What is migraine?

Migraine is a complex condition with a wide variety of symptoms, but the main symptom for many people is painful headache. Other symptoms are vomiting, nausea, sensitivity to light, smells and sounds. In many people the pain in the head is felt only on one side.

There are four stadiums of migraine: prodrome, aura, headache and postdrome. In the first stadium, one or two days before a migraine, people can notice changes that signify an oncoming migraine. This change includes depression, hyperactivity, constipation, irritability, neck stiffness and food cravings. Prodromal stadium is also called early warning.

Auras are nervous system symptoms that are usually visual disturbances. This can be blind spots, colored spots, flashing lights, zig zag lines, temporary blindness. Sometimes can be affected and movement or speech. Most people experience migraine headaches without aura. Aura happens about an hour before the headache or right when the headache strikes.

The third stage is the headache or main attack stage. It can last between 4 and 72 hours. The headache in this stage is typically described as throbbing at one side. Other possible symptoms are sensitivity to light, sounds and smells, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision.

And the final phase is postdromal or after headache. It can last from few ours up to two days. Symptoms that can occur are fatigue, confusion, irritability, head pain if you move too quickly.

Migraine in pregnancy

Common trigger for migraine in pregnancy are hormonal changes. Actually, sex hormone levels show profound changes which have an effect on whether your migraine gets worse or better. The fluctuation of levels of oestrogen and progesterone is not as pronounced as during non-pregnant state, which may be why migraine often improves during pregnancy. Due to pregnancy levels of natural pain killer hormones (endorphins) are several times higher. Maybe the improvement of migraine is because of this fact.

Pregnant women should keep a headache diary, which will include when the headache happened, what triggered and how long it lasted. This way you can learn what triggers migraine and therefore avoid those things. Common triggers are stress, coffee, cheese, chocolate, hormones, weather, strong smell etc.

Natural remedies for migraine:

1. Magnesium

Magnesium deficiency is directly linked to migraines. Magnesium helps relax nerves and muscles and transmits nerve impulses throughout the body and brain and it helps prevent nerves from becoming overexcited. Food sources of magnesium are spinach, pumpkin seeds, salmon, sunflower seeds, amaranth, quinoa etc.

2. Vitamin B2 or riboflavin

Riboflavin is needed for converting food to energy, and also works as an antioxidant. Foods rich in riboflavin are eggs, legumes, nuts, dairy products etc. Taking 400 mg of riboflavin daily together with a B-complex supplement, reduce the incidence of migraine headaches. Riboflavin rich food is liver, lamb, whole grains, eggs, yogurt, almonds and etc.

3. Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin-like substance involved in the creation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the cells major energy source and drives a number of processes in the body including muscle contraction and production of protein. Coenzyme Q10 increases blood flow to the brain, improve circulation, protects cells from oxidative damage and stabilize blood sugar. Low blood sugar is major trigger for migraines.

4. Hydrate

Migraines are often sign of significant dehydration. Just drink more water, at least 2l daily.

5. Exercise

With exercise is released endorphin which act as a mild sedative. Regular exercise helps to reduce tension and stress, a well-known trigger for many migraines suffers.