Nutrition & Headaches

Nutrition & Migraines

Headaches are a common complaint to everyone however, the severity of headaches such as migraines are hard to comprehend unless you have fell victim. More than 28 million Americans, three times more woman than men, suffer from migraine headaches. Although all headaches can be irritating, migraines can be debilitating.

When serotonin, a biochemical substances stored in blood, is released, blood vessels narrow. As the kidneys expel this biochemical, the level in the brain is depleted, which causes blood vessels to expand. This expansion of the vessels causes pain around the nerves, which can lead to a migraine. There are several types of migraines, however the common and classic migraines are the most common, hence the names. Common headaches may begin with tiredness, cravings, and/or irritability and usually develops pain on one side of the head. Classic migraines develop in four stages: prodrome, aura, headache, postheadachhe.

Symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and decreased concentration occur during the prodrome stage, the first of the four stages. The prodrome stage begins approximately twenty-four hours prior to the auras stage. The auras stage may begin with flashes of light, blind spots, and/or tingling of the arm/leg(s). These symptoms occur about 15 to 30 minutes before the headache actually begins. Once the actual headache sets in severe throbbing takes place on either one side of the head or both. The throbbing pain is often worsen by light and/or sound and may be accompanied by nausea. Migraines can differ from person to person and may even differ from day to day for one person. Common symptoms of a classical migraine include:

• Sensitivity to light

• Sensitivity to sound

• Throbbing pains on one or both sides of head

• Vomiting

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Blurred vision

• Lightheadedness

• Tender scalp

• Stiff or tender neck

• Confusion

• Tiredness

The fourth stage is postheadache, which includes but is not limited to exhaustion and fatigue.

Although there is still no cure, migraine management has improved over the years. Pain relievers, which stop pain once it has started, should be taken as soon as signs or symptoms of a migraine develop. Over-the-counter pain relievers include Advil, Motrin, and Excedrin Migraine. If over-the-counter medications do not relief the pain, doctors can prescribe a stronger version of the same drug. Imitrex is a type of triptan, which are designed to cause the blood vessels to relax. Triptans are available in nasal sparys, self-injections, or oral treatments. Dry Abramowicz suggests, “The nasal spray forms of sumatriptan