Migraine Triggers Foods, Stop Pulling The Triggers!
triggers foods
More Than Just a Headache But What is it?
“a Migraine is an inherited tendency to have headaches with sensory disturbance. It’s an instability in the way the brain deals with incoming sensory information, and that instability can become influenced by physiological changes like sleep, exercise, and hunger.” triggers foods
What is a Migraine?
A migraine is a complex condition with a wide variety of symptoms. For many people, the main feature is a painful headache. Other symptoms include disturbed vision, sensitivity to light, sound, and smells, feeling sick, and vomiting.
Migraine attacks can be very frightening and may result in you having to lie still for several hours. The symptoms will vary from person to person and individuals may have different symptoms during different attacks. Your attacks may differ in length and frequency.
Migraine attacks usually last from 4 to 72 hours and most people are free from symptoms of attacks. A migraine can have an enormous impact on your work, family, and social life.
Causes of Migraine?
There are several causes, or triggers, that can cause these chemical imbalances. They include:
- Smoking: Decreases oxygen and introduces chemicals into the bloodstream.
- Certain Foods: Chocolate, monosodium glutamate (MSG), nuts, alcohol, cheese, are known irritants to migraine-sensitive people.
- Erratic Meals: Eating on the run, missing meals, going without food for long periods of time can cause a shift in these brain chemicals.
- Dehydration: Your brain is about 80% water. Dehydration can trigger a migraine.
- Erratic Sleep Patterns: Not sleeping enough, or too much, can disrupt brain chemicals.
- Hormone Fluctuations: Monthly hormonal shifts of estrogen and progesterone in women can trigger brain chemical imbalances.
Also,
- Stress: Especially if chronic, it can lead to all kinds of chemical imbalances in the body that can have a domino effect, i.e., one causes the other.
- Sensory, Environmental Stimulants: Bright sunlight, bright colors, blinking lights, strong unpleasant smells, loud, pounding beat music, altitude, and weather changes.
- Certain Illnesses: Epilepsy, abnormal cholesterol levels, depression-anxiety, Tourette syndrome, hereditary tumors, stroke, certain eye diseases, inner ear balance problems.
Symptoms of A Migraine:
A migraine headache shares many characteristics of a common headache but is generally much more intense. Most migraines last about 4 hours, although severe ones can last much longer and even become daily. Having two to four migraine headaches per month is common. However, some people have headaches daily; others only get a migraine once or twice a year.
Every person who gets a migraine may also have their own specific symptoms, but these are the characteristic symptoms of a migraine headache:
- Prodrome – a pre-headache period where you feel out of sorts and spacey.
- Nausea – intense pain may trigger vomiting. Stomach upset, abdominal pain.
- Inability to tolerate light or noise – prefer a dark, quiet room.
- Irritability and fatigue – the person wants to be left alone and to sleep.
- Loss of appetite.
- Feeling very warm (sweating) or cold (chills).
- Pale color (pallor).
- Feeling tired.
- Dizziness.
- Blurred vision.
- Tender scalp.
- Diarrhea (rare).
- Fever (rare).
Several Types of Migraine and Headache Relief:
Finding migraine and headache relief is actually not a procedure that needs to be hard, and there are actually several various forms of migraine and headache relief out there that you can use. Whether you want medicinal migraine and headache relief or natural forms of migraine and headache relief, you will find all sorts of various choices, and so you just will need to do your research to find out what would perform finest for you.
Fundamentally before you uncover a treatment for any kind of headache, you need to fully grasp the basics about what a headache basically is, and a migraine headache in particular; simply a migraine headache is caused by hormonal fluctuations that trigger blood vessels inside the head and neck to contract and then dilate.
It can be fundamentally this dilation that causes the actual headache,
and also the very first phase may perhaps last anywhere from minutes to days, and it is when the blood vessels basically dilate that the headache pain starts; essentially, rather than just going from a contracted state back to normal, other points also happen at this time, and you can find really numerous various actual processes that can cause the interplay of hormones leading to contracted and then over-dilated blood vessels.
It really is important to understand that distinct items work for unique men and women, and so what works well for one person may perhaps not operate at all for you. This is why it really is so crucial to determine your doctor so that you can consult with him and ensure that together the two of you can determine what would be the greatest method for you to go within regards to the treatment of one’s headaches.
Nevertheless, for immediate relief,
You will discover numerous different issues you can do, even so, these are only temporary and so no matter what you’re still going to have to determine your doctor so that one could operate out something a lot more long-term.
The things you can do for immediate but short-term relief include that:
- Have a bath or shower.
- Lie down to rest in a dark room.
- Avoid bright and flashing lights.
- Put something cold on the back of your respective neck or your forehead.
- Have a drink of water or organic juice.
- Press on two pressure points at the back of your neck.
- Stay away from sources of stress in your life.
- Take some vitamins.
Who is affected by migraines?
According to the National Headache Foundation estimates that nearly 12% of the population experience migraine headaches. This means that nearly 40 million people in the United States have migraines. Women are about three times more likely than men to experience migraines.
Are migraines hereditary?
Yes, migraines have a tendency to run in families. As many as four out of five people with migraine have a family history of migraines. If one parent has a history of migraines, the child has a 50% chance of developing migraines. And if both parents have a history of migraines, the risk jumps to 75%.
Main Stages of Migraine Treatment:
There are three major phases in treating migraines. They are as follows:
I. Preventive Treatment:
It is also known as prophylactic treatment. Its main objective is to stop attacks from happening. Giving preventive medication depends on how often you have a headache and how it affects your life. For those who are having severe headaches, different medications are given. Studies have shown that migraine preventives stop the occurrence of attacks.
Moreover,
It is suggested that a huge improvement in the sufferer’s life is obtained when this treatment is taken for three to 18 months. The frequency and severity of headaches are lessened. When this happens, the doctor starts to decide on the next phase of treatment.
Here are the commonly prescribed drugs during the preventive treatment:
- anti-inflammatory drug, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, antihistamine, and beta-blocker.
II. Acute Treatment:
It is also called abortive treatment. It aims to stop an attack the moment it happens. The approaches in this treatment vary from taking analgesics to taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Acute treatment is believed to work better if given at the beginning of a migraine attack. Also, large single doses are reported to be more effective than a series of small doses.
Patients undergoing this treatment are advised to do their part in observing proper migraine management. They should also avoid overuse of medications, especially if attacks happen frequently.
III. Rescue Medication:
This approach is done when acute treatment does not work. The commonly prescribed medicines during this phase of treatment are anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-nausea medicines. Frequent usage of rescue medication indicates that your abortive treatment should be changed.
A. Side Effects:
- Using drugs can lead to some side effects. Hence, it is important to listen carefully as your doctor discusses the possible side effects of your medication.
- Also, your doctor needs to know if you feel anything that might be a side effect of the medicines that you’re taking.
- Records of potential side effects will determine if your medication should be changed.
B. Lifestyle Changes:
Aside from the prescribed medications, it is also important to watch your lifestyle. There are times when migraine attacks are triggered by your daily activities, and so it is important to avoid possible lifestyle habits that can trigger migraines. It is advisable to take note of your activities that may be contributing to your attacks.
Migraines are truly hard to deal with. And just like what was mentioned above, it takes a lot of persistence, discipline, and willpower to cope with and conquer this debilitating condition. Your doctor will surely help you, but at the end of the day, everything will lie in your hands.
Cautions:
- When taking over-the-counter painkillers, always make sure you read the instructions on the packaging and follow the dosage recommendations.
- Children under 16 should not take aspirin unless it’s under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
- Aspirin and ibuprofen are also not recommended for adults who have a history of stomach problems, such as stomach ulcers, liver problems, or kidney problems.
- Taking any form of painkiller frequently can make migraines worse. This is sometimes called a medication overuse headache or painkiller headache.
- Talk to a doctor if you find yourself needing to use painkillers repeatedly or over-the-counter painkillers are not effective.
They may prescribe stronger painkillers or recommend using painkillers along with triptans. If they suspect the frequent use of painkillers may be contributing to your headaches, they may recommend that you stop using them.
Helpful Tips For Avoiding Those Foods That May Just Trigger a Migraine.
Those who suffer from migraine attacks know all too well. The throbbing headaches that occur after eaten something you know you shouldn’t have. What often follows is a pain to the side of the head, sickness, sensitivity to light, visual disturbances, or aura. triggers foods triggers foods
Attacks that can last from 4 hours (if you are lucky) up to 72 hours (if your not) or even longer.
The good news is that migraine attacks can be largely reduced or prevented if you avoid the most common migraine triggers. From coffee and alcohol to processed foods and citrus fruits, studies show that certain foods are known to be migraine triggers.
Here’s Top 8 Most Common Migraine Trigger Foods:
The importance of a migraine diet is paramount to avoid the suffering caused by eating and drinking foods that will cause headaches and migraines.
There are numerous foods and drinks which will and can trigger migraines and headaches. It is not only the foods themselves which will cause a migraine but also dietary habits such as fasting, missing meals, or lack of water. So what foods and drinks do trigger migraines and headaches?
1. A migraine and Citrus Fruits:
- Oranges.
- Tangerine.
- Grapefruit.
- Pineapple.
- Lemon.
- Lime.
Fruits are always associated with healthy living, but to the migraine sufferer they can be a possible migraine trigger, this is due to their high levels of tyramine. triggers foods
2. A migraine And Caffeine:
- Coffee.
- Tea.
- Cola.
Caffeine as a migraine trigger can be somewhat confusing because for some people it can help to alleviate a migraine, but for others it will have the opposite effect, thus triggering a migraine.
3. Alchohol And migraine:
- Red wine.
- Beer.
- Whiskey.
- Champagne.
are the most common identified alcoholic migraine triggers, this is largely due to the large concentrations of tyramine during the fermentation process.
4. Cheese And Migraine:
- Aged cheeses can trigger migraines, this is due to the high amounts of the natural substance known as tyramine.
- Aged cheeses such as blue, Stilton, cheddar, mozzarella, Camembert, and parmesan are usually the culprits.
5. Processed Meats And Migraine:
Packaged meats including:
- Ham.
- Bacon.
- Sausages.
- Pepperoni.
- Salami and other processed meats.
contain high levels of tyramine. These processed meats may also include additives/preservatives such as nitrates and nitrites.
6. MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) And Migraine:
- MSG is a common additive that is found in many of today’s foods, although not a cause of migraines, it can be a migraine trigger.
- Found in many pre-packed foods and perhaps more commonly Chinese food.
7. Chocolate and Migraine:
- Chocolate has for many years been the alleged trigger of migraines, although for many sufferers this is probably true, for others it’s perfectly ok.
- One thing to note, chocolate does contain caffeine and this is probably why it doesn’t affect everybody the same way.
8. Aspartame And Migraine:
- Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is found in a number of food products including soft drinks.
- It is also believed to have an effect on serotonin levels in the body, although this is not thought to be a direct cause of a migraine, certainly doesn’t help. triggers foods triggers foods triggers foods
Tyramine: triggers foods
What is tyramine?
- Tyramine is a natural substance found in numerous foods such as aged and fermented foods,
- Including cheese, meats, bread, citrus fruit, and some alcoholic drinks.
- It can even be found in leftover food that has been in the fridge for more than 24 hours.
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Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment of any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”
Sources
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