How to Defeat a Migraine

In today's fast-paced world of economic growth, booming business, and rising gas, stress is everywhere. Ranging from work to road rage, for many life's tensions have peaked as migraines pulsate to the beat of everyday life. Surprisingly, migraines do not come, "out of nowhere, " and there are multiple ways to ease the pain and eventually avoid their often unbearable tension.

One of the largest factors, and often the most overlooked, is MSG, or monosodium glutamate, and it can be found in an obscene amount of places. If your migraines are nonstoppable, cutting the MSG and caffeine out of your diet immediately will make the greatest impact because they cause the constriction of blood vessels and palpitation of veins. MSG is found in a majority of prepackaged frozen foods like pizzas, dinners, and most fast food. It's tasteless, and basically being used to keep the food in its freshest sense while being a "flavor enhancer" but for many people it has lasting effects. It's also found in most Chinese foods, Ramen noodles, canned soups, and meat tenderizers.

Caffeine/Aspartame are also large contributors to migraines. Found largely in coffee and soda, caffeine is hidden in a variety of teas, but luckily almost all are now offered decaf. So, if you're still buying caffinated- it's time to switch over. Be careful though! When eating out at a restaurant, the teas are all caffinated. Caffeine is also found in chocolate, and if you are not careful it can be slipped into non-prescription medicines such as Advil. There is a variety of food, such as aged cheese, nuts, and processed meats that have an adverse effect on migraines. Cheeses, like cheddar; nuts; and meats such as sausage all exude oils which cause the temples to throb and the brows to furrow. Even worse is alcohol. In a category all its own, alcohol is a no-no for migraine sufferers.

You aren't destined to be miserable with migraines, though. There are a couple of things you can do when they hit, things you should know to avoid, and splurges that often are well worth it. If you haven't noticed by now, scent often plays a key part in headache moments, so bag up lotions, bubble baths, and perfumes and keep it relaxing. Changes in your sleep pattern and skipping meals are also things that often come back to bite you. Meals don't have to be "meals" just something, even a glass of juice or milk to keep you going. Get rid of the bright lights and turn off the phone (women) when menstruation time hits, because it's going to be rough. Put an ice pack on the back of your neck and/or a cold rag on your forehead when a migraine hits, stretch out and take a moment for yourself (if you can). Massage the pressure points between your thumb and pointer finger, temples, and feet to get the blood flow going. Acupuncture has also been helpful for many, relieving stress and tension. Massages- whether temple or full body are also well received, leaving your body and your mind fresh and renewed after only a short period of time.