Posts Tagged ‘Migraine Headaches’

In previous articles I mentioned that chronic migraine sufferers accumulate tiny lesions in their brains over time. Initially when this research came out, there was no wayof knowing if these lesions had any negative effects on brain function.

 The good news is that a second study done by researchers at the Harvard Medical School confirmed the results of the first study done in Paris, that in fact, over time the lesions did not lead to any increase in cognitive decline when comparing migraine sufferers to people without migraines.  THIS IS REALLY GOOD NEWS!

In fact, one of the several cognition tests that were used to measure cognitive decline, indicated that migraine sufferers had less cognitive decline than non-sufferers.

Curt Hendrix, M.S., C.C.N., C.N.S.

If you suffer from 1 or more migraines a week, you are a good candidate for pursuing options that prevent your migraines, instead of constantly taking pain medications after the migraine starts. To learn about a very successful option, please go to www.MigreLief.com

Researchers at the Jefferson Headache Center suggest that migraine sufferers may be more likely to develop an alcohol induced headache after an evening of consuming alcoholic beverages.

It was originally thought that either dehydration, caused by the alcohol consumption, or impurities in the alcohol, caused the headache.  In their experiment with rats that got migraines, they made sure the rats stayed well hydrated and provided alcohol that was impurity free.

The rats that got migraines had more pain several hours after alcohol consumption than the rats that didn’t get migraines.

Whether or not the study applies to humans, is not clear.  However, if you do experience your share of headaches after drinking alcohol and also suffer from migraines, this may be why.

Curt Hendrix, M.S., C.C.N., C.N.S.

Anyone who has migraines knows that stress can bring on an attack.  Major life changes like illness, moving, changing jobs and certainly getting married and planning a honeymoon, can be very stressful.

What is not as well known, is that migraines can often occur, just after the stressful event has occurred and not necessarily, during it.

One neurologist M.D. reports that she had a surgeon for a patient. The surgeon reported that he got migraines like clockwork on Fridays and Saturdays.  Upon questioning, the neurologist learned that the surgeon’s major surgery day was every Thursday and that the stress and pressure of having to perform at a high level was probably causing the migraines a day or two latter.

If you have ever planned a wedding, (let alone a Royal Wedding), you know the tremendous stress, aggravation and politics that can be involved.

The same neurologist, cited examples of how  brides, successfully get through the excitement and stress of their big wedding day, leave for their honeymoons, only to experience migraines, a couple of days after the stress is over.

She also points out, that the airplane travel, that is often part of the honeymoon plans, can also trigger migraines and that it is essential to stay very well hydrated during flying. Also, be sure to get up and move around, especially during longer flights. Finally, remember that lack of sleep can also trigger migraines.  So bring sleep aids if necessary and speak to your physician about using melatonin for jet-lag, which can disrupt your sleeping patterns.

Here’s hoping that your “Royal Honeymoon” is a royal joy and not a royal pain.

Curt Hendrix

A study published in the Journal of Headache and Pain found that smoking more than 5 cigarettes a day will precipitate migraines. The research involved 300 medical students who were well trained in being able to identify a migraine from another type of headache. According to Dr. Pascual, the lead researcher in the study, “smoking is a precipitating factor of this type of headache, as the prevalence of active smokers is one third higher in migraine sufferers and there is a direct relationship between the number of cigarettes consumed and the frequency of migraine attacks”. The expression “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is especially true for migraines, as they have been linked with increased risk of stroke, brain lesions and even heart attacks. So for those of you who are smokers and experiencing migraines, dropping to 5 cigarettes a day or less could lessen the frequency of your migraines. Add in your MigreLief daily to further increase your benefits.

López-Mesonero et al. Smoking as a precipitating factor for migraine: a survey in medical students. The Journal of Headache and Pain, 2009; 10 (2): 101 DOI: