Migraines make us want to reach for the duvet
Migraines affect many of us, one in seven infact, and there is nothing like a dark room and a duvet to help you through it.
The Migraine Awareness Week, we're here to provide you will all the information that you could possibly need.
A new survey revealed that over two thirds of those asked, who suffer from frequent migraine attacks believe that certain foods are the main cause. However, identifying these triggers can be a complicated process.
The survey found that 85 per cent of people affected by debilitating migraines had their symptoms reduced, and quality of life imporved, when their food triggers were discovered and avoided.
"A link between food intolerance and migraine has long been suspected," says Dr Andrew Dowson, consultant neurologist, head of headache services at King's College and member of the medical advisory board of Migraine Action.
"Recent research has shown that when people with migraine follow tailored diets to eliminate trigger foods their symptoms significantly improve, however the treatment of migraine is not a 'one size fits all' situation, each person needs to establish their own specific combination of triggers, which can also include factors like stress and irregular sleep patterns. The link between food intolerance and migraine is a interesting new field and warrants more detailed research."
Additional research from the University of York has further supported the Migraine Action findings, uncovering that the frequency of migraine attacks was slashed by almost a quarter over four weeks when the YorkTest food antibodies test was carried out to identify potential food triggers.
A migraine is believed to be caused by the release of a chemical called serotonin, it travels into the bloodstream from storage sites in the body, causing changes in the neurotransmitters and blood vessels deep in the brain.
This results in symptoms that affect hearing, eyesight and the ability to smell, and usually ends with a throbbing one-sided headache.
A migraine is more than just a headache, it is a neurological condition that affects people of all ages, social classes, races and cultures.
Plus, there is no specific medical test to confirm that you are suffering from a migraine attack. They are generally diagnosed by typical symptoms, the most common of which are: feeling nauseated or sick during an attack, sensitivity to light or sound and headaches so sever that daily life is disrupted.
Having a headache is not normallt the first sign of a migraine attack; some people start to feel 'strange' a day or so before the pain begins. These strange feelings, known as the prodome, are the first signs of the attack and can include:
- Cravings for certain, often sweet, foods
- Excitability
- Hyperactivity
- Tiredness
- Yawning
- A change in mood
Did you know....
- Migraine affects twice as many women as men
- They affect people from all age groups - even young children
- The cost the UK around £17 billion per annum
- The World Health Organisation has classified headache as a major health disorder adn has rated migraine amongst the top 20 most disabling lifetime conditions
- Sufferers experience an average of 13 attacks each year
- A migraine is more than just a headache. Other symptoms can include: visual disturbances, neasea and vomiting, sensitivity to light, noise or smells and tingling or numbness in the limbs
- Around 60 per cent of sufferers never consult their GP because they mistakenly think that nothing can be done to help the. However there are a wide range of effective treatments now available
- Migraines are triggered by a huge variety of factors not just cheese, chocolate and red wine. For most people there is not just one trigger but a combination of factors that, when combined, trigger a migraine attack
Femalefirst Taryn Davies