Spot the symptoms
According to a study in 2007, fewer than 50% of people who suffer with migraines actually seek medical help.
Many go through life not realising that they even have them and will often put it down to just a Âheadache.
Common symptoms Âinclude nausea, Âirritability, obscured vision and an intense headache.
Avoid triggers
Not eating enough food, strenuous exercise and emotional stress are all contributing factors in causing migraines.
They often develop after Âparticularly stressful periods and in a survey of 39 sufferers, all but two said they’d had an attack while on holiday.
Anger, worry and shock can also Âtrigger migraines.
Keep track of attacks
A migraine trigger diary detailing your food, work and the time of attacks is important in trying to notice any patterns that may emerge.
Keeping a track of these is critical in migraine prevention because it makes it easier to pinpoint tri ggers.
Some are out of your control, of course, like weather or in the case of female sufferers, the menstrual cycle.
Watch what you eat
Food plays a big part in triggering migraines as well as helping to reduce the pain they cause.
A perfect example of the positive and negative effects food can have on sufferers is caffeine.
It can be a treatment for Âmigraines as well as a Âtrigger, Âdepending on your regular caffeine intake.
Those who don’t regularly Âhave caffeine may find that a strong cup of tea or coffee may help to stop a migraine.
But if sufferers who have lots of caffeine suddenly decide to stop for health Âreasons, this can increase the chances of a migraine.
If you’re cutting down, cut down gradually.
Natural remedies
Chewing on raw ginger, drinking water and even snacking on ginger biscuits are just some of the natural remedies that can help.
Ginger helps to ease the nausea and can re duce the inflammation of blood vessels in the brain that lead to Âmigraines.
Water helps keep the tissues surrounding the brain hydrated, which can ease the headache.
A study in Greenland found that few Inuit suffered from migraines because they have a diet rich in omega 3.
Meditate
This can also alleviate the symptoms of a migraine because it helps reduce stress, one of the main triggers. Â
Boosting serotonin in the body helps to cut attack length as well as severity.
DIY treatments
Most migraine sufferers will most likely experience an attack at work, with stress being a factor.
There are some treatments that can be done on the go that will help limit the pain.
Tying a bandage, tightly around your forehead will help to reduce the flow of blood.
Learn to laugh
A great belly laugh seems to reduce the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, and increase serotonin levels.
People who see the funny side of life tend to have a reduced risk of health problems linked with stress.
So stick your favourite comedy on the TV or spend time with your funniest friends if you’ve got a migraine.
It could do you the world of good.
By Bunmi Adigun
◠Extracted from 50 Things You Can Do Today to Manage Migraines, by Wendy Green, £5.99, www.summersdale.com
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar