Both women and men suffer from migraines; however, women are much more prone to them. A migraine is a special type of headache that has its own symptoms, properties and preventive maintenance.
Find out what exactly a migraine is, foods and drinks that can trigger them, how to prevent them from happening, and how to deal with them when they do.
How did I get a migraine?
Migraines occur when there is an increase of the level of serotonin in the brain. Different factors that can effect serotonin levels include certain foods and drinks, moods, sleep patterns, stress, menstruation and pregnancy.
When the blood vessels in the brain begin to constrict (shrink) and then dilate (swell), chemicals are released creating a “pulsation” feeling. This pulsation is what causes severe pain.
A migraine can feel like a dull throbbing sensation or an extremely sharp pain, usually on one side or certain portion of the head. It can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours.
Duration and Symptoms
Once a migraine is triggered, classic symptoms include an abnormal sensitivity to light, sound and smell. Usually nausea and/or dizziness can accompany the migraine.
Physical activity worsens the pain.
Some say they experience a sensation called an “aura” where images are blurred or one’s sense of hearing is distorted. Often times people have a sense of depression or fatigue right before a migraine occurs.
The Foods
There are certain chemicals in foods and beverages that trigger a migraine. These chemicals include but are not limited to gluten, MSG and tyramine.
Foods known to trigger migraines or contain the chemicals above are listed below:
- Aged cheese
- Cured foods such as ham, spam, sausages and hotdogs
- Chocolate, especially dark chocolate
- Caffeine, found in coffee, tea and soda
- Alcohol, Red wine in particular
- Cultured dairy products, such as sour cream
- Peanuts and brazil nuts
- Peanut butter
- Soy sauce
- Aspartame
- Pickled or marinated snacks and foods
- Avocados (which contain tyramine)
How to Cope
The best thing to do once the symptoms have occurred is to take proper migraine medicine and lay in a cool, dark and quiet room. Any light, sound or abnormal smell can worsen the migraine pain.
Icing the bottom of the skull on the back of the neck will suspend blood flow to the brain, which will also help to ease the pain. While icing, dip your hands and feet into warm water, to transfer the blood from your head to the extremities.
Treatments
There are different medicines one can take to either lessen the pain or prevent the migraine from occurring. Over the counter medications such as Advil (or ibuprofen), Tylenol (or acetaminophen), Motrin and Aleve are all effective pain killers.
Advil and Excedrin both have specific pain killers for migraines as well. When a person experiences migraines more than 3-4 times a month, seeking a doctor is advised.
Doctors can prescribe medication including but not limited to Midrin, Zomig or Imitrex. These are all effective prescription medications. In extreme cases, there is an injection that can be given intranasally in order to stop the migraine.
Relaxation techniques are also a great way to ease the mind and prevent migraines from occurring.