What is a Migraine?
A migraine is a vascular headache caused by a combination of vasodilatation (enlargement of blood vessels) and the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the blood vessels. The temporal artery enlarges causing the nerves to stretch and release chemicals. These, in turn, cause inflammation and pain. To put it in simple words, a migraine is a throbbing or pounding headache, often on one side of your head. This can last between 4 and 72 hours. It is also more predominant in women than in men.
What are migraines symptoms?
Some of the symptoms are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cold hands, cold feet, and sensitivity to light. These can be further aggravated by daily activities like walking or climbing stairs. You can probably get an early warning when you constantly feel sleepy, become irritable, and turn out fatigued, depressed, or euphoric. You may also develop a craving for sweet or salty foods.
You could start experiencing flashing, brightly colored lights in a zigzag pattern, usually starting from the centre of your vision field and moving outside. This is called an ‘aura’. This may precede your headache. There could be a blind spot like a hole. A less common symptom might be pins and needles on your hand and arm or on one side, or around the mouth and nose on one side. Migraines headaches can drive you to retire to a quiet, dark room.
How do I get to the light?
Most of the migraines treatment medication causes side effects that are pretty grave on their own terms, examples being heart attacks and strokes. The herb butterbur, taken as a 50 mg to 75 mg daily dose, controls migraines. Coenzyme Q10 also has a positive effect on migraine sufferers.
The best migraines treatment is to eat right. A migraine diet should include an intake of magnesium, found naturally in green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, figs, milk, cheese, bananas, and shellfish will reduce migraine attacks. Riboflavin or Vitamin B2, found abundantly in milk, milk products, oysters, lean meat, vegetables, mushrooms, asparagus, broccoli, brewer’s yeast, and Brussels sprouts will lessen the frequency. Vitamin B12 found in meat, fish, eggs, milk and soya products will also keep migraines at bay. Melatonin found in Feverfew green leaf, white mustard seed, black mustard seed, fenugreek seed, fennel, sunflower seed, almond seed, and alfalfa seed will facilitate your well being.
A change in life style will present you with long lasting results. Daily moderate exercise will keep you healthy and balance the hormones. Choose an activity you enjoy, be it swimming, tennis, or martial arts, to relax from daily pressures and fight off migraines.