Do you know that approximately 42% of people with chronic migraine are considered lacking enough serum Vitamin D? Let's take a deep dive into the often overlooked relationship between Vitamin D and migraine. As a registered dietitian with migraine, I am especially interested in keeping you updated with published research, my own experience and observations. What about Vitamin D and headache? We all know migraine is more than a headache, but millions suffer from headaches. And, many of us also get headaches that are not associated with our full migraine attacks. We’re all looking for pieces to our personal “migraine puzzle" and I'm confident that for some of you, Vitamin…
Benadryl for Migraine – 19 Important Questions and Answers You Need to Know
One of the most common questions people with migraine have is, “what can I take to get rid of this migraine attack that is over-the-counter.” Another inquiry is about what to do when their usual acute medication is inconsistent. They are often surprised by hearing that Benadryl for migraine is often helpful.
Magnesium for Migraine – Everything You Need to Know
Anyone in the know about migraine knows about the migraine and magnesium connection. But, when you see a neurologist or headache specialist, the doctors may not lead with specific information on magnesium for migraine.
Migraine and Constipation – Approved Advice About What To Do
Constipation and I go way back. We have been lifelong companions though not friends. I can confidently say that after decades, I now have the upper-hand and rarely fall into the “strained” relationship. OK, pardon the pun. As a registered dietitian, I am sure that my professional and personal experience can help you with migraine and constipation.
Prednisone for Migraine Explained – 5 Questions & Answers You Need to Know.
A steroid taper is commonly prescribed by headache specialists in certain circumstances to break a prolonged migraine cycle. Are you wondering if a course of prednisone for migraine is something you should ask your doctor about? This is written from the patient and patient-advocate perspective and is not medical advice. The goal is to help inform you so that you may work with your doctors. Specific questions about medications and whether they are right for you can only be addressed by your doctors. 1. What is Prednisone? Prednisone is a medication in a group of drugs called corticosteroids or steroids, for short. Prescribed steroids are man-made medications that are similar…
Heal Your Headache Diet: The Migraine Diet Beginner’s Guide This Dietitian Wishes You Knew
What is a migraine diet? While there is no one migraine diet, most dietitians, doctors and other health professionals in the know are talking about a low tyramine diet that is also low histamine, MSG (monosodium glutamate) and sulfites. Many years ago, when we started our very popular and peppy private Facebook group, the title of group specifically referred to the Heal Your Headache (HYH) diet by name. We have since changed the name to Migraine Strong, but diet continues to be a significant part of the focus for people helping themselves get migraine attacks under control, as well as lessen the intensity and duration of vestibular migraine (VM) flares.…
What No One Tells You about Migraines and Menopause (and Perimenopause Too)
I have always been a headachy person. Fortunately, migraine didn’t interfere with my life in a debilitating way until my 40s. Perimenopause was the culprit. Having gone through perimenopause with migraine does not make me an expert. It’s one of my areas of interest as a patient and patient advocate. I have poured over the literature on migraine and migraines as well as watched in-depth interviews of 4 well-recognized experts in this area that were interviewed during the five Migraine World Summit broadcasts. Their intention was to help during a difficult, undiscussed time and that is my intention, too. My Story I hit the big menopause milestone 6 years ago. …
Dehydration Headache and Migraine
I Hate Drinking Water. Who’s with me? There. I said it. I am a registered dietitian who nearly shudders at the thought of drinking a big glass of water. Warding-off a dehydration headache and triggering a migraine is often on my mind. My challenge is getting my good intentions to translate to healthy imbibing on a regular basis. In social media, it’s not uncommon to see rants like “if one more person tells me to drink more!” Or the sarcastic, “Gee, why didn’t I think of that. A glass of water to cure me of this disease I’ve had for 30 years.” When well-intentioned friends or family members suggest drinking…
What to do for Migraine Headaches – Migraine World Summit 2020
It’s a simple and powerful mission statement: To reduce the global burden of migraine. Since 2016, the Migraine World Summit (MWS or Summit) has brought together dozens of leading migraine experts, doctors and specialists from around the world. They are interviewed to help answer the most difficult questions for those with migraine in desperate need of relief. We all want to know what to do for migraine headaches. What is the latest? What might we have missed? What’s next for us so we can get better? As I sit here at my desk writing this, I am truly struggling. We are in the middle of a pandemic. Like you, all my plans and intentions have been…
Paleo for Migraine- What you Need to Know
Is Paleo for Migraine Right for You? As a registered dietitian with years of personal and professional experience managing migraine, I can assure you that there is no one “migraine diet.” There are a few approaches that seem to work better and I’m going to share with you where I think paleo fits in so you may decide for yourself. What is the paleo diet? The paleolithic diet or “paleo” became very popular about 10 years ago. It was a way of eating inspired by how our ancestors ate during cave man times. The name of the diet inspired many but also drew criticism. Critics typically thought about what is…
