1. SKIPPED MEALS HYPOGLYCEMIA
2. ALCOHOL ESP- RED WINE, BEER, SHERRY, .
3. TIME PRESSURE EMOTIONS. ANGER OR WORRY OFTEN LET DOWN HEADACHE
4. SLEEP IRREGULARITIES
5. TYRAMINE CONTAINING FOODS
6. WEATHER / ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES
7. CHEMICALS AND ADDITIVES
8. FOOD INTOLERANCE MOST COMMON CITRUS, PORK, DAIRY, NUTS , CHOCOLATE, WHEAT, COFFEE, PIZZA, HOT DOGS,
MEDICAL TREATMENTS MEDICATIONS OFTEN DEAL WITH THE NEUROTRANSMITTER SEOTOIN WITH MIGRAINES HAVE A DECREASE IN SEROTONIN
MIXED TYPE -Can often more then one type of headache at a time.
SUGGESTED APPROACHES TO CHRONIC HEADACHE
1). FINDING AND ELIMINATION TRIGGERS., Often like solving a mystery getting a good understanding of the way the body responds to stimuli including foods, environmental factors, etc….by keeping a detailed diary including foods exposure to, severity and timing of symptoms, emotions etc….with the goal of uncovering and eliminating headache triggers. This can have a tremendous effect on the occurrence and severity of headaches.
2).IMPROVE THE BODIES ABILITY TO ELIMINATE AND PROCESS TOXINS. Through nutritional supplementation and a diet free of common irritants or toxins improve the bodies ability to deal with the triggers of headaches.
3)HAVE AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR BREAKTHROUGH HEADACHES
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4.)BIOFEEDBACK learning though mind body connection to control various physiological properties like blood pressure, body temperature.
One method of biofeedback that has worked with headaches has been teaching people to warm their hands. Found to be effective especially in kids.
5.) EXERCISE
Gradual increase of exercise with warm up and a cool down period with 20 to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three to four times per week.
6.) STRESS REDUCTION- massage, yoga and tai chi
7.)METABOLIC ASSISTANCE: mast cells contain the proinflammatory substances histamine and leukotrienes. when the cell is stimulated it degranulates and releases these mediators that cause an inflammatory cascade. this leads to vasospasm, vasodilatation resulting in headache. Quercetin and catechin 500 mg in between meals. Essential fatty acids omega3 and 6
FOODS AND ADDITIVES TO AVOID
COMMON FOOD HEADACHE TRIGGERS
Tyramine containing foods (vasoactive amines)
red wine beer
chocolate fermented dairy products
processed meats sausages
chicken livers avocado
aged cheese citrus
potato pickled herring
pineapple red plum
tomato yeast extracts
spinach eggplant
raspberry canned fish
Common Food Intolerance Triggers
cow’s milk pork and other meats
wheat nuts
citrus eggs
pizza hot dogs (nitrates)
chocolate coffee and tea
corn yeast
Food Additives
MSG (Monosodium glutamate) tartrazine
meat tenderizer soy sauce
dyes