications to relieve their pain and stuffiness. However, what many people don’t realize is that – unless your sinus condition is fleeting, there is a very strong possibility that you are actually experiencing migraines. I know, it sounds crazy but “sinus infections” and migraines actually have a lot of overlapping symptoms and if you have been struggling with pain and discomfort for years without improvement it may be worth your while to consider the alternative.

First of all, how can you tell if the source of your pain is really your sinuses? Typical symptoms include pain and swelling due to sinus inflammation. This can also cause annoying congestion. For one, the pain will be linked specifically to an infection (look for signs of discolored mucous, a fever, and a time duration of around 12 days or so) or a specific allergy season. The pain will not be constant off and on for an extended period of time – this is not a normal symptom of legitimate sinus infection.

Where the pain is located -

Many people who suffer from sinus infections feel pain in the sinus area that may also radiate out into their teeth. The pain is usually constant and moving one’s head around usually makes the pain worse. Other symptoms can include typical allergy symptoms like itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose, etc.

Signs your sinus infection may be migraine

Throbbing pain sensations.

Chronic sinus headaches all year round.

It would not usually be typical for a sinus infection to consistently cause nausea.

It would also not be typical to experience sensitivity to light or sound.

Avoid Medication Overuse

It is not common knowledge among sinus headache sufferers, but common allergy and decongestant medications will also cause rebound headaches (in addition to the “rebound” congestion effects that are more commonly known) when taken excessively and then discontinued.

sinus headache or migraine is a post from: real-headache-help.com

New Daily Persistent Headache is yet another type of chronic headache. How can you tell if you are experiencing New Daily Persistent Headache? Usually NPDH begins with a sudden onset – one day you are fine and the next you get a headache that never goes away. New Daily Persistent Headache is thought to occur in approximately 1.7% of the population among adults. NPDH also seems to appear more frequently in young patients, either children or women in their 20’s an 30’s, and men in their 50’s. This condition is very difficult to treat effectively and some people may endure constant headache for years despite treatment.

Here are the common symptoms:

• You have headaches more than fifteen times per month
• Your headaches develop over the course of three days or less
• Pain is typically felt on both sides of the head
• The sensation of pain is usually like that of a tension headache – a constant sensation of pressure
• The level of pain can range from mild to moderate
• The level of pain is not made worse by exercise or routine physical activity
• Other symptoms like mild nausea and sensitivity to light may also exist.
• There is no evidence that the pain is caused by physical abnormalities or another diagnosable condition.

However, these symptoms are not enough to diagnose NPDH. You must also have these symptoms daily, without any sign of improvement for three months or more. Additionally, one must not experience more than one of the following symptoms – mild nausea, sensitivity to light, or sensitivity to noise – not all three and the nausea must not be severe. Essentially, these requirements rule out people with a past history of chronic tension headaches or migraines.

What Triggers New Daily Persistent Headache?

No one knows for sure. Sometimes NPDH appears to be triggered by infections, extracranial surgery, or stress. There also appears to possibly be a link between NPDH and  hypothyroidism, hypertension, alcohol consumption, overusing pain medications, and caffeine. Children will frequently have NPDH triggered by extracranial surgery, febrile illness, or head trauma.

Of all triggers, infection such as that caused by the Epstein virus is thought to be the most significant. The root cause is thought to be the body’s response to infection or stress, not the infection itself.

Treating New Daily Persistent Headaches

Typically treatment for NPDH does not vary that much from typical migraine treatment protocols including abortive medication (medication that will stop a headache as it develops, not just mask pain.)

Some instances of NPDH will go away on their own after a period of time whereas other may require constant treatment.

Reference: “New Daily Persistent Headache in Children and Adults,” by Kenneth J. Mack MD, PhD Current Pain and Headache Reports 2009, 13: 47-51.

new daily persistent headaches is a post from: real-headache-help.com