Health Topics
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Healthy Living
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May 2010
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| Migraine, Stop! |
| Dr Mukesh Sharma |
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When most people think of migraine, they think only about taking over-the-counter painkillers. But these painkillers are not always the best answer for migraine. In fact, many types of migraine prevention don't involve drugs at all! |
To Prevent Migraine
- Get proper exercise everyday. Pay attention to breathing exercises.
- Eat a well balanced, low fat diet, low in processed foods and high on whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
- Maintain good posture. Avoid a lot of repetitive motion and standing/ sitting for long periods of time.
- Avoid some of those habits you were always warned about, like smoking, continuous fasting and too much alcohol.
Discover Your Migraine Triggers
Trial and error: One way to discover what is triggering is to try cutting the triggers out of your life, one or two at a time. You can soon zero in on the last straw the breaks your migraine’s back.
Keep a detailed migraine diary:This would turn out to be the diary of your life – of what you eat, drink, feel, do, etc. Then check to see what has happened one or two days before the attack, and trace a pattern.
Therapies & Supplements
- Many people have found that regular chiropractic treatment is excellent migraine prevention. Chiropractors deal with misalignments of vertebrae that causes nerve irritation anywhere along the spinal column. This misalignment puts pressure on nerves leading to and from the brain. A chiropractor helps put them back in place by using gentle and highly skilled adjustments.
- Massage and Active Release Therapy (ART) are found to be helpful for people with chronic pain. ART is a hands-on soft tissue therapy that uses movement and pressure to release the tension in the muscles, nerves, and other soft tissues to bring them back to a healthy balance.
- Herbs and supplements are a common treatment, some very well proven over time.
- There are other food and supplement related treatments, such as magnesium supplements, coenzyme Q10 and melatonin.
- The allopathic medicines are usually taken daily, and can decrease both the frequency and severity of the attacks. Some of them may have side effects, so should be taken under strict medical guidance.
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7 Migraine Triggers
- Food such as aged cheese, alcohol, chocolate, yeast, and aged meats.
- In women, hormonal changes, such as menstruation, pregnancy and changes due to hormone replacement therapy.
- Changes in your daily schedule, especially sleeping patterns.
- The weather; especially changes in barometric pressure.
- Smells or fumes such as fresh paint, perfume and cleaning supplies.
- Fasting or not having your meal on time.
- Stress is considered by some to be a trigger, though the direct link to migraine has been questioned. Still, it does seem to lower your resistance.
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Dr. Mukesh Sharma is Consultant Neurologist at Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad |
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