Annie Sawyer, Ph. D.
As a true and long time migraine sufferer, I have been writing several publications over the years back in Europe about migraine as a neurological disorder, while focusing on its symptomatic and the role of preventive allopathic and holistic treatment published throughout the years. Migraine is also known as the disease of the “blue blood” aristocracy. While not all of us are pure aristocrats, one of the most difficult things to deal with is finding the correct way to help others understand what migraine is like. No matter how many articles I read or have been written, migraine remains an open and ongoing serious problem. Actually, we do not know enough on this disease in general. It is a disease that can disrupt and distress relationships with others and to damage both, family and private career. Managing migraine is a serious challenge. It is considered a genetically inherited neurological disorder often marked by severe pain generally concentrated on one (right or left) side of the head. Generally it is discovered in early childhood.
The migraine headache is very similar to hemicrania- which must be differentiated from migraine and cluster headache. The only difference is that hemicranias, also known as “hemicrania continua” is completely responsive to COX 2 inhibitors. It rarely occurs as a simple headache and it is frequently combined with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light- the so called vision disturbances, or aura. The last is considered as a "warning sign" that a migraine is approaching. An aura consist in a tingling sensation to a strong a headache and from a blurred or cloudy vision to seeing flashing lights, shooting stars or zigzagging lines or in some cases having tunnel vision. Auras can also take the form of pins-and-needles sensations in one or both hands and arms, as well as the nose, mouth, and tongue.
The aura occurs in both eyes and may involve any of all of the following: a temporary blind spot; blurred vision; eye pain; teary eye; seeing stars or zigzag lines; tunnel vision and others. Most people, however, do not have such warning aura at all. They may have nausea, vomiting, cold chills, an increased urge of urination, fatigue, loss of appetite, numbness, tingling, or weakness; problems with concentrating, feeling mentally dull, increased need for sleep, neck pain, and trouble of finding words; sensitivity to light or sound or profuse sweating.
Migraine headaches can be described from dull to severe. The pain may be felt behind the eye or in the back of the head and neck. For most of the sufferers, the headaches start on the same side each time, but sides can also change. The patients usually describe their migraine as: feeling of throbbing, pounding, or pulsating, worse on one side of the head, starting as a dull ache while getting worse within minutes and lasting from 6-48 hours. One of the key causes of pain during a migraine—is due to changes to the blood flow within the brain.
There is an association between migraines and mood disorders (depression or bipolar disorder), but no cause--effect relationship has been ever proven or established. That being said, migraine headaches are one of the most common physical symptoms reported by people with mood disorders (depression). Allopathic medicine claims that when people receive effective treatment for depression their headaches become less frequent or less severe despite I cannot advice anyone to take daily antidepressants in order to cure his migraine.
There is also increasing evidence that migraines can be a marker for an increased risk of stroke and heart disease, especially in those who have migraines with an aura. Also, some women's migraines, hormone-sensitive ones, can get worse with estrogen therapy, and estrogen itself has been linked to an increased risk of stroke. So you might not be a good candidate for hormonal replacement therapy with Premarin even if you were menopausal.
What it seems quite obvious is that migraines cannot be cured, but they can be kept in remission and that with advanced aging their frequency may strongly diminish. Above all, migraine can be well controlled. Medications can help to stop the pain, but as holistic healers we do not consider them as part of the wellness program. You must find out what lifestyle or diet changes, while avoiding triggers can be effective for you.
Nowadays there are many allopathic treatments that are available for migraine prevention and treatment. You might be prescribed migraine prophylactic medication, to prevent the onset of migraines. An MD may prescribe either blood pressure medications (such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers), or antidepressants at night. You may be also offered to try anti-inflammatory medications, triptans, ergotamine and caffeine (cofergot) nasal sprays, lozenges etc. There are several new types of treatments. You should talk to your doctor about what's right for you, especially since your migraines are so frequent and long lasting.
Tips for preventing migraines include:
The aura occurs in both eyes and may involve any of all of the following: a temporary blind spot; blurred vision; eye pain; teary eye; seeing stars or zigzag lines; tunnel vision and others. Most people, however, do not have such warning aura at all. They may have nausea, vomiting, cold chills, an increased urge of urination, fatigue, loss of appetite, numbness, tingling, or weakness; problems with concentrating, feeling mentally dull, increased need for sleep, neck pain, and trouble of finding words; sensitivity to light or sound or profuse sweating.
Migraine headaches can be described from dull to severe. The pain may be felt behind the eye or in the back of the head and neck. For most of the sufferers, the headaches start on the same side each time, but sides can also change. The patients usually describe their migraine as: feeling of throbbing, pounding, or pulsating, worse on one side of the head, starting as a dull ache while getting worse within minutes and lasting from 6-48 hours. One of the key causes of pain during a migraine—is due to changes to the blood flow within the brain.
There is an association between migraines and mood disorders (depression or bipolar disorder), but no cause--effect relationship has been ever proven or established. That being said, migraine headaches are one of the most common physical symptoms reported by people with mood disorders (depression). Allopathic medicine claims that when people receive effective treatment for depression their headaches become less frequent or less severe despite I cannot advice anyone to take daily antidepressants in order to cure his migraine.
There is also increasing evidence that migraines can be a marker for an increased risk of stroke and heart disease, especially in those who have migraines with an aura. Also, some women's migraines, hormone-sensitive ones, can get worse with estrogen therapy, and estrogen itself has been linked to an increased risk of stroke. So you might not be a good candidate for hormonal replacement therapy with Premarin even if you were menopausal.
What it seems quite obvious is that migraines cannot be cured, but they can be kept in remission and that with advanced aging their frequency may strongly diminish. Above all, migraine can be well controlled. Medications can help to stop the pain, but as holistic healers we do not consider them as part of the wellness program. You must find out what lifestyle or diet changes, while avoiding triggers can be effective for you.
Nowadays there are many allopathic treatments that are available for migraine prevention and treatment. You might be prescribed migraine prophylactic medication, to prevent the onset of migraines. An MD may prescribe either blood pressure medications (such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers), or antidepressants at night. You may be also offered to try anti-inflammatory medications, triptans, ergotamine and caffeine (cofergot) nasal sprays, lozenges etc. There are several new types of treatments. You should talk to your doctor about what's right for you, especially since your migraines are so frequent and long lasting.
Tips for preventing migraines include:
- Avoid smoking and alcohol (especially red wine)
- Avoid artificial sweeteners and other known food-related triggers
- Avoid any processed, fermented, pickled, or marinated foods
- Avoid baked goods, chocolate and dairy products
- Avoid foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- Avoid foods containing tyramine, (red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, animal liver, figs, and certain beans)
- Be careful with fruits (avocado, banana, citrus fruit) and Fructose Corn Syrup
- Eliminate meats containing nitrates (bacon, hot dogs, salami, cured meats)
- Avoid Nuts, Onions or Peanut butter
Try to reassure:
· Getting regular exercise
· Getting plenty of sleep and rest in a dark room
· Learning to relax and reduce stress by using biofeedback and self-hypnosis
Dietary supplementation:
· Getting plenty of sleep and rest in a dark room
· Learning to relax and reduce stress by using biofeedback and self-hypnosis
Dietary supplementation:
There are many dietary formulas for holistic supplementations that are proven to work in clinical trials.
If you would like to learn more on the above topic, to sign for on line or phone consultation, or to request an article written to suit your wellness business purposes, please call: (715) 392-7591; (218) 213-6167; or (218) 213-7087
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The material in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. Thus our intentions are not to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat or prevent any disease. If you use the information in this newsletter without the approval of your health professional, the authors of this letter do not assume any responsibility. Copyright @ 2009, Natural Health-Wellness LLC. All rights reserved.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The material in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. Thus our intentions are not to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat or prevent any disease. If you use the information in this newsletter without the approval of your health professional, the authors of this letter do not assume any responsibility. Copyright @ 2009, Natural Health-Wellness LLC. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment