Many of us face headaches on a daily basis. For some, they cause slight inconveniences, for others, absolutely unbearable suffering.
According to patients suffering from migraines, their lives are a continuous torment. This unbearable pain that occurs at unforeseen moments makes them unable to lead a normal life, to be effective at work, in short, turns their life into a nightmare in which they live with their eyes open.
Although researchers have tried for years to determine what lies at the root of these pains, there is still no definitive answer. Thus, migraine – a condition that manifests itself as a severe throbbing headache, which is sometimes accompanied by photosensitivity and nausea, the appearance of zigzag lines in front of the eyes, sound sensitivity, has no specific cause. At the same time, over all these years of research, experts have identified several factors that contribute to the occurrence of migraines, such as:
- cheese (due to the amino acid tyramine content);
- wine (due to the presence of sulfites);
- food additives such as monosodium glutamate and artificial food coloring;
- head trauma and concussion;
- lack of sleep;
- sleep apnea;
- chronic stress;
- caffeine can trigger migraine attacks in some people and prevent them in others;
- dehydration;
- common factors include artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, which are found in nearly all diet sodas or zero calorie sodas.
Analysis of the factors provoking migraine is of great importance in the prevention of migraine attacks. The patient needs a headache diary, where it is important to note the frequency of attacks, the drugs taken to stop the attack, and the factors that provoke the attack.
For example, meteorological conditions, overwork, motion sickness in transport, starvation, excessive physical activity, intake of certain foods. A subsequent visit to the doctor with such a diary will greatly facilitate the work of a specialist and will allow you to analyze the risk factors that provoke migraines.
As a doctor, as a measure to prevent migraines, I recommend that my patients reconsider their lifestyle and follow a series of simple rules. In particular, migraine attacks can be prevented if:
- Regularly cleanse the body of toxins to get rid of harmful substances that accumulate in it due to poor ecology.
- Normalize sleep patterns. It is necessary to observe the sleep and wakefulness regime. You should get enough sleep, but at the same time do not sleep until lunch.
- Review your diet. In particular, avoid highly processed foods, grains and dairy products, and foods containing food colors and preservatives. To determine which foods are causing the headache in a particular patient, the relationship between food intake and headache should be noted in the headache diary.
- Low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia) are known to trigger migraines. Therefore, people with migraines need to eat regularly.
- Given that tension headaches and migraines are caused by stress, you need to learn how to relax. If tension and stress are not relieved in time, headaches will become more frequent and chronic. Yoga, music, massage, and gymnastics contribute to relaxation.
- Insufficient hydration can lead to headaches. In addition, studies have shown that chronic dehydration is a common cause of tension headaches and migraines. Fortunately, drinking water has been shown to relieve headache symptoms in most dehydrated people within 30 minutes to three hours. To prevent dehydrating headaches, drink enough water throughout the day.
- One way to reduce the frequency and severity of headaches is through physical activity. The easiest method is to simply increase the number of steps you take throughout the day.
- Avoid overuse of analgesics, this can contribute to the transition of a headache to a chronic one.