Best Seven Ways to Avoid Migraines

The problem with migraine prevention is that there isn’t just one cause for the headaches. There are very many triggers for migraines, in fact, and trying to avoid them all would be an exercise in hermitry. Who wants to spend the rest of their life living in a cave just to avoid headaches? That being said, there are a few things you can do to avoid migraines and here are the top ten.

1) Cut the caffeine. Among the multitude of products linked to migraines is caffeine. Taking in too much can lead to a headache of monstrous proportions. Unfortunately, it’s not only too much caffeine that lead to a headache, it’s caffeine withdrawal if you’re used to taking in a lot. Best to cut back slowly.

2) While we’re talking about caffeine, let’s also talk about NutraSweet. Aspartame has been the culprit for many people who have complained of migraines. Go in search of why aspartame causes migraines and you will run into what seems like the biggest cover-up since Roswell. Most of what you’ll read hasn’t been proven, but then again neither have the makers of NutraSweet proven that their product doesn’t contribute to migraines. Avoid it and you may well avoid a horrendous headache.

3) Establish a regular pattern of sleeping and waking. In fact, get as anal-retentive as you can about this. A regular pattern of going to bed at the same time and getting up at the same time, on weekends as well as weekdays, can do wonders. Many people who have instituted a rigid routine of sleeping and waking have discovered that their migraines disappear completely and forever. Or at least as long as they continue the pattern.

4) Give up the pill and try another form of contraception. Birth control pills and their effects on hormones can be a major hazard when it comes to migraine pain. You don’t necessarily have to go off the pill entirely. Some women have found that merely changing brands puts an end to their migraine misery. If that doesn’t help, however, you may look into other forms of female contraception or, if you and your partner don’t mind, switching over to condoms.

5) There are more reasons to give up smoking than you can count, but avoiding migraines is another reason to put on the list. Of course, that’s easier than said than done if you are the smoker, but remember, secondhand smoke is just as likely to cause a migraine headache as actual smoking. So if you can, remove yourself from the environment in which people are smoking. Better yet: Get them to remove themselves. You do have the right to not have to be around their smoke, especially if their smoke is causing your headaches.

6) Change your lighting. Very bright lights can often trigger very severe migraines. You might consider using the softer, filmy kind of light bulbs. Or use lamps instead of overhead lights. Or stop using fluorescent lighting, if that’s possible. If you spend a lot of time at the computer monitor, take frequent breaks and get as far away from the pulsating waves of the monitor as possible.

7) Cheese, chocolate and wine may sound like the ideal ingredients for a romantic picnic, but if you are prone to migraines the last thing you may be feeling is romantic following that afternoon getaway. Aged cheeses especially are dangerous because they contain the amino acid tyramine. Chocolate contains phenylethamine. Both chemicals contribute to migraines and alcohol is a trigger as well. Stay away from all three and find other ways to get in a romantic mood.

Essential Migraine Medications

Although there are many other alternative therapies for treating migraines, probably the first thing most of us will turn to is medication. Society today looks for quick answers found inside a pill, tablet or capsule to all our various ailments. There is certainly nothing wrong with resorting to medication, but when it comes to migraines one should be especially careful about what kind they use.

ASPIRIN

Aspirin is the grand old standby for pain relief. It seems as though aspirin has been around forever and its reputation is getting better every day as it has become a recommended daily preventative measure against heart attacks. Here are some thing to keep in mind when using aspirin to treat migraines.

• Aspirin should never be given to children under 12.

• Absorption of aspirin is much more effective and the chances for stomach problems are significantly decreased when dissolved in water.

• Aspirin can be used in combination with codeine; however be aware that codeine often causes constipation and/or dizziness.


PARACETAMOL

• Similar to aspirin, but usually less irritating to the stomach lining.

• Is often used in combination with codeine or sedatives which often strengthens its ability to relieve pain.

• Paracetamol can cause liver damage if taken in excessive quantities.


SUMATRIPTAN (Imigran)

• Prescription drug developed specifically to act against migraine headache.

• It has been proven to be quite effective against migraine.

• Imigram is available in tablet, injection and nasal spray forms.

• Sumatriptan effects include nausea, and chest and throat tightness.

• Sumatriptan should be avoided by those suffering from heart disease, poor
circulation or angina.


METOCLOPRAMIDE (maxalon)

• A prescription medicine used in combination with aspirin as an anti-nausea drug.

• May improve the absorption of other migraine drugs.


ERGOTAMINE (Ergodryl, Cafergot, Migral)

• Another effective prescription drug, this one was originally derived from a fungus that grows on rye.

• Unlike the other medications, this one is not a painkiller, but instead works specifically to reduce the pressure of blood vessels which causes migraine headaches.

• Is often used in combination with caffeine in order to improve its effectiveness.

• It is available in both tablet and suppository form

• Has been known to cause nausea.

• Works by causing a narrowing of the arteries, which may worsen poor circulation.

• This medication should not be used in individuals who suffer from heart angina. Dihydroergotamine (Dihydergot) is a similar drug that is given by injection.


PIZOTIFEN (Sandomigran)

• This is perhaps the most commonly prescribed preventative medication for migraines.

• Common side effects associated with pizotifen include sedation and weight gain.


PROPRANOLOL (Inderal, Deralin)

• Originally introduced to treat high blood pressure.

• Multiple side effects ranging from insomnia, depression and weight gain to nightmares, impotence, and dizziness due to low blood pressure.

• May aggravate asthma and poor circulation, but is usually safe in heart disease and angina.

• Some people experience problems in absorbing this drug, so high doses may be required.


AMITRIPTYLINE (Tryptanol and other brands)

• The medication works on headaches independently of its antidepressant action.

• Side effects include dry mouth, sedation, weight gain, occasionally blurred
vision, constipation, and bladder problems.

• New antidepressants like fluoxetine (Prozac) and similar drugs are not as effective as headache preventatives.


VALPROATE (Epilim)

• Introduced initially to treat epilepsy, it was found to act against most forms of headaches.

• Side effects include weight gain, nausea, tremor, hair loss and liver injury.


FEVERFEW

• Not so much a medication as an herbal extract that has been found effective for treating migraine headache.

• Few side effects, but be aware that some commercial preparations of feverfew may
be too weak to be active against headache.


METHYSERGIDE (Deseril)

• Methysergide is related to ergotamine.

• Often causes upset stomachs and has also been known to cause muscle aches and dizziness.

• When used over long periods of time, methysergide has caused severe scarring around the kidneys, therefore it must be used strict medical supervision.

Dentist Discovers way to Cure Migraines Without Medication

Migraine headaches are a painful condition affecting 28 million Americans, and tension headaches are even more common. According to one of the world's most prominent headache scientists, tension headaches represents one of the most costly diseases in modern society because of its high prevalence. What if there were non-invasive, non-narcotic treatments for these headaches?

When used for severe migraine and tension headaches in a major medical center emergency department study, which included pregnant women, this medical device allowed relief and dismissal of 80% of these patients in less than one hour. In a New York Medical College Department of Medicine controlled acute migraine study, it proved more successful than Imitrex, the most widely prescribed migraine medication. In both studies, no side effects were reported. These results were recently published by Dr. Mark Friedman, in Headache, the American Headache Society journal. Because of these outstanding study results, this technique was approved for treating migraines by the FDA (June 2004).

Treatment is based on the discovery that headache patients have an inflamed tender area above the upper molar teeth. Unrelated to the teeth or gums, this local inflammation creates a swelling, which puts pressure against the adjacent maxillary nerve - causing the headache. This is contrary to current theories that describe migraine as caused by an inflammation in the outer covering of the brain.

Dr. Friedman demonstrated this link in a multi-hospital study by comparing the tenderness and temperature of the upper molar area in patients during one-sided migraine or tension headaches. In these patients, the temperature and tenderness was consistently greater on the symptomatic side. Tenderness and increased local temperature are signs of inflammation. Dr. Friedman's (Intraoral Vasoconstriction) IVC device, held by the patient during treatment, works by chilling the inflamed area to eliminate the swelling. This reduces pressure against the nerve for headache relief..

Since this tenderness and swelling exists even in the headache-free state, headache patients are much closer to a headache, even when pain-free, and treatment is effective for headache prevention even during these periods.

A topical anti-inflammatory gel, designed to adhere to and penetrate the gum tissue, applied by the patient at home, works as a powerful headache preventive. Dr. Friedman measured a value called Headache Burden, which equals total monthly headache hours multiplied by average headache intensity (0-10 scale).

Used for a month, the gel showed an 81% decrease in migraine, tension, and post-traumatic headache frequency and severity. The Journal of Heart Disease (2002) published this study, because unlike typical migraine drugs, these treatment(s) do not affect the coronary vessels. Following the first treatment, patients return soon for 1 - 3 more treatments, even if they are between headaches. They receive the home application gel at the second treatment. Dr. Friedman plans to make the chilling device available to the general public. .

These treatments work exceptionally well for pregnant and medically compromised patients.