Much of the following information comes from the American Headache Society, the Migraine Awareness Group, and the National Headache Foundation.
About 36 million Americans suffer from some form of migraine headaches. While no one is exactly sure what causes a migraine, many experts believe it is a hyper-excitability of the brain to stimuli such as smells, sounds, weather changes, certain foods, stress, and hormonal changes. Genetics play a role since there is a 50% chance of having migraines if one of your parents has them.
Almost 70 % of those with migraines start with a prodromal phase and 15% have an aural or visual disturbance before the headache. The prodrome can be manifested by energy changes, food craving, irritability, muscle stiffness or yawning. The importance of recognizing these is that the headache may be lessened by treating it in this early stage.
(Did You Know? Some migraine sufferers have noticed a decrease when using Botox. We have a number of patients that benefit by having it injected across their foreheads.)
The treatment centers on anti-inflammatories like ibuprophen and aspirin as well as prescription “triptans”. The triptans help by constricting dilated blood vessels and decreasing swelling. Magnesium can also relax blood vessels if taken during the prodrome.
Prevention involves a number of different measures. Avoid trigger foods such as caffeine, chocolate, cheese and MSG. Stay hydrated and don’t skip meals. Use fruit to stabilize blood sugar. Pay attention to hormonal changes. A study in Neurology showed that taking vitamin B2 reduced migraines. Establish a sleep routine. Lastly, and my favorite, stay active by exercising regularly.