Can Migraines Themselves Cause the Anxiety That Leads to Migraines?

One of the most interesting – and least understood – aspects of mental health is the idea of cyclical comorbidity with clinical conditions. Comorbidity is a term that refers to someone suffering from two separate problems at once (for example, anxiety and depression). It’s not uncommon for two separate problems to be linked. What most scientists do not yet understand is how two separate conditions can not only be linked, but can actually cause each other in a vicious cycle.

This may be true for people suffering from both migraines and anxiety. Anxiety itself is known to cause migraines. Anxiety causes an increase in blood pressure, muscle tension, sleep issues, and other problems that may lead to serious migraine headaches. Some research has shown that the two may even be linked through part of your DNA.

But there is also another potential issue – one that is not yet well understood. And that is whether migraines can also cause anxiety.

Potential Causes of Anxiety From Migraines

We know that anxiety disorders lead to migraines, which is why it is important to find successful relaxation and coping strategies to reduce your anxiety. Yet it’s easily possible – maybe even probable – that the migraines are actually contributing to anxiety. Potential reasons for this include:

• Lack of Sleep – It’s well known that the worries from anxiety can keep you awake at night, and that lack of sleep can be a contributing factor to your migraines. But just as poor sleeping can cause migraines, so too does poor sleeping cause anxiety. If your migraines are keeping you awake, the result may be an increase in feelings of anxiety within your own body, which in turn may lead to more problems sleeping and, ultimately, more anxiety and migraines.
• Concern Over Migraines – Migraines can be excruciating to deal with, and easily one of the most stressful things about your day. With that in mind, many people start to fear their next migraine, knowing that it will affect their lives. Over time that fear can get worse, and lead to potential anxiety and anxiety attacks. Any prolonged, sustained worry has the potential to cause more persistent anxiety.
• Hypersensitivity – The pain of a migraine causes many people to pay too much attention to the way that they feel. While sensitivity to your own body is a good way to know when something is wrong, it’s unhealthy to pay too much attention to every mind headache you receive. Doing so can make you over-sensitive to what would otherwise be very minor changes in the way you feel, and that in itself can trigger a great deal of anxiety, because you are constantly worrying if you are “okay” at any given moment.

The above list represents just a small sample of the possible reasons that migraines themselves may actually cause anxiety, not just the other way around.

What This Means for Curing Your Migraines and Anxiety

This creates a problem. You can treat your migraines, but if you continue to experience anxiety, you may find that your migraines keep coming back. At the same time you can treat your anxiety, but if you continue to experience migraines, your anxiety may come back as well. You simply can’t treat one without the other, because they both contribute to each other in a vicious cycle.

Still, the solution starts with anxiety. Unlike migraines, anxiety itself tends to occur in a cumulative fashion. In other words, if you experience little amounts of anxiety because of different problems throughout the day, that anxiety will build until it feels more overwhelming. So your first step is always to reduce other causes of anxiety first, either through relaxation techniques or talking to a qualified counselor. Because you still experience migraines, don’t expect this to be a permanent solution. It’s simply a way to decrease the other areas of your life that bring stress and anxiety.

Then as you start to treat your migraines, pay attention to why the migraines cause anxiety and combat those issues directly. Because the two issues are linked, don’t expect one to fix the other. Rather, treat them separately with the knowledge that because the two occur together, a quick solution may not be as likely.

Finally, when you experience one or the other (anxiety or a migraine, but not both), continue to treat both as though you still have each of them. If you experience a migraine again and avoid the potential for anxiety, the anxiety disorder may come back.

Anxiety and Migraines

Anxiety and migraines are often going to be linked for people, and the cyclical effects of each can make it hard to find relief. Find strategies to deal with your anxiety and soothe your migraines and don’t expect immediate results, and over time you’ll be able to control them both and live a happy and anxiety/migraine free life.

Migraine Headache Types – Common Types of Migraine Headaches

There are many causes of migraine headaches as well as many common types of migraine headaches. Each type has unique symptoms and is usually characterized by the body part it affects. This article will discuss a few of the more common types as well as their locations, symptoms, and severity.

Approximately one out of every five migraine attacks includes visual disturbances called auras. An aura is a neurological disturbance that presents itself as bright flashes of light, hallucinations, blind spots, zigzag patterns of bright light, increased sensitivity to light, and other visual abnormalities. Auras usually occur 10 to 60 minutes before the headache, but can infrequently appear during or after. If an aura is present it is called migraine with aura. If no aura is present it is termed migraine without aura.

Most migraine headache types are named according to the location of their pain or the body part they affect. A few of the more common types of migraine headaches are ophthalmoplegic, abdominal, hemiplegic, and basilar artery migraine headaches. In addition, an attack can occur without a headache at all. In these instances, an aura appears, but the headache never does.

Basilar artery migraine headaches occur when the basilar artery is disturbed, which is located in the brainstem. Most often it occurs in women who are in their young adult years. The migraines may last for a few hours to a few days, not unlike classic migraine types. They can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, numbness, tingling, auras, and a whole host of other symptoms that are common among most migraine headache types. Basilar artery migraines are usually severe in intensity and of a throbbing nature. They can either be unilateral or bilateral, but can occasionally be felt at the back of the head.

Abdominal migraine is usually experienced by children who have a family history of migraines. Along with abdominal pain they can include other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and other common symptoms. People who experience abdominal migraine headaches as kids will often develop migraines as adults too.

Ophthalmoplegic migraines start in the eye and can include other common symptoms seen in classic migraines as well. However, the main symptom is paralysis of the eye muscles, also called ocular motor nerve palsy, and can cause the eyelid to droop. If a person suffers repeated attacks the eyelid droop can become permanent, but in most cases eyelid droop will usually disappear after a few days or weeks.

One of the more severe and disabling types of migraine headaches is hemiplegic migraine. Symptoms can include classic migraine symptoms as well as other symptoms similar to stroke. Fortunately, unlike stroke, this type will not result in permanent nerve damage.

One of the distinguishing characteristics of hemiplegic migraine is numbness or paralysis on one side of the body. It can also be accompanied by tingling in the arms, severe throbbing in the head, and other classic migraine symptoms. If a hemiplegic migraine is accompanied by aura, the aura can last longer and be more severe than with other types of migraines.

Migraine headaches can be painful as well as disabling. But in addition to pain, they also increase the risk of developing other serious health disorders like stroke, heart disease, heart attack, obesity, brain damage, panic attacks, diabetes, and many others. To decrease the risk of these serious health problems it’s important to put a stop to the migraine disorder if possible.

Chronic Migraine Headaches – How to Stop Chronic Migraines Naturally

Millions of people around the world experience chronic migraine headaches. Migraines are not considered chronic unless a person experiences migraine symptoms at least half the days of a month for 3 consecutive months. If they occur less often, they are considered episodic or acute migraine headaches.

There are many different types of migraine headaches such as basilar artery, abdominal, hemiplegic, menstrual migraine headaches, and others. Each type has its own unique symptoms as well as symptoms that can be common to all. Due to their unending nature and moderate to severe intensity, chronic migraines can become totally disabling. Women are three times more likely to experience migraines than men, and are often due to female hormone imbalances. If hormones are the cause of migraine headaches they are given the name hormonal headaches or menstrual migraine headaches.

There are many factors that can increase the risk of developing chronic migraine headaches. Depression, anxiety, and other mental stresses can be precursors to the disorder. In addition, alcohol, caffeine, nitrates, obesity, lack of sleep, and countless other things can be migraine headache triggers.

Most people don’t realize it, but overusing painkilling medications can also be a migraine trigger. Two out of every three chronic headache sufferers experience an increase in pain due to taking pain pills. It’s ironic the very medications that were created to relieve pain can actually cause it.

Almost all people will experience an occasional headache, with a very small percentage escaping them altogether. Most headaches are not serious and will not be the result of other hidden health problems, but chronic migraine headaches can sometimes be the result of a more serious underlying health disorder. Anyone that has more than 3 headaches per week should seek professional help. Additionally, if a person takes painkillers most every day or if their headaches are continually growing more severe, it is wise to seek professional guidance.

Pain medications only treat symptoms and never attempt to solve a condition that is actually causing the pain. Pain relievers are for short term relief only and do not attempt to prevent or cure a disorder. If prevention is the goal the only option is to use natural migraine headaches treatment. There are many natural treatment options available such as drinking more water, changing a diet, taking nutritional or herbal supplements, eliminating migraine headache triggers, exercising, reducing stress when possible, getting the proper amount of sleep, or eliminating bad habits such as smoking or drinking alcohol.

Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out what’s causing chronic migraine symptoms and therefore it is usually a good idea to keep a migraine headache diary. Keeping a detailed journal of what you eat, when you eat, when you develop migraines, among other details, can alert you to possible triggers. Once a migraine trigger is discovered it’s often a simple matter of eliminating it. However, occasionally a trigger will be something that is uncontrollable such as certain types of weather or stress caused by a fellow employee. In these cases it is advisable to think about things that can be done to at least reduce your exposure to these triggers.

As mentioned previously, chronic migraine headaches can sometimes be the result of an underlying health disorder. The only way to stop secondary headache pain is to find the primary health disorder and correct it. In some cases a headache will require immediate medical attention.

If you ever experience a sudden headache of a severe nature you should get medical attention immediately. In addition, if you ever experience a headache that is accompanied by a stiff neck, fever, speech troubles, seizures, double vision, rash, or mental confusion, these are signs of a possible serious health disorder and should be checked by a professional immediately.

Migraine Headaches Treatment – How to Stop Migraines Naturally

Most people who experience migraine headaches eventually turn to pain relieving medications as their migraine headaches treatment. However, this form of migraine treatment is often a double-edged sword. Pain pills can often reduce or stop the pain, but they also come with a risk.

All painkillers have negative side effects that can many times be worse than the migraine headaches themselves. Fortunately, there are many safe and effective natural home remedies for migraine headaches that can often provide better results than drugs, especially when looking at their long term benefits.

When you get right down to it, there are only two types of migraine headaches treatment that can relieve migraines. These two approaches either involve taking drugs or not taking drugs. One method uses potentially dangerous and addictive pain medications while the other uses safer methods.

Whether drugs or natural migraine headache treatment methods are used, there is no guarantee of finding relief. However, both approaches have shown that they can give migraine relief in a good percentage of cases. The biggest difference between these two approaches is that drugs carry a bigger health risk. For this reason, it is often advisable to try safer natural options first. With a little effort, most people will eventually be able uncover a natural migraine headache treatment that can give them relief without consuming harmful painkillers.

Chiropractic treatment is one natural method that has shown great results when it comes to stopping chronic migraine headaches. Chiropractors teach that headaches can be the result of spinal problems and that when these problems are corrected the migraines will go away. And it’s hard to refute this claim since many studies have shown that chiropractic manipulations can reduce or eliminate headaches over 80% of the time.

Biofeedback is another natural treatment for migraine headaches that has demonstrated good results. Biofeedback is not actually a treatment, but a program designed to teach a person how to control specific autonomic functions of the body which can reduce or prevent migraine headaches. Functions such as body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate are just a few bodily functions that are usually controlled without conscious thought. However, with biofeedback it’s possible to learn how to control these functions consciously and thereby prevent pain from occurring whenever desired.

Exercise is another great way to reduce the frequency or severity of migraine headaches. When you’re looking for home remedies for migraine headaches, this is about as cheap and effective as you can hope for. Regular exercise such as walking, jogging, or weight lifting can often improve a person’s cardiovascular system which in turn can reduce the amount or intensity of headache pain. It should be noted that strenuous exercises will usually increase migraine headache symptoms if they are performed during the course of a migraine attack.

There are many other safe and natural migraine headache treatments that require very little effort or time. Some migraine sufferers may find that all it takes is a reduction in their salt intake or an increase in the amount of water consumed each day to stop migraine headache symptoms. Dehydration is one of the most common migraine headache triggers, and excess salt consumption or too little water consumption can result in dehydration. Some beverages such as coffee, soda pop, and high-energy drinks can contain caffeine and sodium, both of which can cause migraine headaches. If you want to decrease your chance of developing migraines, be sure to drink plenty of clean fresh water and eliminate other liquids that contain caffeine, sodium, and other harmful ingredients.

Important Migraine Headache Triggers You Should Know About

Migraine headache triggers are anything that causes migraine headaches. Migraine triggers can be specific foods, chemicals, environmental factors, stress, hormones, and many other things. However, just because a trigger causes a migraine attack in one person doesn’t mean it will cause a migraine attack in another person.

There are many migraine headache triggers that will result in a migraine headache, but some of the most common are dehydration, alcohol, and caffeine. A migraine headache sufferer should avoid fasting for long periods of time because of the increased risk of an attack. Fasting occurs when someone goes without food or water for an extended period of time and can result in lowered blood sugar levels and dehydration. Both dehydration and low blood sugar levels have been proven to be migraine triggers.

According to research studies a migraine sufferer will have a 50-50 chance of developing a migraine headache after 16 hours of fasting. However, some sufferers will experience a migraine attack after fasting as little as 3 hours. To eliminate migraine headaches brought on by dehydration or low blood sugar levels, a person susceptible to migraines should never go more than 3 hours without food and water. Eating smaller meals more often instead of bigger meals less often can stop attacks that are caused by fasting.

Caffeine is another migraine headache trigger, but it can also cause anxiety, nausea, nervousness, increased heart rate, and difficulty sleeping. It is commonly found in coffee, tea, soda pop, high energy drinks, and chocolate. It is also found in many over-the-counter pain medications. For this reason, a person who is susceptible to migraine headaches should not take over-the-counter painkillers that contain caffeine as it can increase the intensity of the pain.

Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world. 90% of adults in the U.S. consume caffeine on a daily basis. An average coffee drinker may drink 3 cups per day while an excessive drinker will consume 10 or more cups per day. The best way to determine if caffeine is causing your migraine headaches is to start a migraine journal. Keeping track of when you consume caffeine and when you get migraines can help you discover if it is indeed the culprit.

If you are a regular coffee drinker and wish to stop, it is best to wean yourself from the beverage gradually instead of quitting cold turkey. If you decide to stop drinking coffee abruptly it can lead to headaches, irritability, muscle stiffness, difficulty with concentration, and restlessness. The recommended pace is to lower the amount you consume by about 1/2 cup per day or less. The same goes for high-energy drinks or soda pop.

Alcohol is another migraine headache trigger, even when consumed in small amounts by some people. It is still unknown as to whether it’s the alcohol or a chemical called tyramine that is the trigger. Tyramine is found in many beers and red wines and appears to be more of a problem in cheaper wines. White wines and aged expensive wines do not seem to be as much of a problem as cheaper red wines.

The problem with triggers is that they may cause migraine headache symptoms sometimes, but not all the time. A person may drink caffeine or alcohol one day and develop a migraine headache, while on another day they may experience no symptoms at all. Sometimes, a secondary trigger such as stress must be present in order to develop symptoms. This can make it extremely difficult in some cases to uncover a migraine trigger.

The best way to find a trigger is to keep a detailed migraine diary. However, do not get discouraged if you don’t uncover any triggers after a few days or a week or two because some migraine headache triggers can take many months to discover. When a person is looking for natural migraine headaches treatment, or home remedies for migraine headaches, sometimes the best place to start is by identifying and eliminating triggers.

2 Little-Known Ways to Stop Chronic Migraines

Many migraine headache sufferers are looking for natural ways to put an end to their chronic migraines. They are tired of taking drugs that may cause unwanted or dangerous effects. Discover 2 little-known natural remedies for chronic migraine headaches that have given many people relief from their pain.

To be given the distinction of being chronic, daily headaches must have been present for at least 3 months and occurred a minimum of 15 times during each of those months. If they occur less frequently than this they are considered episodic. Chronic headaches can be debilitating and are experienced by an estimated 3-5% of the world’s population.

Chronic migraines are considered primary headaches because they are standalone. They are not associated with any other health disorder, but are themselves the primary condition. A typical migraine headache will be characterized by a moderate to severe throbbing pain that occurs on one side of the head with the pain intensifying during strenuous activity. Accompanying the pounding can be nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to bright light, and other symptoms. Additionally, visual disturbances, called auras, are commonly experienced by migraine sufferers.

There are many ways to stop migraine headaches that do not require the use of drugs. However, what works for one person may not work for another. Since most natural methods are safe it makes sense to try different remedies until a successful one is found. Below are 2 methods you may not have heard about that have shown success in relieving chronic migraines in some people.

1 – Fish oils can stop the pain

Fish such as tuna, mackerel, and salmon contain the essential fatty acid called omega 3. New studies are now showing that fish oils containing omega 3 may reduce the frequency and duration of migraine headaches in some people. Since this research is still ongoing the general community is unaware of the possible benefits of this fatty acid.

To get the greatest benefit from omega 3 you cannot simply start eating fish, but must take it daily as a nutritional supplement. Large doses are required and eating fish will not supply enough fish oils to provide relief.

It is best to stick with salmon instead of other types of fish because they are usually a cleaner fish. When buying omega 3 make sure you get salmon fish oil that it is certified as being 100% free from any pesticides, toxins, or heavy metals.

2 – Filtering drinking water can eliminate migraine-causing chemicals

There are two ways that water can cause chronic migraines in some people. First, not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration which can cause headache symptoms. And second, chemicals in the water may be the cause of migraine headaches in some individuals.

To cure dehydration it is a simple matter of drinking more water on a daily basis. Every body is different and will require differing amounts of water for optimum health and well being. Although 64 ounces may be an average amount, smaller people may need less and larger people may need more.

Chemicals in drinking water, especially nitrates, can cause chronic headaches. Nitrates are inorganic chemicals that are found pretty much everywhere including the ocean, freshwater, soil, and air. Excessive nitrate levels are often found in ordinary tap water and can cause chronic migraines.

Animal manure, fertilizers, and sewage contain high levels of nitrates and can contaminate drinking water. Eliminating them from the drinking water is as simple as using a water filter. Have your drinking water tested for nitrates. If it contains excessive amounts of nitrates you should get a filter that will remove it. Keep in mind that there may be other chemicals in water that can cause migraine headaches or other health disorders, so filtering your drinking water may be beneficial even if the nitrate level is within a safe range.

6 Effective Natural Ways to Get Migraine Headache Relief

Many headache sufferers are looking for a natural migraine headache remedy to obtain migraine headache relief. They are worried about the long-term consequences that can occur from taking potentially harmful and addictive drugs. Discover 6 migraine headache remedies that have proven effective for many sufferers of migraine headaches.

When searching for an effective migraine headache remedy you will come across two main types. They will either be intended to give you immediate migraine headache relief or they will be designed to change or correct a problem or behavior that can lead to long-term relief. The following 6 methods include both types and have proven effective for many migraine headache sufferers.

1 – Biofeedback therapy

One migraine headache remedy that has shown great results for many years is biofeedback. Relieving stress is usually a great way to reduce headache symptoms, and controlling stress and tension is what biofeedback was designed for. It is not actually a form of treatment, but is a training method used to control the autonomic nervous system.

Functions that are normally automatic can be controlled consciously. By using biofeedback it is possible to learn how to control autonomic functions such as muscle relaxation, heart rate, and blood pressure. Controlling these functions can lead to muscle relaxation and migraine headache relief. Once trained, a person using biofeedback techniques can produce the desired effect of relaxation any time they feel a headache coming on.

2 – Chiropractic treatment

When it comes to obtaining migraine headache relief there are not too many methods that have shown greater results than chiropractic manipulation. Many research studies have shown that chiropractic spinal adjustments have helped over 80% of headache sufferers. It can often eliminate a headache with a single treatment, but the real benefit of chiropractic is over the long term. Many patients show long-term relief with regular chiropractic care.

Chiropractors teach us that spinal misalignments will cause irritation to the spinal nerves which will eventually lead to muscle spasms and other symptoms. By correcting these misalignments it is possible to get relief from these symptoms. When muscle spasms occur they will usually cause pain and reducing muscle spasms can eliminate pain. Chiropractic manipulation has the ability to relieve muscle spasms and thereby eliminate the pain caused by the spasms.

3 – Nutritional therapy

Niacin or niacinamide can be ingested to increase dilation of blood vessels. Niacin, known as vitamin B3, will cause a person to flush if taken in sufficient amounts and can be a bit uncomfortable for some. Due to the increased blood flow to the epidermis it can result in a warm itchy sensation. For this reason, many people choose to take niacinamide which does not cause as much of a flush. This can often cause a relaxed feeling and lead to a reduction in symptoms.

4 – Relax in a warm bath or dark room

Migraines are often accompanied by light and auditory sensitivities and lying down in a quiet dark room is a good way to eliminate the pain caused by these sensations. Additionally, strenuous activities will increase the throbbing pain of migraine headaches so relaxing is a great migraine headache remedy that can relieve pain caused by excessive activity.

Another way to relax is by taking a hot bath. This works by increasing the blood flow to the body instead of the head. Increased blood flow to the head will increase the feeling of pressure and lead to an increase in pain. When your body is heated by the water the blood will have a tendency to move away from the head and toward the body which can result in pain relief.

5 – Ice packs

Another migraine headache remedy is to place an ice pack on the back of the neck at the base of the skull. This lessens blood flow to the head, which in turn reduces the amount of pressure felt in the head, causing a reduction in the throbbing pain. Putting your feet in warm water will increase the effect by drawing the blood toward your feet and away from your head. A damp wash cloth should be placed between the skin and the ice pack as a barrier to prevent the skin from becoming too cold.

6 – Find and eliminate food allergies

If a specific food causes a migraine it is called a migraine trigger. A great migraine headache remedy is to find food triggers and eliminate them if they exist. This is done by keeping a headache journal that includes everything you eat and when you eat it. You will also keep track of when any headache symptoms appear. It may take several months, but over time you will eventually be able to pinpoint which foods are causing your symptoms. Common food triggers are wheat, nuts, cheese, caffeine, chocolate, dairy products, citrus fruits, avocados, and legumes, but there are many more.

10 Tips for Getting Natural Migraine Relief Fast

In spite of what some people may think pain killers are not the only way to stop migraine headaches. It is often possible to achieve natural migraine relief without resorting to dangerous or addictive pain medications. And many natural approaches for relieving migraine headaches can even be more effective than drugs, especially over the long term.

Most people realize that pain medications can often cause unwanted symptoms, some of which may be worse than the pain they are intended to relieve. For this reason more people are searching for natural migraine relief as an alternative to consuming potentially harmful pain killers. There are many natural migraine relief options, but they won’t all work for everyone. Some may work for some people while others may work for other people.

If you experience migraine headaches and do not find relief from the first natural treatment method you try, do not get discouraged. It may take awhile to find one that works for you. And there is no reason you cannot try several approaches at the same time. Sometimes a combination of these treatment options will help more than a single approach. Here are 10 methods that may help you achieve natural migraine relief.

1 – Lie down in a dark room. Relaxing in a dark room can accomplish two things. Many migraine sufferers are sensitive to bright light so lying down in a dark room will eliminate pain caused by this light sensitivity. Additionally, the more you move around the faster your heart will beat, causing an increase in the throbbing pain. Lying still can help relieve the throbbing pain caused by excessive movement or activity.

2 – Avoid bright light. Even if you cannot find a nice quiet place to lie down it will still help if you can eliminate the bright light.

3 – Place a cold wash cloth or ice pack on the back of the neck at the base of the skull. This will decrease the amount of blood flow to the head which can help relieve the pain. When using an ice pack be sure to place a thin moist barrier between the skin and the ice. This can be some damp paper towels or cloth. Additionally, putting your feet into a bucket of warm water can help move the blood toward your feet and away from your head. This is a great way to achieve natural migraine relief.

4 – Place a cold wash cloth or ice pack on your forehead or temples. You can increase the effect by placing your feet in warm water as stated above.

5 – Take a warm bath or shower. This is another way to increase blood flow to your body instead of your head. It also has the added benefit of relaxing muscles which can also provide natural migraine relief.

6 – Massage tight muscles. Gently rub any muscles of the neck, shoulders, face, and head using the pads of your fingers. Be firm, but gentle, and rub in a circular motion.

7 – Avoid stressful situations. If a specific activity is increasing your tension, cancel that activity. Reducing worries and anxiety can help provide natural migraine relief.

8 – Take niacin. There are two types that are commonly available: niacin (vitamin B3) and niacinamide. Niacin, taken in sufficient amounts, will cause a person to flush (turn red) which in turn will cause an overall warm feeling and possible itchiness. The usual flush and itchiness can be a small price to pay for migraine headache relief. Niacinamide is similar to niacin, but will not cause as much of a flush.

9 – Stimulate pressure points. There are two pressure points located just below the base of the skull, one on each side of the spine and about 2 or 3 inches apart. Either press or squeeze these two areas to release endorphins. This can often help relief pain.

10 – Do not exercise. Any strenuous activity or exercise can increase the throbbing pain. By avoiding exercise you will be able to avoid the pain caused by it.

The purpose of most of these tips is to decrease the amount of blood flow to the head. When the blood vessels of the head dilate (become larger) it causes headache pain. Decreasing the flow of blood to the head can reduce the amount of pressure and thereby relieve the symptoms of migraine headaches.

A migraine headache is a primary headache disorder lasting from 4 hours to several days. It is the most common cause of recurring headaches where the severity is moderate to severe. Up to 60% of migraine sufferers have symptoms that occur before the actual migraine pain. These symptoms will last anywhere from a few hours to a few days and can include irritability, depression, fatigue, sleepiness, mood changes, loss of appetite, or nausea.

Typical migraine headache symptoms occur sporadically or incidentally, meaning they are intermittent in nature. The pain is typically an intense throbbing, pulsating, or pounding physical pain and often involves only one temple, meaning it is unilateral in nature. About one third of the time the pain is felt on both sides. The unilateral migraines will typically switch sides from one migraine attack to the next, but if the pain always occurs on the same side, one should consider the possibility that it’s a secondary headache or brain tumor.

The physical pain is usually exacerbated by exercise such as running, walking upstairs, or other vigorous activity. Episodes can be accompanied by symptoms other than head pain and can include light sensitivity, visual disturbances, increased sensitivity to smells, abnormal tastes, or auditory (hearing) hallucinations.

Auras occur in roughly 20-25% of migraine sufferers and most often appear just before the headache symptoms, although occasionally during or afterward. Auras will usually last from a few minutes to an hour in length and are temporary neurological disorders that most commonly appear as visual disturbances. However, auras can also affect balance, muscle coordination, and speech. The term for this sensation is “migraine with aura.”

The visual sensations typically occur as flashes of light, but can also be brightly colored lights in a zigzagging pattern which most commonly start in the middle of the visual field and then move outwards. Blind spots, or holes in the visual field, can also be experienced occasionally. Migraine sufferers often find relief lying in a dark quiet room.

Numbness and tingling in various parts of the body are other sensations that can appear with migraines with aura, although they are less common. This is typically a “pins and needles” feeling in the arm and hand on one side and possibly around the mouth or nose on the same side. Problem with speech can also be associated with migraines with aura.

In addition to auras there are other symptoms that can be experienced with migraine pain. These include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of facial color, and cold hands or feet. It’s not unusual for a migraine sufferer to experience a decrease in energy for about 24 hours after a migraine attack and a recurrence of the headache can occasionally happen during this period.

There are additional symptoms that occasionally accompany migraine, but they happen rarely. Basilar artery migraine can cause vertigo (the sensation of dizziness), ataxia (loss of coordination of the muscles, especially in the arms or legs), and an altered level of consciousness or euphoria (an exaggerated feeling of happiness, confidence, or well-being).

About 3 out of 4 people, or 75%, who experience migraine attacks are women. Migraine commonly begins between the age of puberty and young adulthood and then diminishes after the approximate age of 50. In between these ages migraine attacks will increase and decrease in frequency and severity.

Episodic migraine can often develop into chronic migraine. According to the International Headache Society chronic migraines are migraine headaches that occur at least 15 days per month for at least 3 months.

Nobody likes feeling pain, especially when it’s severe. And migraine sufferers know as well as anyone that there’s nothing like a severe migraine headache. Severe pounding in the temples is not the only pain migraines produce. Migraine attacks can be accompanied by a varied assortment of pain and neurological disorders including nausea, vomiting, neck pain, problems with muscle coordination, light sensitivity, auditory hallucinations, visual disturbances, increased sensitivity to smells, abnormal tastes, vertigo, dizziness, numbness and tingling in the extremities or face, diarrhea, loss of facial color, cold hands or feet, speech disturbances, and other unpleasant sensations.

So what can be done to eliminate this often unbearable pain? How can you get the migraine headache relief you so desperately want? Fortunately, there are many good natural solutions available that are often more effective for treating headaches than prescription or over-the-counter medications. One of the best solutions is stress reduction.

Stress is caused by any change in your environment that requires you to respond or adjust to the situation and is one of the most common triggers of migraines. It is also one of the major contributing factors to many other diseases and disorders. This makes eliminating mental pressure a vital component of relieving pain. It is generally accepted that migraine sufferers do not cope as well as others when confronted with stressful circumstances.

Everyone encounters tension or dangerous situations at some point in their life and our bodies have a natural reaction in these situations. When confronted with a stressful event our bodies instantly produce chemicals that prepare us for fighting or running away. This is called the “fight or flight” response. This response can produce blood vessel changes that cause migraine headaches. Mental strain can build up over time or come on suddenly. Chronic headaches, if stress related, are usually caused by daily influences such as job pressure, job loss, marriage problems, health concerns, pregnancy, heavy traffic, confrontations, accidents, or money problems.

There are many methods for treating tension including stress management techniques, biofeedback therapy, medications, and others. Medications are typically for short term relief while stress management techniques can often be more effective over the long term. Realizing that mental pressure is a major contributing factor of headaches, the next question becomes “how can I reduce my stress?”

People getting too little sleep are more susceptible to stress, and therefore an important step in lessening mental tension is getting the proper amount of rest. Other ways to reduce stress and achieve migraine headache relief include taking a warm bath or shower, taking a nap, or getting regular exercise. Taking a bath or a nap can help relieve pain while you’re currently suffering from migraine pain, but to benefit from exercise you must do it on a regular basis. Exercising during a migraine episode can actually exacerbate the symptoms.

Another stress reduction method is massage and can be performed either by you or someone else. With a steady rotating pressure, gently rub the painful area of your head with your fingers. Rubbing your neck and upper back can also help relieve muscle tension. Applying ice to the base of the neck is another good way to reduce the pressure in your head because it lessens the blood flow. Be aware that you should never place ice directly on your head or neck. There should be a thin barrier placed between the ice and your body. The barrier will usually be a damp cloth (thin towel, t-shirt, etc.) or paper towels.

There are many ways to cope with stress, and it’s usually imperative that you change a few things in your life if you want to enjoy relief from migraine headaches. Lessening tension can be achieved in many ways. These include asking others for help in tough situations, maintaining emotionally supporting family relationships, changing or distancing yourself from the source of your stress, maintaining your composure during emotional situations, eating healthy meals, eliminating bad habits such as smoking, drinking, or taking drugs, and exercising regularly.

Your self-esteem also plays a vital role in the amount of pressure you feel. People that like themselves generally feel less mental pressure. Reading self-help or self-esteem-building books can boost your sense of self-worth which can lessen your anxieties. Lowering your stress is more a process than a single event. Eliminating bad habits, exercising regularly, getting the proper amount of sleep, and eating healthily are all processes that should be constants in your life, not periodic events. If achieving migraine headache relief is important to you, start thinking about ways to reduce your stress. By changing just a few bad habits it may be possible to change your entire life.