A huge portion of the American population which is up to 13% of the entire population tend to suffer from migraines and yet this same population shows a complete lack of understanding of what migraines are about. The National Headache Foundation has recorded some of the most popular myths about migraines and the analysis of the myths dispels them with the actual facts.
Myth: Migraines are simply just bad headaches.
Fact: Migraines are an illness that may affect up to 13% of the American population. Migraine sufferers may also experience other related symptoms such as pain and weakness in the head and other areas such as the face and the neck as well as the shoulders too. Sufferers of migraines may also be unduly sensitive to light and sound effects. These sufferers may also experience mood swings as well as depression. Attacks tend to last for long periods such as hours and days. These attacks may stop the person in question from going about their daily routines too.
Myth: Caffeine does not help to relieve a migraine.
Fact: While studies have shown that caffeine may cause migraines in certain people the same studies have also shown that the same caffeine can alleviate the symptoms of migraines in other people. There are different ways to know how caffeine affects a specific person and the best way is to get a precise food diary that determine whether its effects are positive or negative over a long term.
Myth: Migraines are not triggered by stress.
Fact: Stress can cause migraines in a whole lot of people. The stress that is felt may be brought on by a whole number of factors and these factors are both physical and emotional factors. People who suffer from migraines have highly sensitive brains and these highly sensitive brains may release certain chemicals which may cause pain and any other symptoms which are usually associated with the development of migraines. These stress factors may include a whole number of things as well including worry, anxiety, depression, physical exertion and mental fatigue too.
Myth: Exercise Doesn’t Do Anything to Help Prevent Migraines Fact: A lot of exercise may help in the prevention of migraines as well. Regular exercise usually reduces the symptoms which most people experience with migraines. Other people on the other hand may notice an increased level of severity with migraines when they exercise or engage in sports. If exercise leaves you susceptible to headaches then you can easily check with your healthcare provider in order to determine the things you can do which will ensure that you remain healthy while you exercise.
Myth: Dietary Supplements Don’t Help in Treating Migraines Fact: Different sorts of vitamins help in the prevention and treatment of migraines and these vitamins include:
- Magnesium – It helps the relaxation of blood vessels and this reduces the effect of these migraines and the regularity with which they occur.
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) – This vitamin helps in production of increased levels of ATP which help in reducing the problems body cells experience during a migraine attack.
Myth: Sleep does not affect migraines Fact: Lack of sleep is one of the causes of migraines and its related symptoms. One of the cures for migraines is to make sure that you go to sleep at similar periods every night and wake up at similar times too. This helps you maintain a natural circadian rhythm in your body.
Myth: Migraine headaches are not hereditary Fact: This isn’t true. If someone in your family suffers from headaches, there is a 50% probability that you will have headaches too. If two parents suffer from migraines then the chance that their children will suffer from headaches is a 1 in 3 chance. Distant relatives who suffer from migraines may also lead to you suffering from migraines as well. 20 percent of all sufferers have one relative or the other who suffers from migraines on a rather frequent basis.
Dealing with migraine headaches can be very difficult but if you take the time out to study the root causes behind these headaches, you can easily learn what causes these headaches and how you can prevent these headaches and treat them as well. It can also help you cope with the emotional and physical effects of migraines.
