If you’ve ever suffered from a migraine headache you know that you will do almost anything for migraine relief. According to experts, up to 26 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches, and they are high among reasons for missed work and loss of production.
A debilitating Migraine headache can last from 4 to 72 hours and migraine symptoms include intense pain, extreme sensitivity to light and sound, vertigo, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. After affects of a migraine can leave the sufferer drained and without energy, and possibly with a low grade headache with continued oversensitivity to light and sound for up to an additional 24 hours.
Many things can trigger migraine headaches, and not only does this vary between individuals but also different things can trigger headaches at different stages in one’s life. Some commonly known migraine triggers include stress, allergies and air pollution, humidity, dehydration, intense lighting, crying or grief, and injuries. Statistically, women are more prone to migraines than men, apparently because of the decline in estrogen during menstruation.
Considered a vascular headache, migraine headaches are said to begin with the enlargement of the temporal artery which is located between the skin and skull at the temple. This enlargement stretches the nerves that coil around the temporal artery causing these nerves to release chemicals into the system. A snowball effect takes places since these chemicals cause inflammation and pain which further enlarge the temporal artery and stretch the nerves. A migraine will often activate the sympathetic nervous system which is reported to react to stress and pain. This increased activity affects the intestines causing vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea and contributes to the sensitivity to light and sound.
Due to the inconsistency of triggering factors and the headaches themselves migraines have been difficult to treat. Many prescription drugs are available including the controversial and highly expensive use of Botox, which is claimed to interrupt the pain pathways,however these medications offer treatment and not prevention.
Migraine Prevention
While it’s not clear whether preventing migraine onset is possible, many claim that taking Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) may help prevent or lessen migraines. In clinical studies patients taking 400mg of Vitamin B2 daily displayed a 37% decrease in migraine headaches and a drop in the number of days the headache affected them. The effects of the increased Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) ingestion began in as little as 30 days and appear to work best after 3 months and benefited those who suffer from moderate Migraines 3 to 4 times a month.
Vitamin B2 is required for proper cell mitochondria function and when a vitamin b2 deficiency occurs it is thought that this may trigger migraines in susceptible individuals. The low cost alternative of taking vitamin B2 for prevention of migraines may not work for everyone but will be welcomed by many.
Other inroads into preventing this complex interaction of genetic, environmental, and neurological variables include stress release activities, as anger, frustration and other strong emotions can act as triggers of migraines. Note that migraine headaches can have a delay after the trigger of up to 2 days. In addition, many common dietary items can trigger migraines – such as wheat, sugar, and some grains – and avoiding these may help.
Research also indicates that vitamins b9, or folic acid, can help with migraines (vitamin b/folate also helps prevent Alzheimer’s, according to studies), as well as other B Vitamins such as B12, along with natural astaxanthin and coconut oil. It may make sense to supplement with – or take injections of – either whole Vitamin B or these individual substances. If you eat little or no meat (vegetarian) you may also wish to supplement with Vitamin B12.
Another purportedly effective therapy for migraines involves administering bright light in 30 minute doses every other day, much like treating seasonal disorders, where a clinical reduction in Migraine headaches was reported. This treatment may sound surprising since migraine sufferers usually avoid light during the onset of a headache. The bright light is claimed to possibly elevate concentrations of several neurotransmitters, including serotonin, in the brain.
With migraine headaches costing $18 billion in drugs, emergency room and doctor visits, time off work and loss of productivity, not to mention the loss of quality lifestyle, a cure or prevention may only be a Vitamin B2 supplement away.
