Tricks for a Better Halloween with Migraine Dos and Don’ts Halloween can be a fun and exciting holiday for many people, but for individuals who suffer from migraines, it can present some unique challenges. Migraines are neurological disorders characterized by severe headaches, often accompanied by other symptoms like nausea, sensitivity to light, and sound. Tricks for a Better Halloween with Migraine Dos and Don’ts Remember, everyone’s migraine triggers and symptoms are unique, so it’s important to pay attention to your own body and adjust your Halloween plans accordingly. With some careful planning and consideration, you can still enjoy the holiday while minimizing the risk of triggering a migraine. Source link

The Dear Migraine Book project has been a labor of love created by the volunteers of Miles for Migraine. Oftentimes, people living with migraine have trouble expressing what it feels like to live with migraine and this book aims to do so in a creative way. I’m so extremely excited to announce The Dear Migraine Book is ready for purchase. I was involved in this process from conception and now can’t wait to have it in my hands and others. This book has migraine artwork, poems, essays and creative depictions of headache disease. I am an Amazon associate and will earn with qualifying purchases. Miles for Migraine will recieve the sales. Purchase Now My Contribution to Dear Migraine Book Project I am a migraine advocate in My Migraine Life (Sarah) but also in the larger community Miles for Migraine. I currently work there as the director of the ACT Now program and director of family programs. It’s a big job, but very rewarding. The ACT Now program aims to educate patients and doctors on how advocacy should be part of every person’s treatment plan and should be prescribed. At the end of this training, we ask for our participants to do “acts of advocacy.” It was through this that the idea of Dear Migraine came to one of our patients. Lisa Benson came to Miles for Migraine with a dream of making a book that showed people living with migraine expressing their emotions through art, creative writing, and poems. This skyrocketed the book idea of “Dear Migraine.” ACT Now The Miles for Migraine ACT Now: Advocacy Connection Team is an advocacy training program for both patients and fellows of headache medicine. It’s an incredible program and I encourage you to check it out! In my first cohort, an incredible idea came out of it! Migraine Book Project Submissions To begin with, submissions were collected. The submissions were offered in both writing and art form. Written stories were encouraged to be in essay, letter, or poem form. The art prompts suggested pictures, drawings, or other expressions of choice with a short description of the work. Many prompts were provided for each choice to get the creative mind flowing. Look for my submission inside! Mindfulness Series Miles for Migraine mindfulness series was incorporated to help inspire and kickstart the submissions. A lot of the migraine artwork was created in response to the mindfulness series. They have ongoing sessions throughout the year to bring mindfulness to your home, and once again, I encourage you to check it out. Editing Team Once the Dear Migraine Book submissions started coming in, the editing team got to work. The editing team consists of volunteers who are passionate about migraine language, perceptions, stigma, and diversity of representation. They are a priceless hard-working group behind the project! Plus, these volunteers really understood and migraine artwork and respected each work with the person the respect they deserved. Finally, the book is ready for purchase! What is the Dear Migraine Book? Inside these 140 pages you will find works that illustrate pain and struggle, but also laughter, insights, and inspiration. The words and visuals in this book are by 64 contributors who have all been affected by migraine and headache diseases. This compilation is an advocacy project led by Lisa R. Benson as part of “ACT Now: The Advocacy Connection Team Training Program for Fellows and Patients.” This initiative was started in 2021 by Miles for Migraine, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All proceeds benefit Miles for Migraine. In this book you will find migraine artwork, heartfelt eassys and deep poems created by people living with migraine and headache dieseases. It is their form of migraine in artwork. Where Can You Buy the Dear Migraine Book? Good news!!! The Dear Migraine Book is ready for purchase!  Who Should Read Dear Migraine Book? Everyone, yes everyone should be reading this book! And everyone should be passing them out to everyone they know! Let’s increase awareness and decrease stigma in our everyday lives by discussing this book. Praise for the Dear Migraine “You will dive into  an amazing transformation through the darkness to hope and strenght…it felt healing.”   “Dear Migraine gives yoou a raw look into the lives of patient advocates. These are stories only we can tell.” -Alicia Wolf/ The Dizzy Cook   “An increadible arrangement of deeply personal and touching reflections on the impact of migraine…reminds us of the imporance of empethetic care…” Thank You for Dear Migraine Book I’d like to conclude by saying that this book could not have been possible without a vision, passion, and a team who is willing to work towards a better understanding. Thank you, Lisa, Miles for Migraine, and the many volunteers who worked to make this possible. People living with migraine created this powerful book and I’m so incredibly proud to have been a small part. Source link

Thanksgiving migraine triggers hit me every year!  I have lived with migraine for decades, and I’ve had many Thanksgivings dampened. Understanding what triggers my migraine attacks on Thanksgiving and ways to avoid them have helped. Thanksgiving brings a schedule change, travel, change in sleep, diet, and movement along with stress and anxiety that all add up to a spike in my migraine attacks. There are some things I do to avoid these Thanksgiving migraine triggers that have helped me over the years. What Triggers Migraine on Thanksgiving? And What to Do Learn from the Past Keeping a migraine diary where you note down what you eat, your activities and any environmental factors on migraine attack days can help identify patterns and specific triggers. This information can guide you in making informed choices to minimize or avoid triggers during Thanksgiving and other events. Be Mindful of Food  Identify Trigger Foods: Common Thanksgiving Migraine Foods: Aged cheese, processed meats, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, nuts, and alcohol can trigger migraine on Thanksgiving for some. Avoidance or Moderation: If you’re aware of specific triggers, try to avoid or limit their consumption. Opt for alternatives or smaller portions. Bring your own. For migraine-friendly food options are all individual but I tend to follow Dizzy Cook. I alter the recipes according to my sensitivities, but overall love her food and purpose! Stay Hydrated Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. Dehydration can sometimes worsen migraine symptoms, so try to drink plenty of water and consider hydration tablets if traveling. Manage Stress Plan Ahead: Organize tasks in advance, delegate responsibilities, and don’t hesitate to ask for help. Take Breaks: Schedule short breaks throughout the day to relax and unwind. Sometimes lying down in a calm environment can ease the symptoms. Applying a cold compress or ice pack to your head might relieve you. Headache Hat is my favorite! Try relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or taking short breaks to manage stress levels. Keep a Routine Maintain your regular sleep and meal schedule as much as possible. The migraine brain likes consistency. When talking about Thanksgiving weekend, consistency is usually really hard to achieve. So the best thing I can do is limit the amount of things I’m changing. If I’m staying up late then I’m sure to be consistent with my diet. If I’m drinking more than usual then I am careful to up my hydration. If consistency isn’t possible, limiting the amount of changes may help. Avoid Sensory Triggers Avoid Strong Scents: Stay away from strong perfumes, scented candles, or overwhelming cooking aromas if they are a Thanksgiving migraine trigger. Manage Lighting: If bright lights are a trigger, consider dimming the lights or finding a quieter space. I always bring my glasses for light sensitivity relief. Knowing my limits with these triggers is important. This is when breaks come in handy. Walking away, decompressing, and lessening stimulation around me can help from my migraine attacks from escalating. If you are traveling with migraine, here are my essentials. Create a Comfortable Environment Create a Relaxing Space: If possible, designate a quiet room where you can retreat if the celebration gets overwhelming. When preparing food and in a busy household, I tend to offer to do jobs where the lighting is low, the sound is low and I’m sitting. I’m honest about being around the swirl of triggers and how it makes me feel. If there is too chaotic of an environment then I need to retreat to a quieter darker space on Thanksgiving. Be Prepared with Medication Take Medications: If your doctor has prescribed medications for migraine prevention, make sure to take them as directed, especially if you anticipate migraine triggers during Thanksgiving.  Have Rescue Medication Handy: Keep any rescue medications you might have prescribed by your doctor readily accessible. In addition to medication, I bring my migraine products everywhere I go. Seek Support Let someone trusted know you’re not feeling well. Sometimes just having someone around who understands can be comforting. Before Thanksgiving, I try to update my friends or family about triggers or environments that may be helpful. Don’t assume those around you understand what you are going through. If your family and friends are not supportive, reach out to those that are during this time. You can always find me on social if you need to reach out Modify Celebrations If possible, see if you can participate in a more subdued manner or take breaks as needed throughout the day. I have missed out on so many holidays and my goal is to participate in a way that is healthiest for me overall. This often means modifications on what I’d like to do or how my family would like me to. Remember, it’s okay to prioritize your health. If you must excuse yourself from festivities to take care of yourself, your well-being comes first. Every person’s triggers can be different, so it’s essential to identify what specifically triggers your migraine attacks and take steps to manage them during Thanksgiving celebrations. Plan and communicate your needs to those around you if possible to ensure a more comfortable holiday experience. Holidays with Migraine Thanksgiving migraine triggers are carried over from holiday to holiday. Check out how I deal with migraine during other times of the year. Post Thanksgiving Migraine Before Thanksgiving, I posted about being thankful and planned on posting a follow-up with all of the beautiful things my readers shared. Thank you for your inspiration! Eventually, I updated my Grateful post and you can check them out there. Guess what happened? Yep, I was very migraine sick all through Thanksgiving. I no longer feel guilty about lying on the couch; my kids piled on top of me to watch the parade, and I had no clue how excruciatingly awful I felt. I feel sorry for myself. Therefore, I don’t usually allow myself to go down the negative route, but the truth is, missing and being missed is sad. The holidays aren’t accessible; they just aren’t.

This week, my youngest child finishes fifth grade, which means my family graduates elementary school. It feels different with my youngest. Everything does. This closes a chapter on a major influence on my children’s childhoods. And it all feels weird. Our lasting memories and final days in elementary school are palpable. To begin with, I’m not good with change. I play it off to my kids like every transition is this fun new phase, but I worry. Then again, I’m always worried about them. That’s part of being a mom and there’s no growing out of that. Having my youngest leave elementary school, I feel sad, nostalgic, proud, happy, worried, excited, exhausted, stressed, and ready for summer. I will feel all these emotions and then some again in August when he walks those middle school halls. I’m proud of both of us! As a parent with chronic illness, it’s been a blur. How Did This Happen So Fast? My first thought is, “How did this happen so fast?” I look back at the first day I walked my oldest into kindergarten and at the last day for my youngest, and it went so fast. Yet it feels like lifetimes ago that we were the people we were and are today. It’s this end of an era, another chapter-type moment that is so bittersweet. It’s not just the transition to another school, which feels big, but also saying goodbye to ones we’ve known for so many years. Lasting Memories of Elementary Teachers I look back at the teachers my children had in elementary school and some will stay forever in our hearts. Over the years, I saw some teachers go the extra mile by saying something that resonated with them, believed in them, and understood them emotionally while pushing them academically. They heard and believed what you were telling them. Thank You! You are so appreciated and your influence will last with them a lifetime! There were also not-so-great ones and situations I didn’t love. We will remember that too. And grow from it. Final Days with Our Bus Driver and Parent Volunteers There are many people overlooked in the elementary thank yous. Some of them are bus drivers and parent volunteers. We have been cursed with a bad bus driver and blessed with the best. And let me tell you, there isn’t much more I appreciate than someone who loves and cares for my children while I rely on them to keep them safe.  My kid’s elementary school bus driver loves my kids. She is the type of person who drives them but also is another safe adult for them to come to and feel protected by. This is very rare and in our final days, I know we may never get it again. Leaving the safety net of our transportation is hard. Volunteering on my last days feels very sad. It’s not that I can’t volunteer when they are older, but elementary parent volunteering is special. The classroom parties with these tiny voices. Watching them want attention and squeals of laughter. And the moms (dads and grandparents) who give up so much of their time, effort, and money to make the entire school better. Volunteering is a privilege. Many parents can’t, and to be honest, don’t want to spend time out of their schedules to be planning and working for the school (for free!). The volunteers that run our school are a group that I’m very thankful for. These volunteers make these great events happen and ensure that our kids are having an extra special time. They are wildly overlooked and underappreciated by most. My thanks go out to all the people who helped put smiles on our babies’ faces. Big Kids, Big Problems By the time my youngest is leaving elementary school, I have been a parent of a middle schooler for a couple of years and that has hardened me. As a middle school parent, I’ve had conversations that I wasn’t ready for but faced. The big kid big problems phase kicks in and parenting somehow gets harder. But in a different way. I no longer relate to the kindergarten parent who has babies at home. I miss it. But that’s not me now. In fact, that’s not us now. My family isn’t revolving our lives around nap schedules and meltdowns. We are revolving our schedules around sports schedules and social calendars. And still the occasional meltdown (by all of us)! There’s a saying, “By the time your youngest is ready to leave elementary school, so are you.” As someone who doesn’t like goodbyes, I feel it a bit. The fifth graders feel big for the school and it feels like it’s time. Moving On and Leaving Elementary School So I guess by the time my youngest finishes elementary school we will all be ready. Right?! But it’s weird. I loved my days as an elementary parent and the little school that laid its foundation. It’s weird that I won’t be volunteering there. Weird that the field trips are over. Weird that I won’t see the teachers in the halls or at parties. I’ll miss seeing those faces and the hugs from my kids and friends who are now so much bigger. It’s strange that I won’t be driving to that school and weird that we no longer go there. Overall, it’s heart-wrenching that my babies are growing up so fast. Are We Ready? Still, remains the question, “Is he ready? Am I ready?” I’m nervous about this next phase. This may be my youngest, but he is so different from my older one and it all, somehow, feels brand new. That’s something I’ll worry about more this summer. I’m Not Crying, You Are! In the final days, I’m going to focus on being present and enjoying my last moments as an elementary mom. I signed up for every last field trip, field day, party, or celebration event that I could. His graduation and clap-out will

This post may contain affiliate links. Migraine Strong, as an Amazon Affiliate, makes a small percentage from qualified sales made through affiliate links at no cost to you. Migraine disease is a chronic neurological condition that affects millions of people, and stress is one of its most well-known triggers. But what happens when the migraine attack comes not during stressful times, but afterward, when you’re finally trying to relax? This phenomenon is called a stress “let down” migraine attack, and it affects many who live with migraine disease. Research has shown that relaxation after a period of high stress can actually trigger a migraine attack, making it feel like there’s no escape from the cycle of stress and pain. Learning to manage stress during its build up— and how to come down from it—can make a significant difference in preventing these types of attacks. In this article, we’ll break down what “let down” migraine attacks are, how they’re triggered, and the best ways to reduce their impact on your life. ** While Migraine Strong writes about the latest in migraine treatments, this is not medical advice. We are patient educators and all information you read should be discussed with your doctor. Understanding the Bucket Theory The Bucket Theory offers a way to visualize the various factors that can trigger a migraine attack. By imagining these triggers and stressors as filling up a bucket, this concept helps illustrate how the cumulative impact of daily life can lead to an attack. Each day begins with a bucket that’s already partially filled with things that irritate your migraine brain. The bucket doesn’t start empty because certain factors, like hormonal fluctuations, stress levels, or weather changes, are unavoidable. These elements may fill one-third or even two-thirds of the bucket before the day even starts. As additional triggers—like food, drinks, and scents—enter the bucket, the level rises. Once the bucket overflows, a migraine attack follows. Understanding triggers can help reduce their overall impact, but it’s crucial to remember that migraine is a neurological disease, and attacks can occur even without a clear trigger. Managing stress and other factors can provide some relief, but migraine attacks are never the result of personal failure. What Are Stress “Let Down” Migraine Attacks? Imagine making it through a tough workweek or a particularly stressful period of life, only to be hit with a migraine attack as soon as you start to unwind. That’s the essence of a stress “let down” migraine attack. These attacks tend to strike when the brain is transitioning from a heightened state of stress to a more relaxed one. A study conducted at the Montefiore Headache Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine tracked 17 people with migraine over three months and found a striking pattern: the risk of migraine attacks significantly increased within the first six hours after stress levels dropped. In fact, participants were nearly five times more likely to have a migraine attack during this “let down” period than at other times. (1) This pattern can feel particularly frustrating because it’s happening during a time when you expect to feel better—not worse. Many of us live in a constant state of stress, so when we finally get a break, the brain’s response can be to trigger a migraine attack as a result of the sharp contrast in stress levels. My most reliable stress let down attack would begin the day after we left for family vacation. The stress and excitement of planning and packing for vacation would inevitably fade away and a stress let down attack would occur. Figuring out how to avoid this attack, and others like it, became a long term goal. The Link Between Stress and Migraine Attacks Stress has long been identified as a major migraine trigger. What makes it even more complicated is that the relationship between stress and migraine attacks is cyclical. Stress can cause a migraine attack, and the pain and disruption of an attack can increase stress levels, creating a vicious cycle. But there’s another layer to this: when stress levels drop rapidly—such as when you leave work on a Friday afternoon or start your long-awaited vacation—the brain’s response to that relaxation can also cause a migraine attack. Researchers believe that the hormone cortisol may play a role here. Cortisol is produced in response to stress, and it helps the body manage pain. When stress levels fall and cortisol levels drop quickly, the body’s pain threshold may lower, triggering a migraine attack. (1) In some cases, even positive stress, like the excitement of a happy event or celebration, can set off a migraine attack. This is why stress management is so crucial for people living with migraine disease—keeping stress levels consistent, rather than fluctuating dramatically, can help reduce the risk of both stress-induced and “let down” migraine attacks. How to Prevent and Manage “Let Down” Migraine Attacks Managing stress and finding ways to smooth out transitions between stress and relaxation are key to preventing stress “let down” migraine attacks. Here are some strategies to help you maintain balance and reduce the frequency of these attacks: 1. Consistency is Key One of the most important things you can do for a migraine-prone brain is to maintain consistency. Routine is crucial for preventing attacks, especially when it comes to things like sleep, meals, and hydration. Stick to regular sleep and wake times: A stable sleep schedule helps regulate your body’s circadian rhythms, which are closely linked to migraine patterns. Stay hydrated and eat regularly: Skipping meals or becoming dehydrated can trigger migraine attacks, so be sure to drink enough water throughout the day and eat at consistent intervals. This consistency with meals can help to regulate blood sugar levels which can help prevent attacks triggered by a drop in blood glucose.  Keep caffeine consistent: If you consume caffeine, keep the amount you drink and the time of day consistent. The migraine brain craves consistency. Practice good sleep hygiene: Avoid screens before bed, keep your sleep

Despite variations in my experience, there are many symptoms that frequently occur. I’ll start with the most obvious- the agonising head pain. Generally I get a searing pain behind my right eye that spreads up and over the right hand side of the head, down into the neck, and deep into the right shoulder. The throbbing pain is often so intense and vice-like that my brain looks for ways to minimise the pain, so I imagine I’m tunnelling my way underneath it to escape it. But there is, actually, no escape. Which sounds strange I know! I can only liken the head/neck/shoulder part to severe whiplash. Still related to the head, my brain races, it feels like synapses getting trigger happy with thoughts and songs whirring at pace. It is a sense of intense cognitive and emotional disquiet resulting in a terrible sense of impending doom. But, migraine doesn’t just involve pain in the head; an attack is a whole body experience negatively affecting each and every one of the five senses. All of the senses become heightened: SIGHT: I develop an aversion to light and to movement. At times I have been unable to see the other half of things or can experience vision disturbances such as zig zag lines, a snowstorm or the rotating wheel of doom. It is not possible to read. SOUND: every sound becomes magnified. Music that would normally be stimulating or soothing becomes intolerable noise. Absolute quiet is required. SMELL: my sense of smell is intensified too making normally pleasant fragrances such as perfume or garlic nauseating. It’s very like morning sickness. TASTE: everything tastes stronger and, again, nauseating. My mouth feels incredibly sensitive to heat and there’s a nasty metallic taste that refuses to go. And yet, despite this, when I experience an attack I need to eat. It must be something that’s sugary, protein-based and/or stodgy. TOUCH: my body and joints ache as if I had flu. I feel hot and cold. Nausea is extremely common with my migraine but what I really fear is being physically sick while it feels like my head is being beaten to a pulp. Fortunately for me, this is infrequent. At times I also experience vestibular migraine which involves a degree of vertigo that’s hard to describe. The world falls away in a spiralling vacuum as though I’m falling through space never to land back on earth. Imagine drinking two bottles of wine, feeling sick, the room spinning, then being forced to drink another two bottles…it’s a revolting feeling. An attack might last one to four days, then there’s the migraine ‘hangover’ that, again, can last for days. I typically feel crushing fatigue, nausea and brain fog. There’s often a residual headache with accompanying neck and shoulder pain. My body and mind feel as though I’m recovering from having been beaten up.   Source link

This post may contain affiliate links. Migraine Strong, as an Amazon Affiliate, makes a small percentage from qualified sales made through affiliate links at no cost to you. In my professional work with people who have migraine and the thousands of people I interact with on social media platforms, much of the conversation is around migraine-oriented eating. I’m a registered dietitian as well as a certified health and wellness coach focused on working with people living with migraine. There is no denying that there is a relationship between sugar and migraine attacks for a significant percentage of people. I shuddered at the very idea of not having sugar in my life.  As a matter of fact, I thought those who banished sugar from their lives were extremists. Let me assure you that I am not a zealot who is going to tell you that you need to breakup with sugar in order to get your migraine attacks in good control. Personally, sugar is not a migraine trigger for me but I feel better overall when I limit it. Let’s take a good look at what may be going on. If you notice a relationship between sugar and migraine attacks the below information will be important to know. ** While Migraine Strong writes about the latest in migraine treatments, this is not medical advice. We are patient educators and all information you read should be discussed with your doctor. 4 possible reasons for sugar and migraine episodes 1. Fluctuating blood sugar levels = sugar migraine When we eat food, our body gets to work on digesting and absorbing the meal.  Assuming our digestive and endocrine systems are working properly, there is a normal, healthy rise in blood sugar followed by a gradual decline. Blood sugar is kept in a range that allows our body to have enough fuel to provide the brain and all organs of the body to perform vital functions. For some people, the ability to regulate blood sugar is impaired. Blood sugar levels may climb too high in response to sugars and other high-carbohydrate foods. Their body may sense this elevated blood sugar and respond with a surge in a hormone called insulin to try to reduce the elevated blood sugar. The surge sometimes results in blood sugar getting too low. This can cause “sugar headache” for those who are prone to it. The migraine brain is often described as being hyper responsive to normal, benign stimulation. A person who is not prone to sugar migraine attacks may be completely unaware of the ups and downs of their blood sugar whether they are normal fluctuations or not. Contrarily, the person predisposed to migraine may be triggered by the inconsistencies and abnormalities in blood sugar. With this theory about sugar and migraine attacks, the body is sometimes unable to maintain blood sugar in the proper range. This causes the brain to respond with pain as a warning signal that something is wrong. This response to the low blood sugar level is described as a “sugar headache”. Yet, quite a few of us often experience headaches that quickly escalate to migraine when not treated early enough. A leading expert’s opinion on sugar and migraine Dr. Alexander Mauskop is one of world’s authorities on headache disorders. In his recent book, The End of Migraines- 150 Ways to Stop Your Pain, he states: Sugar is not always an obvious trigger. Many people develop migraine hours after a carbohydrate-rich food. Three-quarters of people with migraine have reactive hypoglycemia. This means that their blood sugar drops too low after a carbohydrate-rich meal. #AD 3 steps to take to avoid sugar migraine episodes First, know the signs of hypoglycemia aside from headache such as shakiness, sweating, confusion and hunger. You may only recognize the sugar headache, but that should be reported to your doctor.  He/she will ask you more questions and determine if further testing needs to be done to figure out if your blood sugar is stable and if something else should be done. Second, pay attention to the types of foods in your meals and snacks and make sure that if you have a sugary food, you pair it with a good protein, fat and/or fiber source. Protein, fat and fiber slow the digestion and absorption of sugar into the blood stream. So, if you have a sweet tooth and enjoy candy as an afternoon snack, consider switching to honey-roasted nuts. Nuts are a good source of protein, fat and fiber. Or, if you must have a cookie, wash it down with a little whole milk. In general, if you already suspect sugar and migraine attacks are linked for you, you should limit sugary foods and meals that are high in sugar and/or simple carbohydrates. Third, do not skip meals. Not having food when your body is used to having nourishment can make your blood sugar dip and set you up for a hunger-headache or migraine. Additionally, you may tend to overeat and indulge in too much sugar/carbs when you have your next meal. Your blood sugar could be spiking and falling throughout the day and antagonizing your hyper-responsive brain. If you have headaches that come and go, consider blood sugar fluctuations as one possible cause. The migraine brain likes consistency Do all you can to eat at consistent times and keep nonperishable snack items with you for those times that you cannot get a proper meal. Being prone to migraine often means you must be more vigilant about keeping a routine to keep your brain happy. Some people find that they can reduce their migraine frequency by making sure they have at least a small snack every few hours. Others avoid sleeping late when they do not have morning commitments so that their mealtime is consistent. Morning headaches after sleeping late may also be due to delayed caffeine for those who are accustomed to having caffeine each morning. 2. Sugar is an inflammatory food I think the overwhelming majority of people

Former trustee of The Migraine Trust and renowned neurologist Professor Fayyaz Ahmed shares his inspiring story in a newly published book, with proceeds going to support The Migraine Trust. Professor Ahmed’s memoir, “Beneath the Dust”, details his life journey from his childhood in Karachi, Pakistan through to his career as a consultant neurologist with a passion for improving headache and migraine care. Chief Executive of The Migraine Trust, Rob Music said, “We are incredibly grateful to Professor Ahmed for choosing to support the work of The Migraine Trust through sales of his new book. Professor Ahmed has been a long-time champion of the work of The Migraine Trust, including serving as a valued Trustee for 12 years, and it is wonderful to see his passion for better migraine care reflected in his memoir.” If you’re interested in purchasing the book, priced at £10 ( £15 including postage and packing), you can get in touch with Professor Ahmed and his team via email:  fayyaz.ahmed@nhs.net, debbie.buttle@nhs.net. Source link

This post may contain affiliate links. Migraine Strong, as an Amazon Affiliate, makes a small percentage from qualified sales made through affiliate links at no cost to you. There is so much I wish I knew about minimizing migraine when my frequency of attacks was ramping up a few years ago. I would have avoided “chronifying” and felt like myself rather than someone going through the motions in life for so long. I assume you have episodic migraine that is worsening and you are here trying to figure out what to do to minimize the attacks. It’s gotten so bad that you can’t be the person that you once were and it’s sucking the life out of you so many days of the month. You don’t know what’s worse – canceling commitments and looking like a flake or pushing through and pretending you are ok when you can barely think straight. In the back of your mind you think, “Could this get worse?” Maybe you don’t want to go to see your doctor or specialist again and you want to know what can be done right now to get better. Or you have been to see your doctor and feel reluctant to fill the prescribed daily migraine medication. This is not medical advice. The tips below can help you get better, along side the help you get from your doctor, and start minimizing your migraine attacks.  ** While Migraine Strong writes about the latest in migraine treatments, this is not medical advice. We are patient educators and all information you read should be discussed with your doctor. Things I know now but wish I knew then… Medications – A love/hate relationship If you haven’t already done so, please read my blog about episodic migraine and medications. Understanding the role of migraine meds as well as others you may take is very important.  Implementing the steps from that one blog may help you tremendously.  The Personal Plan to Roll-Back Attacks detailed in the blog may take a few weeks for you to implement if you take those prescribed and over-the-counter medications. The effort will be worth it. Medications can provide wonderful relief when properly taken. I wish I knew that the the medications that were helping me live my life and ditch my increasing migraine attacks ultimately hurt me. The good news is that now that my migraine attack frequency has diminished, they help me again. Migraine Strong recently interviewed a migraine expert about keeping migraine attack frequency from moving from episodic to chronic. Her tips for helping to get chronic migraine back to episodic migraine will help many who are trying to find the right combination of medications and other interventions. Next, take a good look at what you think your triggers are.  Triggers are Tricky. What makes triggers so tricky is that they tend to be cumulative. That is, they stack on top of each other.  A stressful day may not trigger you, but a stressful day after a lousy night of sleep, on a stormy day that you capped off with a glass of red wine may do you in! This eye-opening blog from Eileen Zollinger discusses this concept in more detail and may help you understand your personal trigger threshold.  The internet will provide you with conflicting lists of the most common migraine triggers and they will rank them differently. Stress is usually at the top followed by poor sleep. Weather, hormones, diet, hydration, scents, lighting, alcohol and caffeine are also common triggers. How each rank with an individual will vary.  How do you figure out your personal triggers? My favorite way is to use a popular tracker called Migraine Buddy. It’s a popular smartphone app as it’s easy to use and is frequently updated to help the user figure out what’s helping and what’s hurting. I wish I knew about Migraine Buddy when things were so bad. The Migraine Buddy App ** IMPORTANT – If you are in a phase where it seems like “everything is a trigger,” it’s likely the time to up your migraine preventive game with help from your doctor’s prescription pad or a neuromodulation device. Most people only have a few triggers. If your migraine brain is over-responding “to everything,” it’s not likely that you can “lifestyle your way to wellness.” The MOST Controllable Triggers – Caffeine, Foods and Beverages Caffeine – I know, I know- Many of you are wincing right now. Questions about coffee and migraine come up all the time, but significant caffeine sources are in other, less obvious places. This blog called Caffeine and Migraine- Trigger or Treatment and it is a must-read. I have 2 strong recommendations for you:  Note your caffeinated beverage intake and notice if your attacks tend to happen when you deviate from your pattern.  Some patterns I have seen that cause trouble – Varying amounts of caffeinated coffee, tea and/or soda due to weekend/weekday habits.  Out of town travel is also a common problem as it interrupts the usual morning routine. Notice if you tend to feel fine when having your usual number of caffeinated beverages but start getting symptoms after you have the extra serving while at a mid-morning meeting or spontaneous trip through a drive-thru.  Read ingredient labels. Is that smoothie that you love so much made with caffeine? How about that powdered drink that you have occasionally? Are you drinking energy drinks or taking supplements to boost your energy? Caffeine may be an ingredient. The inconsistent amount or having too much caffeine may be triggering you. Inconsistency of caffeine intake makes minimizing your migraine attacks more difficult. Caffeine In Medications Caffeine is an important part of some over-the-counter (OTC) and prescribed medications and is part of why the medication works so well. The OTC medication that you take for joint pain may get its boost from caffeine. Check out those labels, too. Why is caffeine a potential problem? One reason it might be a problem for you is that your body may be used to a steady amount and when it varies, it can trigger an

A simple guide to the phases of a migraine attack and what researchers think is happening inside the brain. Many people mistakenly believe a migraine attack to be “just a bad headache”. But inside the brain, a migraine attack is far more complex. A migraine attack is a brain-wide event, meaning it involves changes in nerve activity, brain chemicals, blood vessels and sensory processing. These changes unfold over time and lead to four commonly defined phases of a migraine attack. Researchers often divide these phases into: Prodrome or Premonitory phase Aura phase (only in approximately 30% of cases, defined as migraine with aura) Headache phase Postdrome phase Let’s walk through what researchers currently think is happening inside of the brain as a migraine attack unfolds. The premonitory phase: the brain’s early warning system For many people, the first signs of a migraine attack, or premonitory symptoms, show up before the head pain even begins. These symptoms are indicators that the migraine attack, and its underlying changes in the brain, have already started. A timeline of the phases of a migraine attack and its associated symptoms. Created in BioRender. Rubio beltran, E. R. (2026) One of the brain regions that is believed to be important in generating premonitory symptoms is a small almond-sized region deep in the brain, called the hypothalamus. We know that the hypothalamus is activated in migraine, before the onset of head pain and its normal function is to keep the body in a stable, consistent state, adjusting to changes in the environment (a process known as homeostasis). In a way, it is like the master thermostat, monitoring internal and external conditions and regulating things like appetite, sleep, and hormones. Given this important function, changes in activity of the hypothalamus are thought to lead to some of the diverse non-pain symptoms that occur, including fatigue. It’s still unclear exactly what triggers the cascade of changes that happen during a migraine attack. But a better understanding of the biology underlying the earliest premonitory phase may give us clues that hint at how migraine attacks begin, offering new hope for treatment. Aura: a wave across the brain Up to one third of people living with migraine experience aura as part of a migraine attack. This phenomenon is called Cortical Spreading Depression (or CSD for short). This wave travels surprisingly slowly at only a few millimetres per minute. As it moves across different regions of the cortex, it interrupts normal brain activity, giving rise to the symptoms experienced, including visual symptoms when it crosses the visual cortex. The headache phase: pain-pathways are activated and become sensitised The phase that most people associate with migraine is the headache phase. During this time, there are several processes occurring simultaneously in the brain. A key player in the headache phase is the trigeminal nerve. This nerve is responsible for carrying sensory information from the face and head to the brain. During a migraine attack, the trigeminal nerve becomes activated and sends pain signals to different areas of the brain. The nerve endings also release chemical signals, like Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP), which helps drive inflammation and increases sensitivity of pain pathways in the brain. As these pathways become more active, the brain begins to amplify sensory signals. This is why some people with migraine often become sensitive to light, sound and even smells. Overall, the brain’s pain-processing network is being switched into overdrive making it highly sensitised and overactive. Currently several therapies target this phase including molecules that block the actions of CGRP. The Postdrome: the migraine “hangover” Even after the headache fades, the migraine attack isn’t over. People often describe the postdrome as feeling like a “migraine hangover.” At this point, the brain is gradually recovering from the migraine attack. Pain pathways sensitivity is reducing, but networks involved in things like attention, thinking, and energy regulation may still be temporarily affected. Research investigating this phase is currently limited. In the future, research into this phase will hopefully provide a better idea about the changes happening in the brain at the end of a migraine attack. Overview of the key players in the brain relating to migraine phases. Created in BioRender. Rubio beltran, E. R. (2026) The big picture A migraine attack is a cascade of events occurring outside and inside the brain, not just a single event. These events unfold in phases: Brain regulation changes begin in the premonitory phase A wave of altered electrical activity can spread across cortex during aura phase Pain pathway and sensory systems become active and sensitised during the headache phase The brain recovers during postdrome phase Understanding migraine in light of all the changes that occur over time helps explain why it’s considered a neurovascular disorder, not simply a severe headache. Researchers are still working to fully understand how and why these attacks occur, hopefully leading to more answers to the question marks that remain to be answered about migraine biology.   Source link