migraines - do you get them or used to?

[lbrowne]

I've heard quite a few people say they used to get migraines but they either don't or rarely once following the Atkins program. Here's an article that ties in the magnesium possibility. There's probably more to it than that but for anyone still suffering from migraines, I thought I'd post it.

I definately get many more nutrients on this program with the eating alone, but I also take my supplements.

BY RALLIE MCALLISTER, M.D., MPH

RELEASE: SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2005

NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS HELPFUL IN PREVENTING AND TREATING MIGRAINE HEADACHES

When it comes to treating migraine headaches, an ounce of prevention may be worth a pound of cure. Some experts believe that the mineral magnesium is one of the keys to migraine prevention.

Alexander Mauskop, M.D., director of the New York Headache Center and associate professor of clinical neurology at State University of New York (SUNY), has long studied the association between migraines and magnesium.

According to Mauskop, "Magnesium is a mineral that you can't live without, because it plays many roles in the human body." One of these roles, he explained, is the regulation of serotonin levels, a brain chemical known to be involved in the onset of migraine headaches.

In the brain, fluctuating magnesium levels can send blood vessels into spasm, stretching delicate nerve endings and generating pain in the process. In addition to pain, migraine sufferers also may experience nausea and vomiting, visuals changes, and sensitivity to light and sound.

Mauskop became interested in the link between magnesium and migraines in 1992, when he and a colleague began measuring ionized magnesium levels in migraine sufferers. Incredibly, approximately half of the headache patients they tested had low levels of magnesium in their blood.

Since Mauskop's initial research, several additional studies have confirmed that many migraine sufferers have low magnesium levels. "When I began treating my migraine patients with magnesium," he said, "some of them got dramatic relief."

Mauskop, the author of "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Migraines," explained, "When we tested magnesium levels in headache patients, we were measuring the ionized form of the mineral. This is a much more sensitive indicator of deficiency than the serum magnesium that is commonly tested in doctors' offices and hospitals."

The blood test for ionized magnesium is not widely available. "Really, it isn't necessary to test magnesium levels in everyone with migraine headaches, because magnesium deficiency is so common," Mauskop noted. "Even without the test, a person with migraines can at least try magnesium to see if it works, because it is very safe, and has very few side effects."

Magnesium supplements are generally well tolerated by healthy individuals, with the most common side effect being diarrhea. For people with kidney disease, however, magnesium can be unsafe, and should not be taken without a doctor's supervision.

For migraine prevention, Mauskop advises his patients to take 400 milligrams (mg) of magnesium a day. If this doesn't work, he recommends increasing the dose to 600 or 800 mg, as long as the higher doses are tolerated.

Many foods are rich in magnesium, including dark green vegetables, whole grains, beans, bananas and seafood. "For a person with a magnesium deficiency, eating a well-balanced diet usually isn't enough," Mauskop said. "Most people will need to take a supplement to correct the deficiency."

In addition to magnesium, vitamin B-2 and an herb known as feverfew have been shown to be effective in the prevention and treatment of migraines. An over-the-counter preparation, called MigreLief, combines all three of the ingredients.

Curt Hendrix, a chemist and creator of the MigreLief formula, has been involved in drug research for more than 15 years. He said, "Each one of these ingredients may help some migraine sufferers, but not others. Instead of guessing which one will be most effective, it makes sense to try all three at the same time."

Vitamin B-2, or riboflavin, works by increasing the energy production of structures called mitochondria, which serve as microscopic power plants for cells in the body and brain. Research has demonstrated that mitochondria in the brains of migraine sufferers produce significantly less energy than mitochondria in the brains of people without the condition.

"At a dose of 400 milligrams a day, riboflavin is very effective in the prevention of migraine headaches," Hendrix said.

For migraine sufferers who don't get relief after taking magnesium or riboflavin, the herb feverfew may help. Also known as bachelor's button, the plant has been used in the treatment of headaches for hundreds of years.

In clinical trials, migraine sufferers who took feverfew capsules regularly experienced a significant reduction in the frequency of migraine attacks. In addition, study volunteers who took the herb had less pain, nausea and vomiting associated with their migraines.

"There is an inflammatory component to migraines," said Hendrix, "Feverfew helps because it has anti-inflammatory properties, similar to aspirin."

Taking magnesium, riboflavin, and feverfew on a regular basis won't necessarily cure migraine headaches, but they can reduce their frequency and intensity. For migraine sufferers in search of relief, these supplements may be well worth trying.

Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H., is a family physician in Kingsport, Tenn., and author of "Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom's Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim." Her Web site is http://www.rallieonhealth.com. To find out more about Rallie McAllister, M.D., and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2005 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.

[cleochatra]

That's a great article! Thank you for sharing it!

In my experience with what I know about migraines through second-hand experience (knowing people who suffer from them), there are other reasons I believe migraines tend to go away:

1) Aspartame triggers migraines in people sometimes. Aspartame is generally frowned upon during Atkins

2) Nitrates, MSG and sulfites are two things Dr Atkins said to avoid, and with good reason. Many people have sensitivities to these foods!

[Jen111]

This interesting article caught my attention, as I get migraines that seem to be mostly hormonally related. It really was a surprise to me, when I regularly started suffering from these mid-cycle and at the beginning or during my cycle, as I had never been a headachey person. I suspect it is peri-menopause that is causing the problems. Some people are very senstive to changing hormone levels.

Anyway, I did finally discover, after a couple of years of going through this, some little strategies that work for me in preventing them from taking hold. Maybe this will help somebody out there. I hope so.

How to manage/avoid Migraine Headaches:


Take fish oil (Omega-3, an essential fatty acid) supplements – morning and night the week before or preferably every day (discovered this on the National Headache Foundation site). I take many other good supplements besides: multi-vitamin, Vitamin B complex, folic acid, calcium and magnesium, zinc and potassium. I take potassium specifically as I follow a lower carb diet. Omega-3 supplements are recommended by the National Headache foundation and studies show it reduces the number and severity of migraine headaches! Look it up in Google.

When it is close to your period and significant water weight has come on, take a diuretic daily for 2 to 4 days or so. This may not be necessary, but if you have consumed quite a bit of sodium and water weight is significant, it can contribute to migraines.


Learn to recognize the symptoms. Tired, sore eyes, pain beginning vaguely on one side of the head or in the back of one’s neck, getting quiet and just wanting to lie down, are some of my symptoms, as well as scalp creep (feels just like that) and a stiff back of the neck feeling.


When symptoms are just beginning, take an Ibuprofen and drink half a diet pepsi (sucralose (Splenda)-sweetened (found in States). If an hour later that has not worked, take a Codeine tablet and drink the rest of the diet pepsi. That should do the trick.


All these steps have helped me avoid getting full-fledged migraine headaches, which used to last up to 3 days for me. I suffered from this for a couple of years, but now I’ve learned to manage and completely avoid migraine headaches from taking a hold.

[Kisseslikepearls]

Interesting to hear about the fish oil and magnesium. I think magnesium deficency needs more voices...its vital to absorbing calcium etc.

What's the theory behind the diet pepsi?

My first symptom is not being able to read. It sounds odd, but I get blurry spots in my vision that I cant see unless there's something like small print in my line of vision. Usually i take 800mg Ibpophin (when i'm in a bind anyways) and no pain, just some hearing/light senstivity (but no where near as bad as it is full blown) and nausea.

Also, isn't codine a controlled substance? I keep around my old painkillers from getting wisdom teeth rremoved and a bad case of DUB and those work like a charm, but last I checked they didnt give out things like codine for migrane sufferers....have things changed or gotten more lenient????


I must admit, staying on atkins just got alot more appealing!!!!!!!

[Jen111]

Kisseslikepearls, codeine you can get in Canada. I have some on hand from my father-in-law, a retired doctor in South Africa. I guess you're probably right about America though - it may be hard to acquire down there.

The caffeine in the diet coke or pepsi constricts the blood vessels. It is the dilation, I believe, that causes pain and pressure. That's the theory, I think.