Did you know? Women are 3 times more likely than men to suffer migraines.
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Migraine headaches
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According to the American Council for Headache Education, more than 90 percent of headaches are so-called primary headaches like tension, migraine and cluster headaches in which the headache is not the symptom of another medical condition.
Migraines are described as a throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head that may be accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light. A typical migraine has three stages. It begins with the aura, and ends with a period of exhaustion. In between, patients experience intense throbbing, pounding pain on one side of the head, often accompanied by dizziness and nausea.
Most common neurological condition in the developed world, migraine headache is affecting 28 million Americans, or about 13 percent of the population, according to the National Headache Foundation. Migraines, which are often hereditary, afflict three times as many women as men. More than half of the estimated 20 million women in the United States who suffer from migraines associate their headaches with their menstrual cycle.
There are a number of known triggers of migraines, but it is often a combination of them that cause an attack. The process is believed to start when a chemical called serotonin is released into the bloodstream from storage sites in the body, resulting in changes in the neurotransmitters and blood vessels in the brain. Certain factors have been identified that causes the serotonin to be released and these include stress, lack of food or infrequent meals, foods containing monosodium glutamate or caffeine, and specific foods such as chocolate, citrus fruits and cheese, as well as alcohol, especially red wine. Clearly, there is a growing link between migraines and foods.
According to Dr. Alan Rapoport, director of the New England Center for Headache, Stamford, Connecticut, certain food and food additives such as MSG, Nutra-Sweet, liver pate, nitrates in prepared meats, fermented foods, as in balsamic vinegar or cheeses are potential migraine triggers. However, while one food or foods may cause migraines in one person, the very same food(s) may be perfectly fine for another person. That’s why it is so important to discover which foods are the right foods for your particular system; especially if you suffer from migraines. In addition, hormonal factors, overtiredness, extreme emotions and even physical activity and sexual arousal can play a part.
According to a recent U.S. study, children who suffer from migraine headaches are 36 percent more likely to be overweight.
Migraines could be treated or contained by lifestyle changes as most migraines are triggered by certain foods or circumstances. Doctors suggest eating a number of very small meals/healthy snacks throughout the day and never to skip meals. They further suggest taking fruits, vegetables and other natural foods.
Sources:
1. Carney, Kat “Ally McBeal: Actress endured drama of a different kind”, Cable News Network, July 25, 2003
2. Nachman, Barbara “Wellness Migraines”, The Journal News (Westchester County, NY), July 8, 2003
3. American Headache Society, June 22, 2006
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