I hope this week that my fellow migraineurs out there reading this have had a good and migraine-free week.

For those who do not suffer with migraines or even chronic headaches, they cannot “feel” the appreciation we have for those migraine-free days. I hope not only did you have a great week last week, but hope next week will be an amazing, pain-free week for you.

Those who suffer from migraines know how extremely painful and debilitating they can be with the severe, intense and recurring throbbing pain, combined with visual disturbances, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, extreme sensitivity to light, sound, smell and touch, and tingling or numbness in the face. Migraine is classified as one of the top 20 of the world’s most disabling medical illnesses. As migraineurs, we can appreciate how prevalent it is and yet, for being so “common” it is another one of those diseases with not clear cure.

Environmental factors and genetics are believed to have a big impact in causing migraines, and as most of us know, there are numerous triggers. Some of the things that can trigger a migraine attack, include:

1. Drinks – Any type of alcohol, such as red wine with high phenol content, as well as highly caffeinated beverages can trigger migraines.
2. Food – Foods that are salty (highly refined salt) and processed foods are common causes of migraines, along with skipping meals or fasting.
3. Changes in hormones – Fluctuations in estrogen can trigger headaches. This commonly occurs before or during a woman’s menstrual cycle, but can also affect men.
4. Sensory triggers – Loud sounds, unusual smells such as strong perfume, sun glare, or very bright lights, can trigger a migraine.
5. Sleep pattern changes – Missing sleep or even getting too much sleep can be a cause of migraines – and don’t forget jet lag.
6. Stress – Stress at work or at home can trigger migraines, especially when dwelling on a stressful situation or if you are unable to manage your stress.
7. Environmental changes – A change in weather or changes in barometric pressure can trigger a migraine.
8. Physical factors –  Intense physical exertion, including exercise, manual labor or physical activity may trigger migraines usually due to muscle tension believed to be connected with a lack of calcium and/or magnesium in the diet. However, on the flip side, exercising can be a great migraine prevention, so when exercising, do so wisely.
9. Medications – Oral contraceptives and vasodilators can trigger a migraine attack.

Migraines and Vitamin Deficiencies

Recent research has also concluded that another migraine trigger is a vitamin deficiency. In one study that tested 52 people diagnosed with a migraine, it showed that supplementation with Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, and Folic Acid, significantly reduced the chances of a migraine attack. Also, another study has found that Vitamin B2 can help to prevent a migraine attack. Yet another study conducted found that 40% of patients with chronic migraines have a Vitamin D deficiency. (These are levels which can be tested with a simple blood test.)

Deficiencies of Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid can cause anemia, and if this condition becomes severe enough, in addition to memory loss, fatigue, and more, it can trigger a migraine.

This is definitely something to consider in relation to your migraine attacks. It is very important to make sure that you are getting enough of these nutrients in your diet to help with migraine prevention. Every little bit of natural migraine prevention we assimilate into our daily lives the better, wouldn’t you agree?

Do you track your headaches and foods? This is a key component for migraine relief. For your FREE migraine diary, ==<CLICK HERE<==

If you are struggling with your migraines and would like to learn how to incorporate some healthy alternatives and remedies into your daily lifestyle, I would love to talk with you. Together we can discuss ways to minimize and reduce your migraines. I would love to help you achieve relief from pain and frequency of migraines. For your free consultation, click below.