Migraines are a real pain, literally. Migraine headaches are easily considered to be one of the most common reasons people visit their healthcare practitioner. Migraines typically last from 4 to 72 hours and affect about 15% of the population, and in most cases those affected are women.
Research has shown that diet plays a big role in why a migraine occurs. Some of these foods include:
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*Nuts
*Aspartame
*Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
*Red Wine and other types of alcohol
*Caffeine intake or withdrawal
*Nitrites (such as those found in salami and hot dogs)
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Other migraine causes can include eye strain, lack of sleep or too much sleep, carbon monoxide poisoning, very low or high blood pressure, altitude changes (air travel), bright or flashing lights, stress, too much noise and allergies.
Perhaps one of the nastiest things about having a migraine, aside from the debilitating discomfort, is that some of the more common over the counter medications can actually cause headaches.
One of most highly touted pain relief techniques for migraines is acupuncture. It’s not only effective, but also comes without the side effects of conventional drug treatments. The risk of side effects from drug therapy is of great concern for many people, which makes acupuncture an even more attractive way to achieve pain relief.
Acupuncture is a relaxing therapy that uses thin needles to stimulate specific points on the body. Namely, it is known to relieve the tension that your migraine is likely to be creating.
A 3 month long study published in the British Medical Journal (in 2004) examined more than 400 adults who experienced regular migraines. During the study, one group of participants received 12 acupuncture sessions to determine the effectiveness of the treatment.
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Results showed that participants in the acupuncture group experienced fewer headaches, went to the doctor less, and used less sick days at work. Therefore the effectiveness of acupuncture in regards to migraine headaches makes it a viable alternative to conventional treatments. Acupuncture may allow you to avoid taking unnecessary drugs. But of course, be sure to only have acupuncture performed by a qualified and certified acupuncturist for the best possible treatment.
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Aspartame vs. Sugar – Is One Any Better?
