Migraines
What is it?
Headaches occur when the pain-sensitive nerves in head muscles and blood vessels are stimulated. The Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society currently recognizes more than 100 types of headaches. As many as 50 million Americans experience chronic headaches.
Symptoms of migraines
A migraine headache usually has the following symptoms: one-sided headache pain; pulsating or throbbing pain; intense attacks with moderate to severe pain that can inhibit daily activity; worsening routine physical activity; and possibly nausea and/or vomiting; and sensitivity to light and sound. Some migraine sufferers experience an aura before a migraine attack. These nervous system disturbances include symptoms such as flashing lights, bright spots, blurry vision, or blind spots. Aura may also involve anxiety, fatigue and numbness or tingling on one side of the body.
Migraine headaches are caused by the inability of the blood vessels in the membrane covering the brain to expand and contract at uniform rates. When the blood flow increases through the larger vessels, the pressure on the smaller ones causes painful stretching as they unsuccessfully try to expand to allow for the heavier flow. As the vessels undergo this stretching and constricting, the nerve cells register a throbbing pain, which is often accompanied by nausea; distortions of speech, hearing and vision; and clamminess of the skin.
As many as 15 to 20 per cent of men and 25 to 30 per cent of women suffer from migraine headaches. Migraines can occur as often as several times a week or once every few years. Some people experience migraines at predictable times; in women they often occur premenstrually.
Causes of migraines
The causes of migraine are not well understood, and triggers tend to be different for everyone. Common ones include stress, fatigue, bright light, loud noises, weather changes, changes in sleeping patterns or diet, low blood sugar, certain foods and chemicals.
Treatment of migraines
Regular exercise, stress reduction and elimination of certain foods from the diet are the most common methods of preventing migraine and other vascular headaches. Migraine medications include aspirin and caffeine which act to reduce blood vessel dilation and inflammation. A relatively new drug, sumatriptan, is effective in alleviating severe migraine attacks. It binds to serotonin receptors in the brain and causes blood vessels to return to their normal diameter. Side effects include increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and a feeling of tightness in the chest, jaw, or neck.
Migraines and diet
There are several dietary factors, which may contribute to headaches and migraine. These include the foods listed above. Recent research indicates that a low fat, high complex carbohydrate diet may be effective in reducing the frequency, intensity and duration of migraine headaches in sufferers. As low blood sugar may provoke a migraine, eating regular meals and avoiding sugary foods, which cause blood sugar levels to crash, may be a useful preventive measure. High fat foods, which are difficult to digest and can lead to a stomach-ache and headache, should be avoided. Identifying and avoiding allergenic foods is important in migraine prevention.
Vitamins, minerals and migraines
Riboflavin
High doses of riboflavin may be effective in the treatment of migraine. In a 1998 study done in Belgium, researchers tested the effects of either 400 mg of riboflavin or a placebo on 55 patients with migraine in a randomized trial lasting three months. The results showed reductions in attack-frequency and headache days. Fifty-nine per cent of patients in the riboflavin group improved compared to 15 per cent in the placebo group. No serious side effects occurred. The researchers concluded that because of its effectiveness, excellent tolerability, and low cost, riboflavin is a valuable option for migraine prevention.1
Magnesium
Several studies suggest that magnesium metabolism is altered in some migraine sufferers. Low magnesium levels may contribute to migraine in a number of ways, including increased muscle and blood vessel contraction, which may lead to reduced blood flow to the brain. The activity of serotonin receptors can also be affected by changes in magnesium levels.2
Calcium and vitamin D
In a 1994 study, researchers treated two premenopausal women with a history of menstrually-related migraines with a combination of vitamin D and calcium. Both women experienced reductions in their headache attacks as well as premenstrual symptoms within two months of therapy.5 In another study, the same researchers successfully treated two postmenopausal women with frequent and excruciating migraine headaches with vitamin D and calcium.6
Essential fatty acids
GLA and alpha-linolenic acid have been used to prevent migraine. In a 1997 study, EFAs were administered to 168 patients over a period of six months. In 129 patients available for the study, 86 per cent experienced reductions in severity, frequency and duration of migraine attacks; 22 per cent became free of migraine; and more than 90 per cent had reduced nausea and vomiting.7
Supplements and migraines
Supplements may be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of migraine. In a 1996 study, Belgian researchers assessed the effect of oral magnesium on the prevention of migraine in 81 patients aged from 18 to 65. They were either given a placebo or a daily supplement of 600 mg of magnesium for 12 weeks. In weeks nine to12 the attack frequency was reduced by 42 per cent in the magnesium group and by 16 per cent in the placebo group. The number of days with migraine and the drug consumption for symptomatic treatment per patient also decreased significantly in the magnesium group.3 Supplements may also be useful in the treatment of menstrual migraine.4
Herbal medicine and migraines
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is a very useful herb in the prevention of migraine.