Do you wake up with a headache everyday? You’re not sure whether it’s just a simple headache or a migraine. Even worst, you’re taking your medicine on time and everyday yet it continues to recur. Like you, millions of people wake up with a pain in their heads. Sufferers feel that they now simply have lost all the control over their lives, health, family and career. If you have been having those headaches everyday, I think you should do something about it and take it not for granted.

There different types of headaches and each has its own distinct qualities and symptoms. Each person suffers a unique pain, which means we both could be suffering headache right now, but the degree of my pain is different from yours. Although, there’s not much we can do to get rid of headache for good, what we could do, however, is to minimize, ease the pain and prevent it from recurring.

If you’ve been suffering headache for a very long time, then it’s probably a chronic headache. It’s easy to tell due to its pulsating or throbbing sensation. Another equally “life destructive” headache is the cluster headache. Some people described it as the worst headache you get and merit a visit to a neurologist.

Neurologists are doctors who are specializing in brain related problems including debilitating headaches. To establish the real cause of cluster headaches, your doctor will usually run a series of tests. Constant headache is a serious issue, and I personally advise you to make an appointment with your doctor. But, before doing so, check your sleeping position or patterns, postures at work, daily activities or any signs of loss concentration first.

What I’m about to share with you is a true story of a young girl who suffered for years of chronic headaches. It all started when she and her family met a car accident. Initially, the doctor thought that her headache is just a whiplash (an injury in the neck caused by a sudden change in the speed) injury. From then on, it’s rare that she would wake up with no headaches.

Her family didn’t stop looking for ways to get rid of the pain. Fortunately, their efforts paid off and the headaches stopped. The doctor eventually pinpointed the trigger points in her neck that produces the pain. With the help of relaxation techniques by her doctor, it made significant changes in improving her situation. Right now, she’s no longer in pain, thanks to her doctors and the unceasing support she gets from her family.

You don’t have to wait for that long to cure your headache. Why not visit your nearest doctor today to regain your vitality and to live your life to the fullest, rather than suffer those headaches each day.

About the Author

Naturalhome remedies are the best way to cure headaches. Follow this link and know some simple headache remedies that would help relieve the pain in your head.

Menopause is a point in a woman’s life when she stops menstruating for a full year and this can be overwrought with many symptoms, some bearable and some discomforting.
Menopause symptoms like mood swings, loss of libido, extreme fatigue, hot flashes and weight gain are a cause of concern for most women. However, less common symptoms like Tinnitus- ringing or buzzing in the ear- change of body color and sometimes a sensation akin to electric shock under the skin may be worrisome. Headache Ringing Ears Dizziness

Medical opinions associate Tinnitus with menopause. According to many studies, this
ringing in the ears is a physical condition that can take place due to other reasons as well. Medicines like Prozac and regular aspirin may cause Tinnitus and research is underway to establish the role these medications play in causing hormonal changes during menopause.

Menopause and Tinnitus: Causes

Many women may opt for an HRT, (Hormonal Replacement Therapy) as a treatment for early menopause, hysterectomy and peri-menopause or because their physician recommended it. Certain studies point a finger at HRT aggravating Tinnitus, as it uses artificial progesterone to ensure regular cyclical bleeding.

Most people experience Tinnitus as age sets in and menopausal women are not the only sufferers, though they seem worse affected than men. The onset of Tinnitus in menopause can make the best of us complain of fluid retention, depression, headache, dizziness, insomnia, raised blood pressure and migraines.

This ringing in the ears can be linked with both peri-menopause and menopause for women in their forties, fifties and sixties more, as compared to any other age group. Another theory links menopause symptoms of sweating, hot flashes and mood changes to side effects of Tinnitus. Circulating hormone estrogen and progesterone can lead to or aggravate Tinnitus during menopause. Headache Ringing Ears Dizziness

Menopause and Tinnitus: BHRT

Modern times have seen medical developments leading to Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy that has gained more popularity than HRT. This is mainly because BHRT consists of plant compounds, is identical in structure to human hormones, and therefore found more effective than HRT. This news brings hope for women going through menopause and putting up with Tinnitus as it may relieve them of the side effects associated with traditional HRT.

Menopause and Tinnitus: Effects

Menopause brings with it other issues like emotional stress and vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which can be common antagonists leading to Tinnitus. Nutritional deficiencies of B Vitamins, zinc, folic acid, antioxidants that are crucial in maintaining the overall health of women, may bring on Tinnitus or worsen the existing condition.

Menopause and Tinnitus: Treatments

Hope springs eternal and women’s health experts offer simple solutions to the problems associated with menopause and Tinnitus. The first step is exercise and good nutrition, as these are beneficial for overall general health and bring relief from the persistent ringing in the ears. To make that annoying buzz go away, it is important for all menopausal women to take sufficient rest, particularly when stressed out or fatigued.

Seeking medical advice from an expert can clue you in about metabolic disturbances and provide necessary guidance about specific diets that could help. There are nutritional supplements like Arches Tinnitus relief formula, Tinnitus stress formula and Tinnitus B12 formula available for women undergoing menopause and suffering from this pain in the ear. Headache Ringing Ears Dizziness

An article in Observer, the monthly magazine of the Association for Psychological Science, cites new research across psychology, medicine, neuroscience and genetics to conclude that stress is at the root of a whole range of health problems.

Stress encompasses the strains experienced by living organisms in their struggles to adapt and cope with changing environments.

When danger is perceived, a chain reaction of signals releases hormones like epinephrine (“adrenaline”), norepinephrine and cortisol from the adrenal glands. These hormones kick up the heart rate, increase respiration, and up the glucose levels in the blood – enabling the “fight or flight” reaction.

As these responses take a lot of energy, cortisol tells other physical processes – including digestion, reproduction, physical growth and some aspects of the immune system – to shut or slow down.

When the threat passes, the body’s stress thermostat adjusts accordingly. Cortisol levels return to normal and the body resumes its usual functions. But problems occur when stresses don’t let up, or when, for various reasons, the brain continually perceives stress even if it isn’t really there.

This causes prolonged exposure to cortisol, which inhibits the growth of new neurons and can cause increased growth of the amygdala, the portion of the brain that controls fear and other emotional responses. It also affects the hippocampus, an area that helps form new memories.

Researchers now say these brain changes are at the heart of the link between stress and depression as well as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Besides heart disease, PTSD, and depression, chronic stress has been linked to ailments as diverse as intestinal problems, gum disease, erectile dysfunction, adult-onset diabetes, growth problems, and even cancer.

Chronic rises in stress hormones have been shown to accelerate the growth of pre-cancerous cells and tumours; they also lower the body’s resistance to HIV and cancer-causing viruses.

I’m almost always in pain due to my back problems, chronic daily headache syndrome, TMJ or other various things and I hate it. I just want all my pain to stop and I feel as if commiting suicide will just make it all go away.
A normal 15 year old kid isnt supposed to have these issues and it doesnt help my cause

I’m not saying this for attention. I just dont know what to do…

Thanks to new research crossing the disciplines of psychology, medicine, neuroscience, and genetics, the mechanisms underlying the connection are rapidly becoming understood.

The first clues to the link between stress and health were provided in the 1930s by Hans Selye, the first scientist to apply the word “stress”— then simply an engineering term— to the strains experienced by living organisms in their struggles to adapt and cope with changing environments.

One of Selye’s major discoveries was that the stress hormone cortisol had a long-term effect on the health of rats. Cortisol has been considered one of the main culprits in the stress-illness connection, although it plays a necessary role in helping us cope with threats.

When an animal perceives danger, a system kicks into gear: A chain reaction of signals releases various hormones — most notably epinephrine (“adrenaline”), norepinephrine, and cortisol — from the adrenal glands above each kidney.

These hormones boost heart rate, increase respiration, and increase the availability of glucose (cellular fuel) in the blood, thereby enabling the famous “fight or flight” reaction. Because these responses take a lot of energy, cortisol simultaneously tells other costly physical processes — including digestion, reproduction, physical growth, and some aspects of the immune system — to shut or slow down.

When occasions to fight or flee are infrequent and threats pass quickly, the body’s stress thermostat adjusts accordingly: Cortisol levels return to baseline (it takes 40-60 minutes), the intestines resume digesting food, the sex organs kick back into gear, and the immune system resumes fighting infections.

But problems occur when stresses don’t let up —or when, for various reasons, the brain continually perceives stress even if it isn’t really there.

Stress begins with the perception of danger by the brain, and it appears that continued stress can actually bias the brain to perceive more danger by altering brain structures such as those which govern the perception of and response to threat.

Prolonged exposure to cortisol inhibits the growth of new neurons, and can cause increased growth of the amygdala, the portion of the brain that controls fear and other emotional responses. The end result is heightened expectation of and attention to threats in the environment.

Stress hormones also inhibit neuron growth in parts of the hippocampus, a brain area essential in forming new memories. In this way, stress results in memory impairments and impairs the brain’s ability to put emotional memories in context.

Think of it this way: Too much stress and you forget not to be stressed out. These brain changes are thought by some researchers to be at the heart of the link between stress and depression — one of stress’s most devastating health consequences — as well as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Although when we think of stressors we might think of big things like abuse, illness, divorce, grieving, or getting fired, it is now known that the little things — traffic, workplace politics, noisy neighbors, a long line at the bank — can add up and have a similar impact on our well-being and our health.

People who report more minor irritants in their lives also have more mental and physical health problems than those who encounter fewer hassles. And recent research shows that PTSD may be the result of stressors adding up like building blocks, remodeling the plastic brain in a cumulative rather than a once-and-for-all fashion.

But the best known of stress’s health impacts are on the heart. The idea that stress directly causes coronary heart disease has been around since the 1950s; although once controversial, the direct stress-cardiac link is now well-documented by many studies.

For instance, men who faced chronic stresses at work or at home ran a 30 percent higher likelihood of dying over the course of a nine-year study; in another study, individuals reporting neglect, abuse, or other stressors in childhood were over three times as likely as nonstressed individuals to develop heart disease in adulthood.

Adding insult to injury, stress may even have a selfperpetuating effect. Depression and heart disease, for example, are not only the results of stress, but also causes of (more) stress.

Consequently, the chronically stressed body can appear less like a thermostat than like a wailing speaker placed too close to a microphone — a feedback loop in which the stress response goes out of control, hastening physical decline with age.

Growing evidence shows that our sensitivity to stress as adults is already “tuned,” so to speak, in infancy. Specifically, the amount of stress encountered in early life sensitizes an organism to a certain level of adversity; high levels of early life stress may result in hypersensitivity to stress later, as well as to adult depression.

A history of various stressors such as abuse and neglect in early life are a common feature of those with chronic depression in adulthood, for example. At McGill University in Montreal, Michael J. Meaney and his colleagues have studied mother and infant rats, using rat maternal behavior as a model of early life

What actually happens in your body to cause headache?

The skull bones and brain tissues do not have pain sensitive nerve fibers. But muscles of face, mouth, throat, neck , scalp and blood vessels on the surface and base of brain are sensitive to pain as they contain pain sensitive nerve fibers.

The tip of these nerve fibers gets stimulated by various causes like stress, muscle tension, lack of sleep etc. The stimulated nerve tip sends message up the length of the nerve fiber to the related nerve cells of Brain. Brain locates the region of stimulated nerve tip based on these signals and we feel the pain or ache.

The headache may be mild, chronic or severe depending on the underlying cause and pain bearing capacity of the individual.

Our body produces natural pain killing proteins called endorphins. One of the theories suggests that people with low endorphin levels suffer from severe headache and other chronic pains in comparison with people having high endorphin levels.

What triggers headache?

• Anger

• Muscle tension

• Missed meals

• Vigorous exercise

• Sexual excitement

• Infections like Common cold , Flu , Fever , Ear infection ,Tooth infection Sinus infection , Pneumonia , etc

• Coughing – too much coughing can cause a form of traction headache.

• Lifestyle causes Hangover ,Excessive alcohol , Stress , Fatigue , Tension , Tiredness , Excessive smoking

• Dyspepsia

• Eye conditions

• Systemic or metabolic conditions, Hypertension , Thyroid disease ,Anemia , Kidney failure , Uremia

• Brain or head conditions Meningitis ,Encephalitis ,Head injury ,Heatstroke, Sunstroke

• Before, during, or after menstruation

• Hunger

• Medications (Many drugs designed to relieve pain can actually cause headache when the drug is stopped after a period of prolonged use.)

• Alcohol and caffeine withdrawal

• Not getting enough sleep

• Reading for long periods of time or eyestrain

• Doing repetitive work

• Staying in one position for a long time, such as working at a computer.

The same causes of head ache have been explained in Ayurveda also. These causes vitiate all the three doshas (vata, pitta and kapha). The vitiated doshas cause tension, migraine, sinus and other head aches.

Few common types of headache are Tension headache, Migraine headache and sinus headache.

Tension headache:

Tightening of muscles of face and neck cause tension headache. It is characterized by a dull ache in forehead or back of head and pain in neck and shoulders which travels to head. Causes like less sleep, stress, reading for a long time, and working in front of a computer for long hours can precipitate tension headache.

Migraine Headache :

Migraine headache is caused when blood vessels of head get too much dilated or constricted . Females are more prone to this type of headache than males and migraine tends to run in families.

A person suffering from migraine headache feels like vomiting becomes too sensitive to light, sound and other activities. Few people experience spots or flashes before headache.

Few facts like menstruation in females, caffeine, alcohol, aged cheese, cured meat, stress, change in sleeping pattern, strenuous exercise trigger migraine headache.

Sinus Headaches

A sinus headache surfaces when fluids in the nose are not able to drain well and pressure builds up in sinuses. A cold, dust allergies, dirty or polluted water air travel may cause this type of headache.

Sinus headache causes pain in forehead, cheek bones, nose and stuffy nose. The headache increases when face is bent or touched. The symptoms are worse in the morning.

Although headaches are very common, It is recommended to consult a doctor about your headache.

Go to an emergency departmentif any of the following symptoms occur:

• Pain that develops very rapidly

• A change in concentration or ability to think

• A change in level of alertness

• Altered speech

• Weakness, numbness, or difficulty in walking

• Changes in vision

• Headache with a stiff neck or neck pain, or if light hurts your eyes

• If you feel that this the worst headache of your life

• Headache with dizziness, or a feeling that you are falling to one side

• Headache from an injury or blow to the head

• Headache with fever.

Home remedies for tension headache.

For tension headaches massage few drops of peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil on temples.

Massage the scalp with slightly warmed sesame oil. This relieves tension headache and induces sleep.

Regular exercise, yoga and meditation reduce the stress levels and keep the tension headache at bay.

Persons of vata type can use hot water bags on aching parts and a hot shower will be of good help.

Persons of pitta type can use cold or ice packs on aching parts and wrap a wet cold cloth around neck.

Home remedies for migraine headache.

Make a note of facts which trigger the headache and also the foods. Try to avoid these .

Avoid spicy foods, coffee, tea , alcohol, onion and garlic. Avoid citrus fruits except lemon.

Try muscle relaxation exercises. Progressive muscle relaxation, meditation and yoga are definitely going to help. Relax at least for half an hour everyday by doing your favourite activities like listening to music, gardening, taking hot water bath etc.

Stick to you a regular sleep pattern and get enough sleep but don’t oversleep. Avoid sleeping during the afternoon.

Rest in a dark, quiet room when you feel a headache coming on. Place an ice pack wrapped in a cloth on the back of your neck and apply gentle pressure to painful areas on your scalp.

Home remedies for sinus headache.

• Breathe in warm, moist air.

• Moist the nasal passages with the help of saline nasal spray. A saline spray can be used up to six times per day.

• Do not smoke. If you smoke, quit.

• Avoid second-hand smoke and polluted air.

• Avoid exposure to anything that triggers allergy or sinus symptoms.

• Wash your hands frequently to avoid colds.

• Seek treatment for a persistent cold before sinusitis sets in.

• Avoid alcoholic drinks. Alcohol can cause swelling of nasal and sinus tissues.

Sinus headaches can be very sever and is always accompanied by stuffy nose and a persistent green or yellow colored nasal discharge. There are several very effective over the counter cures for sinus headaches and sinusitis. Unfortunately, these treatments have been known to fail among individuals who have mistakenly diagnosed themselves to have sinusitis and therefore suffer from sinus headaches.

Studies have been reported to produce results that show that among individuals who think they suffer from sinus headaches, up to 97% of them actually suffer from migraine instead. It was found that people and sometimes doctors mistake migraine for sinus headaches, resulting in false and useless treatments. Imagine suffering needlessly with these supposed headaches and not getting the much sought after relief from use of sinusitis medication. Naturally, if you suffer from migraine and not sinus headaches, you must get migraine specific medication.

Otherwise, you will continue to suffer from migraines without getting proper treatment and this of course can result to a serious impediment on the quality of life you deserve to enjoy.

It is quite easy to mistake migraines for sinus headaches because some individuals who suffer migraine also suffer from sinusitis like symptoms such as pain in the face area as well as a stuffy nose and ref puffy eyes. Although, people must keep in mind that if it is indeed a sinus headache induced by a sinus infection then along with the other symptoms, the person with sinusitis will have constant yellow or green nasal discharge. Without this, it is not a sinus headache from sinusitis. It could be migraine.

To help you and your doctor be able to correctly diagnose the root cause of your headache and determine whether it is indeed sinus headache or migraine, it has been said that it is helpful to keep a headache diary. Keeping tabs and taking notes every time one experiences a headache can help one accurately log the experience and details that may otherwise have been neglected will be highlighted and will help in proper diagnosis.

A migraine treatment that works well for many individuals is one of the over the counter treatments that are available. There are many pain relief products that are specifically made to treat migraine headaches. These products can be very effective for some people.

Another option for migraine headache treatment is to go a physician and get a prescription for a medication that’s specifically designed to help with migraine headaches. If you discuss your migraines with your doctor then he or she will be able to prescribe a medicine that very well might help with your migraines.

There are also many “natural” treatments for migraine headaches. For example, placing a cold compress on your forehead often helps. While this may not totally relieve the migraine pain, it should certainly yield some temporary relief. The coldness of the compress will help open up the blood vessels and that will help to relieve the pain.

Another “natural” treatment is something that’s called feverfew. Feverfew is an herb that’s been used for hundreds of years to help relieve a variety of pains. As the name suggests, feverfew is also used to reduce fevers. However, historically two of the biggest uses for feverfew have been to relieve pain due to headaches and arthritis. Even today feverfew is known to relieve migraine headaches.

Magnesium is another potential “natural” source of relief for migraine sufferers. Several studies have shown that magnesium does indeed provide relief from migraines. Magnesium is found in foods such as nuts, seeds, whole grains, and green leafy vegetables. Taking magnesium regularly may actually cause your migraines to appear less often and, when they do occur, to be less severe.

Another way to treat migraine headaches involves prevention. Often the best migraine headache treatment is to stay away from the things that actually triggered the migraine. Food is actually one of the main causes of migraines. Sensory stimuli, stress, and hormonal changes are also significant causes of migraines. If a migraine sufferer can figure out what’s causing the migraine headaches then simply avoiding the cause will help stop the migraines.

Since no two individuals are the same, it’s up to each person to determine what causes their migraines and what’s effective in stopping the headache. While there are many effective medicines on the market, there are also several effective natural treatments. Of course, finding what causes a migraine and then avoiding that trigger is the best way to deal with any migraine headache.

Most of us don’t think of researching and learning about “the change” until it is already happening to us. Then, when we are miserable, we try to find a way out of the discomfort. There are many benefits in learning about menopause well before it happens to us, and there are even some things you can do before it happens that will lessen the suffering when it does come!

It is certainly recommended that you see your doctor while you are going through menopause, but there are also some herbal remedies that can help you through “the change.” You can find an herbal pill called Black Cohosh at many department stores and drugstores. This herb will keep your hot flashes to a minimum, and it also relieves cramping and menstrual pain. Another herb that can help you is Chaste tree, a hormonal balancer that lessens depression set on by menopause.

The normal age that women start menopause is usually around fifty to fifty-one, but there are also cases where it starts early, like as a result of surgery, chemotherapy, cancer or other serious diseases. Menopause can also start early without a cause.

Before “the change” occurs, you will go through a phase called “Peri-Menopause.” During this time it is normal to have very heavy menstrual cycles, mood swings and depression. The herbs discussed above (especially the Black Cohosh) will greatly improve these symptoms. The herb, “Liferoot,” is another good treatment that helps eliminate hot flashes and alleviates those heavy periods. If you are experiencing depression, try taking Gingko or St. John’s Wort to help improve your mood, stress and anxiety.

After the first phase, menopause really starts and more symptoms can develop. These symptoms can include:

• Hot flashes

• Night sweats

• Migraine headaches

• Insomnia

• Weight gain

• Aches and pains in joints and muscles

• Dizziness

• Fatigue

• Depression

• Skin problems

This list can be very overwhelming, but don’t worry; they don’t usually occur all at once! If you have any of these symptoms for a prolonged amount of time, and none of the herbal remedies are working, make sure you see your doctor.

Some people would rather go to their doctor and get a prescription than trust herbal remedies, and this can work for your menopause symptoms as well. Remember though, that some of these medications can upset your hormonal balance, and some estrogen supplements are really not healthy for you in the long run. Some of the things your doctor can give you are:

• Estrogen replacement

• Birth control pills

• Progesterone cream

• Vitamin supplements

Vitamin supplements should be taken whether or not you are going with herbal or prescription remedies for your menopause. Your body will be going through something stressful, new and extra vitamins are needed to help your body regulate itself.

How is headache classified?

The International Headache Society has classified various types of headaches based on the cause of headache. The classification is made to help health practitioners’ treat headaches in a better way. The 3 major categories of headaches are:

1. Primary headaches – These headaches include migraine, tension and cluster headaches besides a variety of other less common types of headache.

2. Secondary headaches – These headaches are due to an underlying structural problem in the head or neck. Some of the common causes of secondary headache include bleeding in the brain, tumour, meningitis and encephalitis.

3. Cranial neuralgias, facial pain and other headaches – Such type of headaches are those that occur because of an inflammation of nerves in the head and upper neck. Facial pain and a variety of other causes for headache are included in this group of headaches.

Common causes of headache

Headache may result from a wide variety of causes. Some of the common causes of headache include inflammation of the sinuses, eyestrain, hunger, dehydration and reactions to certain foods including chocolate, cheese and monosodium glutamate (MSG). Headache may also be caused by life-threatening conditions such as encephalitis, brain cancer and cerebral aneurysms. Head injury may also cause headache. According to the traditional theory, tension-type headaches are caused due to muscle contraction while migraine and cluster headaches are caused due to blood vessel dilation.

Other serious symptoms associated with headache

Sometimes headache may be accompanied with nausea and vomiting, visual impairment such as blurred vision, hearing impairment, loss of memory, irritability, confusion, malaise or a general feeling of discomfort. Medical help should be taken in such situations.

According to experts, a severe headache that appears suddenly, or one that continues for more than a week following a head injury, or one that worsens instead of getting better with time, should not be taken lightly and must be reported to a doctor. In the case, headache is accompanied by fever and a stiff neck one should immediately consult a physician to rule out meningitis or another serious infection.

Herbal remedies for headache

If you are hit by headache, you may try some of the following tested and tried herbal remedies:

Eat a ripe apple with little salt in morning on an empty stomach continuously for a week If you suffer from sinus headache, boil fresh ginger or dried ginger powder in water and inhale it For headache caused by heat, pound lemon crusts into a fine paste and apply it as plaster on the forehead If you suffer from chronic headache then keep your legs in a bucket filled with hot water for 15 minutes every night before sleeping. Continue it for 2 to 3 weeks If you have migraine headache, prepare a juice by adding 200ml of spinach juice with 300ml of carrot juice. Drink it regularly

It is important that you get sufficient of “the right stuff” to help prevent birth defects. Your midwife or doctor might want you to be taking prenatal vitamins, and often extra folic acid, at this early pregnancy stage. It is also wise to stop doing something that could get bad materials inside your body, such as smoking and taking birth control pills.

How Can You Tell If You Might Be Pregnant?

There are many common symptoms at this stage of early pregnancy. Not all pregnant moms have all the symptoms, but you could have at least one or two of them – maybe more. Take a look at the symptoms common at this stage of early pregnancy:

1. Missing Menstrual Period

One of the first indicator for women is to miss their menstrual period. Sometimes it is late, but a pregnant woman will skip it altogether. For some women, they suspect they are pregnant before they even miss their period. There are other symptoms that can help lead them to that conclusion.

2. Spotting

Spotting may be noticed by many women – which is quite a bit lighter than a regular period, though it happens about the same time that the period would be expected. Implantation of the fertilized embryo into the uterine wall, which is letting off some blood, caused the spotting. It is usually a brownish color, like dried blood. It should not be bright red, or in great quantity.

3. Exhaustion

Another common symptom at this stage of early pregnancy is to have exhaustion. Considering all the work your body is doing – making a new being – no wonder it takes its toll on the body! Also, there are hormonal shifts in the pregnant woman’s body that can make the mommy-to-be feel she is losing energy. For example, progesterone, which is in high levels during pregnancy, tends to be sedating. If you have this situation at this stage of early pregnancy, take a nap.

4. Headaches or Back Pain

It is also common to have headaches or back pain early in pregnancy. This is caused by the hormonal changes as well as the other physical changes to the body that come with pregnancy.

5. Frequent Bathroom Visit

Another symptom that is common is the need to go to the bathroom much more often than before. There are a few reasons for this, including the bladder getting irritable with the extra blood in the pelvic region, but the bottom line is, you may not want to go too far from the security of a bathroom during this stage of early pregnancy.

6. Changes In Body

Most women in the early pregnancy stage notice that their breasts become swollen and tender. The blood vessels on them can look like road maps, and the Montgomery glands (the little “pimple” looking things by the nipples) get bigger, along with the areolas (the red “target” around your nipple). These changes are in preparation for breastfeeding your baby.

7. Morning Sickness

At this early pregnancy stage, probably the most frustrating symptom is that of the nausea of morning sickness. While it doesn’t stick just with morning (some women have nausea all day) and not all women even get it, it is very common among pregnant women. Fortunately, it usually only lasts for the first trimester.

Closing Words

Early pregnancy stages are very important for your baby. You need to make sure if you are in it or not. Monitoring symptoms is as important as taking a pregnancy test. Do both and if the result is positive, then congratulations. You’re going to be a mommy.

More than 300 known medical disorders can produce headaches. Primary headaches include migraine, tension-type and cluster headache. Furthermore, about 90% of the people who see a doctor for headaches will generally have one of the above mentioned types of headaches. Primarily, headaches are considered to be harmless, but there recurrence can be an issue for many people.

Tension headaches are further divided into episodic or chronic with the presence or absence of pericranial muscle tenderness (pain on the outside of the skull).

People with episodic tension-type headaches will normally have a history of at least 10 previous headache episodes lasting from 30 minutes to 7 days but occurring fewer than 180 times a year. This type of headache must have at least two of the following characteristics like:

Pressing/tightening (non-pulsating) quality, located on both sides of the head Mild or moderate intensity Not aggravated by routine physical activity No nausea or vomiting Possible sensitivity to light or sound but not both

People with chronic tension-type headache have an average headache frequency of 15 days a month or 180 days a year for 6 months. In addition, these people must also meet the criteria for episodic tension-type headache. Moreover, people suffering from chronic tension-type headache must not be suffering from another disorder that is easily detected by a physical and neurological examination.

How to detect a headache caused by stress and tension

Diagnosis of most tension-type headaches, are based on a person’s medical history as well as a complete and comprehensive physical examination. It is understood that no further diagnostic studies are needed for these people who present with normal neurological examination findings and are otherwise healthy.

On the contrary, people with chronic tension-type headache, must undergo a CT scan and an MRI, regardless of what their neurological examination findings are. Although this medically advanced imaging may rarely help in diagnosing a specific type of headache syndrome, it may definitely prove invaluable in excluding other causes of headaches. Moreover, it is essential that tests like thyroid function studies, complete blood cell count, and metabolic screening also be performed to ascertain the cause of the headache.

Causes of headache and stress

The onset of tension-type headaches is generally associated with stress or upsetting emotional situations. However, studies involving these factors have not been shown to lead to muscle contraction or reduced blood flow to the head. Nonetheless, people may suffer from tenderness of the muscles surrounding the head region. Therefore, it can safely be assumed that tension-type headaches are not a result of sustained muscle contraction.

According to existing evidence, which is also the most convincing; deliberation of the issue has led the researchers to conclude that a central nervous system dysfunction is the underlying cause of most tension-type headaches. As a consequence, muscle aches during tension-type headaches are thought to be a result of increased sensitivity of the nervous system. Moreover, these muscle pains are a result of occasional or long-term imbalances in brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, enkephalins).

Studies have revealed that some people with primary headache disorders may respond to medications that are designed to specifically target and influence serotonin levels in the brain. Positive response is generally seen in people suffering primarily from migraines or cluster headaches. On the contrary, people who are not afflicted with migraine or cluster headaches do not respond positively to serotonin-targeted drugs.

Similarly, there is a possibility that people with chronic tension-type headaches may also have neurochemical imbalances in their body. In fact, depression may also be an essential factor in a certain number of people with chronic tension headaches. Furthermore, sleep disorders could also be linked to serotonin depletion.

Headache medication

Prescription-strength pain relievers may be given once the doctor has a better understanding of a person’s headache as well as the various other coexisting medical conditions that a patient may present with. However, care must be taken to prevent people from becoming dependent on strong narcotic drugs, especially when headaches are not a one-time thing but tend to recur at regular intervals.

For headaches, doctors may first prescribe pain relievers like:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Triptans Ergots Anti-nausea medications Butalbital combinations Opiates

However, pain that cannot be controlled with pain relievers, doctors may prescribe preventive therapy such as:

Cardiovascular drugs (Beta blockers, Calcium channel blockers and antihypertensive drugs) Antidepressants Anti-seizure drugs Cyproheptadine Botulinum toxin type A (Botox)

You’ve gone shopping to purchase that special dress or stylish pantsuit for those special occasions, like the arrival of your friends and relatives or the office party.

You’ve been to the grocery store to meander through the aisles noticing the holiday recipes displayed throughout, and buying things you only seem to require at this time of year; the candy sprinkles for cookies, sweet potatoes, breaded stuffing, cranberries and the like.

Then too, there are the favorite beverages that are included. Whether you’re the host of the get-together, or one of the guests, you’ll want to make the correct choice when serving or attending.

Many enjoy the ale-type drinks like the wide array of local and international beer. Others prefer selections like cognac, champagne, brandy, or the like. You and I both know that many studies have been done that warn us all of the negative effects of drinking too much alcohol, both short-term and long-term.

So, you ask, “What does all of this have to do with menopause?” It has much more to do with menopause than most even realize.

A woman experiencing menopause often finds the months of November and December a highly stressful time and just too much to cope with. Sleepless or non-restful nights, bloating from eating too much or too often, weight gain, the demanding friends or relatives, irritability, crying babies, disobedient children, … then add the hot flashes, sore joints and muscles, headaches, … well, you know.

Well it just so happens there is a pleasant relief. Who would have guessed that something good can come from menopause? There have been separate studies done that show that women can gain some terrific benefits during menopause. The key is what she drinks. So you wonder, “Just what were these researchers testing?”

If you’ve never heard of “resveratrol”, you’re not alone. Most women haven’t. Resveratrol is an ingredient that has many wonderful qualities which I’ll speak about momentarily, especially for menopausal women. So just where do you find resveratrol? Amazingly it’s found in red wine, and the grapes the wine comes from.

Many doctors suggest that menopausal women would do well to have a glass of red wine periodically. However, even more doctors encourage drinking a glass of red wine DAILY. Now, I’m not suggesting that you should become a ‘lush’, or that you use these studies as an excuse to overindulge because you’re experiencing menopause. What I am saying is that you can medically enjoy a daily glass of red wine without feeling guilty because it is actually good for you. (If you took note, you’ll notice I said ONE glass, not two or more.)

One of the fantastic rewards of this organic compound called resveratrol is that it is an antioxidant. What that means is it helps to protect your skin against destructive elements such as wind, snow, heat, sun, cold, smog, and such. Our skin is constantly exposed to life’s elements, and over time, it gradually breaks down and decreases in elasticity and firmness. The process is known as oxidation and it’s similar to leaving metal in the rain. After constant exposure, the metal simply rusts away. As life would have it, our skin takes a beating as well, but resveratrol helps greatly to minimize the damage.

Another exciting find was that resveratrol also has anti-inflammatory properties. Why is that important? Have you ever heard of arthritis or recurring bladder infections? Certainly most women during menopause experience the beginnings of these intrusive conditions. When it comes to joint pain and muscle aches, who doesn’t want some relief?

Just think of it! You can actually add aerobics, bicycling, running, and maybe even volleyball or tennis to your activity list again. This wonderful compound lessens joint pain and improves muscle aches, and because it does, it is seriously being studied for future pharmaceutical uses.

Resveratrol is not a miracle cure-all, but wouldn’t you appreciate aching for only three days instead of the usual week? Personally, I’d rather reach for a casual glass of red wine than a bottle of pills.

Decreasing memory loss is another profit of resveratrol. Your daily glass of red wine can slow the process and diminish the frequency of times you forget where you put your keys, what you just drove to the store to get, or the reason you left your nice comfy chair to walk into the other room. Forgetting is just a natural part of life, but doing it less often would sure make life a little more pleasant, especially when other family members DON’T forget that you often do.

Of course I realize that there are a few who would prefer to substitute the red wine for other forms of alcoholic beverages thinking they would gain the same results; which leads me to present the study I referred to previously. This particular study was performed by researchers in Stockholm, Sweden.

The team of Swedish researchers collected over 100 willing menopausal women under the age of 75. These women were asked to keep a daily record of the alcohol they ingested for one entire year. When the year was completed, each woman was then tested to learn what her heart rate variability was.

“What in the world is heart rate variability?” you ask. Heart rate variability is important because it measures how the heart performs when activity is increased. Basically, it measures the beats of the heart and the time intervals between each one of them.

For instance, if you are walking your dog and he inadvertently slips out of his collar, you will need to react quickly in retrieving him to avoid his being hit by a passing car. Therefore, your heart must be able to respond immediately to supply your body with the necessary required blood flow to act accordingly. A decrease in heart variability can indicate possible heart problems and a risk of heart disease or even premature death.

When the results of the study were completed, the researchers were astonished to find that the women who drank no alcohol at all had the very lowest heart rate variability. Those who did drink alcohol had a slightly higher variability. The greatest surprise came with those menopausal women who drank red wine. It was discovered that even when other factors such as age, weight, and diet were taken into account, the women who drank the red wine had the very highest heart rate variability.

They found not only did drinking red wine make a substantial difference in the variability rate, but when compared to the other women who drank the other types of alcohol such as beer and ‘spirits’, the difference was even more remarkable. Drinking any other alcoholic beverage, including the white wine varieties, had very little impact on the variability rate.

The researchers and doctors who examined the results concluded that red wine had a calming affect on the nervous system. For that reason, the women who drank the red wine slept much more relaxed and their heart rhythm gained great benefits from it as well.

However, these same doctors followed up by stating that, as with any alcoholic drink, too much of a good thing then becomes a bad thing, so drinking in moderation is always the general rule, even when drinking red wine.

Well, ladies. The bottom line is this. You can don your new dress, serve your guests with ease, pour yourself a glass of calming red wine, and kick your shoes off to join them, with composure still in tact I might add, in their after dinner drink. You can be the perfectly relaxed hostess with a smile on your face and the “Days of Wine and Roses” in your heart; so go ahead … enjoy. You are now free to “wine”.

As to what exactly causes this to happen in such an unsystematic way, no one knows yet. Ongoing researches about the underlying causes of migraines have not yielded much and debates are still going on. Some specialists believe that migraine headaches may be caused by the constriction in the blood vessel, particularly in the electronic changes in the vessels that are similar with what happens during seizures. Others feel that migraines are actually hereditary and people with history of migraines in the family will most likely suffer from the problem.

A migraine headache should not be confused with the common headache, which a person may suffer from every now and then. They are poles different from one another. The migraine headache, for instance can last from four to 72 hours while the common headache, or what is commonly referred to by medical practitioners as tension headaches, can last only for a few hours.

Pain is also more localized with the migraine headache, often occurring on the sides of the head while tension headaches can encompass the entire head area. Another difference is the intensity of the pain.

Tension headaches are milder and duller in comparison while migraine headaches can be really severe, accompanied by pounding throbbing pain that only increases. Migraine headaches can also be accompanied by other physical problems such as sensitivity to light, sound and odors as well as nausea and vomiting.

Migraine does not announce itself in a set of early symptoms. The recurring headaches just happen, often catching the person by surprise. There is however one kind where in the person may see a visual hallucination, called an aura, before the actual migraine headache occurs. This kind is called the classic migraine headache.

The classic migraine headache is a lot different from what specialists call the common headaches, which occurs without any warning whatsoever. There is also the complicated migraines, which may be a manifestation of more serious medical problems in the nervous system. Often, this type migraine headache is accompanied by speech, movement and motor irregularities.

There can be several causes of headaches. Some of the more likely causes of headaches are stress and fatigue, tension, eye strain, dehydration, low blood sugar, migraine, viral infection, musculoskeletal conditions, hyper-mastication and sinusitis. In rare cases, headache could be a result of certain life-threatening conditions such as brain tumours, meningitis, encephalitis, cerebral aneurysms and extremely high blood pressure. Headache can also occur because of head injury. Erratic changes in estrogen levels during menstrual years may also cause headaches in some women.

Tension headache

Tension headache is one of the most common types of headache and can affect people of any age and sex. But it is more commonly reported by adults and is more common among women than men. Tension headache is characterised by pain in both the sides of the head, though it may sometimes be pointed to the neck or the front of the head. The pain often starts at the back of your head and spreads forward. Besides, this is the only type of headache in which pain persists continuously throughout the day and night without any relief in between. Tension headache occurs mainly due to stress, depression or anxiety, fatigue, poor posture, eye strain, tobacco and alcohol use.

Cluster headache

Cluster headache is a type of primary headache. Though it is rarely reported, cluster headache sufferers are mainly men especially those in the 28-30 age group; however, headaches may begin in childhood. Cluster headaches are characterised by sharp, extremely painful headaches that tend to occur several times per day for months and then go away for a similar period. Sometimes the pain caused by cluster headache is so intense that the scalp feels almost tender, the arteries can be seen pulsating and the patient is so uncomfortable that he finds it difficult to sit still.

Common remedies for headache relief

Headaches cannot be cured but it is possible to control them by taking appropriate measures depending on the type of headache a patient is suffering from, individual response as well as associated health conditions. While home remedies work for some people, others need to take medicines to control the pain. The medications available for headache can be taken prophylactically (to prevent headache occurrence) or abortively (once the headache begins). Lifestyle changes such as avoidance of headache triggers, stress management, and relaxation therapy are also recommended to provide timely headache relief.

Many people these days are also resorting to alternative drug-free therapies for headache relief. Cefaly electrotherapy device is one such treatment option that is being increasingly recommended by doctors. The scientifically advanced device emits gentle electric impulses that influence the pain-affected nerves; this makes you experience a state of relaxation and wellbeing. You need to wear the Cefaly device like a headband and attach it to the electrode placed on the forehead. In just a few minutes, it provides relief from a throbbing headache.

Deborah Kotz, in a great article in the U.S. News and World Report June 5, 2008, talks about a businessman who feels his heart race in a good way every time he thought about his profits rising in the equity research company, or in a bad way when he was faced with project deadlines he knew he couldn’t make. He was probably used to those kinds of stresses, until his daughter faced a life threatening case of anorexia. Then he learned a new perspective on stress from his daughter. She learned how to achieve small victories each day, and celebrate them with gratitude.

Life can cause stress, and that’s normal for most people. But pressures that are too intense or last too long, or troubles that are shouldered alone, can cause people to feel stress overload.

First the bad news about stress.

Most of us have read about the dangers of stress–headaches, stomach pain, high blood pressure, insomnia and even “mind freezes.” In lesser and moderate doses, the stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenalin, actually improve our performance and overall health by improving blood flow to your brain and bolstering your immune system.

According to the American Psychological Association survey, 50% of the respondents say their level of stress has increased over the past 5 years and 30% routinely experience extreme agitation. An estimated 50-80% of people who develop clinical depression have faced several major life stressful events–divorce, losing their job, death in the family. In October, 2008, the American Medical Association reported hat heart patients battling chronic job stress were twice as more likely to have another heart attack than those who were not chronically stressed. Similarly, studies have shown that chronically elevated levels of stress hormones lead to more colds and infections and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

In an article by Susan Berfield in Businessweek, she cites research from the Center for Work-Life Policy about the effects of stress in the workplace, indicated that they found that employee’s loyalty to the company had declined significantly (from 85%to 53%) during he recession, and trust in their company had declined from 79% to 37%, and engagement was done from 91% to 71%.  Even if the numbers seem exaggerated, obviously workplace stress is causing changes in attitudes and behavior of the employees still working in organizations.

Now the good news about stress.

Research by Dr. Suzanne Segerstrom and Dr. Gregory Miller published in the journal Psychological Bulletin examined some 300 scientific papers on stress involving almost 19,000 people. They found that a short burst of stress, such as that caused by giving a speech, may strengthen the body’s immune system by triggering the immune system-boosting ‘fight or flight’ instinct that dates back to when early man was threatened by predators. Researchers at the University of Texas recently found that people who are engaged in challenging creative work enjoy better health equivalent to being 7 years younger.

Esther Sternberg, a researcher at The National Institute of Health and author of The Balance Within: The Science of Connecting Health and Emotions, says that not all stress situations are damaging, but it’s important to have our emotional and physiological system connected positively–it’s a matter of calibration. She joins a number of researchers and experts who are increasingly pointing to the connection between mind and body, emphasizing that you can’t solve physical problems only by addressing the physical symptoms. The psychological and emotional bases for those problems also have to be addressed.

Robert Rosen, author of Just Enough Anxiety, argues that anxiety can contribute to success in the workplace. In a unique turn of perspective Rosen cites a spiritual perspective of Buddhism which advocates acceptance of change–whatever happens, just is, and not being anxious over things that can’t be controlled.  Rosen’s arguments reflect the work of psychotherapist, Steven Hayes, whose work I outlined in my August 3, 2009, National Post article, Why Don’t I Feel Better.

Psychologists and life coaches alike would assist their clients by encouraging them to develop a balance between acceptance of what happens in life and the need to feel like they’re in control of their lives.  How much control do you have in your life? Neuro-Linguistic (NLP) experts would argue that you need to take responsibility for everything that happens in your life, either directly or indirectly, and not blame others or events and thereby becoming a victim. Isn’t it a matter of perception? Otherwise, why do some people get stressed and others don’t over the same life events?

Experts like Sternberg and Hayes would argue that those people who can control stress better, program their brains into believing they have control–and therefore responsibility. Here’s an example. You can get stressed (and be consciously unaware of it) by constantly checking your email or Blackberry. So as Bob Newhart in his famous therapist video would say, “JUST STOP IT!” Make a decision to stop checking for significant blocks of time. This amounts to a conscious decision to control your life.

Another stress reducing strategy advocated by positive psychologists is doing something purposeful and selfless–such as donating blood, helping the homeless or volunteering for a charity (note here: just giving money doesn’t do it).

Many Type A, driven, successful people are perfectionists and often experience high stress hormones on a consistent if not constant basis. Dr. Alice Domar, psychologist, researcher and author of Be Happy Without Being Perfect, argues that the secret to controlling stress and anxiety is to reprogram our thinking, which is an attention version of what spiritual guru Eckhart Tolle advocates.

There is another perspective on stress–living a life with not enough challenge. If the stress system isn’t activating often enough, it can produce higher levels of stress hormones when it does get turned on. Like a muscle, it needs to be used regularly to stay in proper working condition. Being bored with virtually no stress or being overwhelmed with stress are the two extreme ends of the spectrum.

Another well-known stress cooping and reduction strategy is regular exercise. A 2007 study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, found that people who exercise at least 2-3 times a week have smaller increases in blood pressure, heart rate and stress hormones. Exercise releases the “feel good” endorphins in the brain, one of which is enkephalin, which prevents the release of excessively high levels of adrenaline and cortisol. Finally, any treat that activates your brain’s pleasure centers–a massage, a piece of chocolate, a funny movie, sexual activity –can dampen your stress levels.

What about the workplace? The Center for Work-Life Policy study cited the behavior of managers as being critical to whether an atmosphere of trust, loyalty and engagement would decline or not. Leaders in best practice companies sought ways to protect their employees from the stresses of the economic downturn, including such simple things as regular recognition, allowing employees to volunteer during working hours, and regular town hall style of meetings to discuss company developments.  And rather than immediately going to layoffs, best practice leaders used shortened work weeks for everyone, unpaid sabbaticals, shared work and other more creative alternatives, to demonstrate their caring for employees.

So it seems that stress may not be such a bad thing after all. The reality is that stress will always exist in our individual lives and also in organizations. It would be far more productive for individuals to focus on reframing stress, and developing strategies that focus on a balance of accepting what can’t be controlled in life, and taking responsibility for what can be controlled. Second, do something meaningful and charitable in life beyond self interest in addition to the typical stress coping strategies.

Pregnancy massage or prenatal massage are generic terms used to describe a variety of conditions and treatments performed to help alleviate the signs and symptoms associated with pregnancy.

Conditions like: Sciatica, headaches, low back pain, swelling in the extremities, muscle tension and sleep disturbances can all be part of being pregnant. An RMT can work to address all these conditions.

Why use an RMT for pregnancy massage or prenatal massage?

A BC RMT has 3000 hours of training. They have specific training in the physiology and anatomy of pregnancy. There are specific techniques that are used for different stages of the pregnancy cycle.

The bigger question is, “What RMT is a specialist in pregnancy massage?” Technically, RMTs cannot say they specialize in any one treatment or technique. This is a regulatory requirement of our governing body, the CMTBC.  

To work with this regulation you will see RMTs use words like: “focus”, “area of treatment” or “training in”. To find an RMT that works best for you I suggest looking for a personal referral and research that RMT online.

Here are some questions I suggest asking:

1. Do you do pregnancy massage or prenatal massage?
2. Do you have body pillows, electric table, etc…?
3. Can I read more about you on the web?
4. How many pregnancy or prenatal treatments did you do last week?
5. Can I talk to any of the women you treated for pregnancy?
6. Are you a Dr. Voder licensed Manual Lymph drainage therapist? (These RMTs have post graduate training and should be used if you have swelling in the extremities)

The answers to these questions will give you enough information to make a decision.

What are the benefits of a pregnancy massage?

There are so many benefits to having a pregnancy massage. At no time in your life will you undergo so much change in your body over such a short period of time. Aches, pains and body changes can be greatly decreased when you consult an RMT.

Treatments that respond well to pregnancy massage are: Sciatica , headaches, muscle tension, swelling in the extremities and low back pain .

Clients report better sleep patterns and over all feeling of being relaxed and more connected to their body.

When receiving a pregnancy massage, how should I be positioned?

Positioning is the most important part of a treatment. You want to take in account how far along the pregnancy is, the further along it is the more you will need to look at supporting the body.

In general, sideline is best. This is because it allows the most amount of modification to the body position.

Resting on your stomach puts too much pressure on your abdomen and breasts. There are pregnancy tables that have a hole cut where the abdomen is and this is replaced with a stretchy fabric that makes a hammock for your growing belly to rest on.

There is some controversy about these tables because depending on the tension on the hammock it can lead to not enough support for your belly. This can put undue stress on your abdominal and pelvic ligaments. This can be very serious depending on how far you’re a long and if it has been a difficult pregnancy or not. I highly suggest consulting with your massage therapist to discuss this issue.

Resting on your back can position your uterus to put pressure on the returning veins from the lower extremity. This again needs to be discussed as your pregnancy progresses.

Precautions for pregnancy massage.

Make sure the RMT does a thorough history and assessment before the treatment begins. Clients tend to want to rush to the treatment and they sometime over look very serious contraindications for treatment. Please make sure to discuss everything about your pregnancy with your RMT.
 
Some precautions for pregnancy massage are: Diabetes, miscarriages and varicosities in the lower extremity.

 For more information go please see:

http://everesttherapeutics.com/downtown-vancouver/pregnancy-massage-vancouver/pregnancy-massage-and-prenatal-massage.html#precautionsforpregnancymassage.

Derived from a French word which means “half a head,” the term migraine certainly captures the painful experience. In most cases of migraine, the pain affects only one side of the head. This one-sided pain soon becomes a dull throbbing before becoming a full-blown migraine attack. While most people, including popular celebrity and historical figures like Elvis Presley, Napoleon, and Julius Caesar, experience migraine, a lot are still unclear on what migraine is and its possible causes.

Migraine is…

More than just an episode of severe headache, migraine is a neurological disease that usually has its causes in the vascular system. The over-distended arteries on the outside of the skull are thought to be the root of migraine attacks given the pulsating and throbbing quality of pain commonly associated with blood flow. Migraine attacks persist for up to four to 72 hours depending on the severity and intensity.

This brain inflammation causes nerve endings to release pain neurotransmitters that send chemical messages of pain throughout your body. The over-production of the neurotransmitter serotonin causes the blood vessels in the brain to widen which stimulates pain receptors in the brain.

Symptoms of migraine include nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal discomfort, increased sensitivity to light, and irritability to noise. Some people suffering from migraine also report seeing a kind of aura or floating light flashes prior to an attack. Other common precursors of migraine attacks include numbness, speech problem, and temporary hearing impairment.

Some of the most common causes of migraine include anxiety, menstruation, stress, loud noises, bright lights, and particular food items depending on the person.

Tips on relieving migraine

While doctors often recommend pain medications like paracetamol, codeine, aspirin, ibuprofen, and diclofenac, these drugs only succeed in controlling the symptoms. These medications are unable to treat the underlying problem or prevent the incidence of migraine attacks. While migraine is a common condition, there is no reason to bear and suffer. Below are some ways on giving yourself some migraine pain relief:

Eat a healthy low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet.

Carbohydrates cause your glucose levels in the blood rise quickly, hence, interfering with the normal functions of neurotransmitters such as serotonin. Due to this, migraine attacks become more frequent and are often prolonged. While most people will frown at eating a high-fat diet, the key here is to consume healthy fats and oils. Healthy fats boost Omega-3 fatty acids which facilitates normal blood flow and prevents distended arteries.

Consume foods rich in Vitamin B.

The Vitamin B group is beneficial in narrowing the arteries or vasoconstriction. It also prevents blood platelet dumping which can occur during migraine attacks. Leafy greens and legumes are good sources of this vitamin. Taking supplements of Vitamin B is also a good idea if you are not getting enough of it in your diet.

Taking lots of rest and reducing stress.

Stress and anxiety are among the leading triggers of migraine attacks. Resting and practicing stress management techniques can reduce the intensity of a migraine attack and even prevent recurrence.