Migraine Headache Symptoms - Know Your Migraine Stages

When considering migraine headache symptoms it is important to note that migraines develop in four stages but not everyone experiences all four stages. Those suffering from classic migraines, now classified by the Headache Society as migraine with aura, are the most likely to go through all four stages. Others suffering from migraine without aura may also experience the same stages but will not consciously be aware of them. Sometimes reference is made to a fifth stage which is the interval between migraines.

First Stage - Prodrome Or Premonition
This stage normally begins one or two days before the onset of the actual migraine headache. Many call this the premonition stage. Feelings and emotions during this period are all over the place. Some become giddy, ecstatic, vibrant and happy to a much greater extent than normal. Others are at the opposite end of the spectrum experiencing fatigue, weakness and irritability normally to a greater extent than normal. There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to the prodrome.

Second Stage - The Aura
This affects only about twentyfive percent of sufferers and so is missed by most. For those it does affect the aura can start anything from a few minutes to as much as an hour before the headache starts. Auras are visual disturbances experienced by those who suffer from migraines. Objects may appear to have bright or flashing lights or halos around them. They may also "see" lightening flashes arcing across their field of vision or black spots that gradually get bigger until they become almost blind just prior to the pain starting.

Third Stage - The Headache
This stage can last for as little as four hours or go on for several days. The most usual pain is a headache that is one sided which throbs or pulses. It is often accompanied by gastric upset, nausea, vomiting, heightened sensitivity to light, sound or smell and may sometimes be a combination of all three.

Fourth Stage - Postdromal
The after effects of a migraine can often be as unpleasant as the build up to one. Often the relieved migraine sufferer will experience tenderness of the head, neck and stomach as well as feeling weak and fatigued.

Article Source:The different stages your migraine takes you can help you understand your migraine headache symptoms and allow you to find effective relief for them.

Migraine Headache Symptoms and Causes

When describing migraine symptoms and causes, it first helps to understand what is a migraine. A migraine is not just an ordinary headache, as those who suffer from it will know only too well. A migraine headache can be severe and persistent and is accompanied by a wide range of other symptoms.

• Artery Constriction
Migraines are the result of a constriction of the arteries in the brain, which reduces blood flow to the brain. This is followed by dilation or widening of these arteries. Hence the often unique throbbing sensation experienced with a migraine headache.

• Symptoms Can Vary
Migraine symptoms vary greatly from one person to another. About one in every five migraine sufferers will have what is called a classical migraine. Associated with a classical migraine is a visual disturbance known as an aura. This is flashing light in front of the eye preceding a migraine. This can be in conjunction with pins and needles and an altered sense of smell and taste.

Most patients commonly see zigzag patterns of brightly colored lights flashing or even a blind spot in the form of a hole, usually in one eye only. This aura can last from about 10 to 30 minutes. This is usually followed by the headache, but not always as some migraine sufferers only experience the aura. This is known as an ocular migraine.

In most cases the main migraine symptom is a moderate to severe headache. This is usually confined to one side of the head and can alternate from one side to the other. It is often a throbbing or pulsating headache and will get worse with physical activity. Often there is pain behind the eyes, which can be relieved with pain killers or a cold compress.

More Symptoms
As well as migraine symptoms of the head, a migraine sufferer may experience a variety of other symptoms. These include:
• the feeling of nausea,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea
• very cold hands and feet.
• If the patient is having a visual disturbance, feelings of dizziness and disorientation can occur.

Be Cautious
One very disturbing migraine symptom is that of temporary paralysis on one side of the body. This is known as a hemipleic migraine and can be very frightening if experienced for the first time. As this can mimic the signs of a stroke it is always important to have these sort of migraine symptoms checked out by your doctor to confirm that it is a migraine.

Article Source: Migraines often go undiagnosed and untreated. If you experience migraine symptoms it is well worth keeping a diary or record of your attacks.

Food Allergies Or Food Intolerance and Nutrition

There is a lot of confusion around the difference between food allergies and food intolerances.
A person with a food intolerance is unable to digest and process that food correctly, usually due to a lack of a certain enzyme or enzymes. It usually occurs when too much of a particular food is eaten, or too often. Common offenders are wheat and dairy, as well as eggs, oranges and sugar. If you avoid these foods for a few months, you may find that you will be able to tolerate them again in small quantities.

A food allergy, on the other hand, occurs when a person's immune system generates an antibody response to the ingested food. Food intolerances can lead to allergy, however, if protein particles of undigested food manage to enter the bloodstream and cause a reaction.

Allergies are often similar to an addiction, in so far as it's often the food you desire most that you're allergic to.
Food intolerance are very common, and true allergies less so. If you suspect you have either, it's best to see a nutritional consultant or allergy specialist who can test you and also advise you on how to deal with any underlying digestive imbalances that provoke allergies.

By following an appropriate diet and taking a few supplements, most cases of food intolerance can be dealt with.
In the meantime, Vitamin C, calcium and magnesium, a digestive enzyme, and quercetin can be very helpful. L-Glutamine, Butyric Acid, Vitamin A and Essential Fatty Acids will help heal the gut so that allergies or intolerances become less of a problem, if at all.

Allergies and Food Intolerance - Here are some Dietary Suggestions

Follow a generally healthy diet.

Avoid foods which you suspect might be causing you problems. Especially avoid wheat and dairy, as these are the most common allergens.

Other common allergens are yeast, strawberries, eggs, corn, citrus fruits, chocolate, caffeine and sugar.

If you appear to be sensitive to lots of different foods, visit an allergy specialist or qualified nutrition consultant, to ensure you still receive a balanced diet and sufficient nutrients.

For children especially, food colourings are a common problem, and monosodium glutamate (flavouring) often causes skin rashes or hot flushes (Chinese Takeaway Syndrome). 

Article Source:  Hopefully this general information will be sufficient for many people to conquer their food intolerances, but others will require specialist help as mentioned above.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Dehydration

When you suffer from dehydration symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, learning how to cleanse and re-hydrate your body will improve your physical energy as well as reduce brain fog, headaches, skin problems, joint and muscle pain, poor digestion and cravings.

When dehydrated, our internal cleansing system becomes congested and stagnates like dirty dish water. It's amazing how much importance we place on cleaning the outside of our body, and how little importance we place on cleaning the inside!

What are the Symptoms of Dehydration?

Not being well hydrated manifests itself in many ways. Here are some of the more common symptoms reported by those who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome:

Feeling tired and sluggish
Dehydration can be a cause of fatigue when you have chronic fatigue syndrome. Nearly all body functions are about fluid balance, and even small changes in fluid balance can affect our performance and daily life. If this fluid is not replaced blood volume can drop. As a result, the heart has to work harder in order to supply the skin and muscles with oxygen and nutrients.
As dehydration progresses, the body redirects blood to the working muscles and away from the skin, impairing your body's ability to diffuse heat. The increase in internal heat then results in muscle cramps, light-headedness, and fatigue. If you have chronic fatigue syndrome, you will identify with this symptom.

Headaches
Many chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers report frequent headaches. Headaches are a consequence of physical and/or mental stress and can result from not being properly hydrated. Headaches caused through poor hydration are a condition shared by many sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Brain Fog
If you have chronic fatigue syndrome, the lack of fluids in your system can be very detrimental to decision making. When the brain suffers from poor hydration, mental fogginess, poor short term memory, dizziness, severe headaches and poor balance results.

Dry Skin, Rashes and Skin Problems
Those with chronic fatigue syndrome often report skin problems. Our body is mostly water, so we need to replenish and maintain an optimum fluid level. Water helps flush out toxins in the body and helps to keep skin supple and healthy.
Water is the skin's own moisturiser and just as the rest of your body requires hydration and nutrients, so does your skin. When our skin suffers the affects of dehydration, skin problems occur. If you have chronic fatigue syndrome and skin problems, you may be suffering from dehydration.

Pain and Joint Swelling
The pain and joint swelling that is so often associated with chronic fatigue syndrome can also be the result of joint dehydration. The cartilage that protects the surface of our bones at the joints is made up of a lot of water. If the joint is well hydrated then the friction between the bones is minimised.

Muscle Pain
As the immune system attempts to deal with bacteria and viruses, poisons and toxins enter the lymph system to be disposed of from the body. Good circulation assists with this process, but if you have chronic fatigue syndrome, pain often prevents you from exercising. The lymph glands can become blocked and then the toxins remain trapped.
When you drink sufficient water, your body dilutes these toxins and your kidneys more effectively flush out the poisons. You're likely to feel worst before you feel better. But continue to drink lots of water so that your kidneys can flush out all the impurities. You may find Lymphatic Massage helpful.

Cravings
Dehydration can cause cravings, and this symptom is common amongst chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers. If you crave different foods, alcohol, caffeine, sugars and so on, your body is really disguising its thirst signals.
Water is a natural diuretic and helps prevent you from feeling hungry. If you drink at least four pints of water daily, you will notice that you can more easily distinguish between real hunger and thirst. The net result of this is that you will have fewer cravings and find it is easier to control your weight.

Poor Digestion
Poor digestion is a common symptom experienced by those with chronic fatigue syndrome. To digest food properly you need to drink plenty of water (but not with a meal, because it dilutes stomach acid).
Drink at least half a pint of water one half hour before you eat. The water passes through the stomach and into the intestine and within half an hour, it is secreted back into the stomach and into the mucous barrier. This barrier retains the sodium bicarbonate that is required to neutralise acid as it attempts to pass through the mucus. Those that are suffering from dehydration have inefficient mucous layers. The acid creeps through and causes pain.

Article Source: Dehydration can result in the body producing excess histamine which can trigger allergies. This of course, interferes with the body's ability to resist infections, a common pattern with chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers.