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Eczema: The sufferer's guide to red, itchy, flaky skin
Marie Claire UK 'We don't know what exactly causes discoid eczema, but in keeping with other types of eczema, your skin loses moisture and struggles to provide an effective barrier against substances when it's dry, says Dr Hussain. 'This means usually harmless … |
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Beginners guide to weight loss
I have listed 5 methods of the many available when considering a nutrition protocol for weight loss. The fundamentals must exist when choosing your protocol but the protocol must also be fit with your lifestyle and level of engagement, choosing a protocol that is too drastic for you will lead too poor compliance and ultimately failure but choosing something you can stick to may not be optimal but provide you with good results still.
1) Habit change
Simply record a food diary for 7 days with a rough guide to food quantities and timing of meals as well as fluid intakes including tea, coffee, soda and alcohol which will give you an overview of your current diet. You may know exactly what area you wish to change already but this will give you a better picture as to what you eat over the course of a week, which often comes as a surprise to many.
Now identify one habit you wish to implement into your diets such as a fruit and vegetable target or something you wish to remove from your current nutritional intake that could be along the lines of alcohol or you find your self at the vending machine between meals.
Now act upon this by adding in or removing your chosen habit for 3-5 weeks. I would recommend 3 weeks as a minimum to ensure the habit has been achieved before working towards your second habit and you build from here.
Pro:
Available to everyone, great for the obese with bad habits
Cons:
People may struggle with choosing an appropriate habit, simple in theory but harder to execute in reality.
2) Meal plans
By taking the choice away from the individual it can make dieting a lot less stressful and room for error decreases. Having a professional develop a meal plan can be a good way for a beginner to stick to a protocol as they struggle with the flexibility of other methods such as IIFYM which can be confusing and overwhelming for beginners. This keeps high-calorie foods that are extremely palatable out of reach, which often leads to overeating and eventually weight gain. Long term this isn’t something you should stick with as you may develop certain nutrient deficiencies if not varied enough and a bad relationship with food groups can develop but for a beginner starting out this is a great tool to start the wheels moving.
Pro:
Easy to use, removes stress around choice and can hit calorie target consistently
Con:
Can become tedious, without variety or changing of meal plan nutrient deficiencies may occur, assistance may be needed in creating the meal plan
3) Calories & protein tracking
One of the best methods for tracking food when body composition is a priority yet has a good amount of flexibility around food groups. Using certain apps that track your food you can set the overall calorie target depending on whether you want to gain or lose weight as well as have a sufficient protein intake while being flexible with the rest of your macronutrients i.e. fats and carbohydrates.
Having a good amount of flexibility creates adherence for dieters, as they don’t have to miss out on social events with friends and family yet having those two targets to hit leads to great results for those who adhere to it properly.
Pro:
Teaches portion sizes, being consistent with calories gives you the ability to make changes when change is needed, and flexibility around food creates adherence
Con:
Requires technology not everyone may have, requires weighing of foods which can be troublesome when cooking in bulk or eating out
4) Flexible dieting/ IIFYM
Probably the most talked about nutritional protocol in the last 18 months!
I would say this is the more advanced version of calorie and protein tracking. Now you’re going to track your fats and carbohydrate intake also which requires a higher amount of dedication from the dieter and suits people who are very detailed oriented.
You still have a flexible approach to eating in the sense that you can eat food groups that you wish and enjoy but you must have achieved a certain target for protein, fat, and carbohydrate by the end of each day.
Pro:
Accuracy, macro targets hit, and some flexibility left with your food groups
Con:
You will need a tracking app, means weighing all your food, unnecessary for the general population
5) Intuitive eating
It is suggested that you eat intuitively with your hunger signals and your sense of fullness when eating. This can take years to achieve an accurate indication of food quantities and even then you can be wrong especially when eating processed foods. For most people, this is almost impossible as the default in this country is being overweight because we have such accessibility to foods and our satiety signals such a leptin and ghrelin are often out of balance in overweight individuals giving us a poor judgment of fullness and hunger.
On many occasions, we humans tend to eat or drink not down to hunger but because of our emotions around food which another factor to consider when considering your dietary plan.
Pro:
Very relaxed approach with no calculations or weighing
Con:
Lots of room for error
The Ultimate Winter Eczema Care Guide
Another great post from itchylittleworld.com – Natural remedies for eczema to soothe your itchy little world..
By Laura Dolgy (bio below)
Ah, yes the most anticipated season of the year has begun – winter (said no one with dry skin ever). Unfortunately for many eczema sufferers, this is the time for severely cracked, itchy and of course – dry skin. But don’t fear! Winter eczema can actually be quite easy to control, as long as you are taking proper care of both your skin and your body.
Please keep in mind that although these recommendations can relieve eczema, we are in no way medical professionals. If you’re experiencing severe eczema symptoms like fever or an infection, it is best to seek medical advice immediately.
Moisturize
It shouldn’t be a surprise that moisturizing during the winter months is extremely important. Moisturizing properly will keep skin protected from the ongoing harsh weather and will even keep itching to a minimum.
Not sure what treatment to use to properly moisturize this season and reduce winter eczema? Check out our recommendations below based on different skin types!
Itchy/Dry Eczema
This is probably the most common type of eczema found both during and outside of the winter months. If you’re experiencing itchy, dry eczema, then the best solution is to use a natural product that can actually permeate the skin and offer relief.
The Organic Manuka Skin Soothing Cream offers a perfect combination of both nourishing Manuka honey, as well as Manuka oil to soothe and calm irritated, dry and itchy skin. Another favorite is the Emily Skin Soothers for Itchy Eczema, which is filled with a selection of Chinese herbs and beeswax that soothes ALL dry skin conditions and really helps with itchy eczema.
Thick/Scaly Eczema
Tis’ the season for not only thick, dry skin, but also the dreaded “crocodile” skin. If you’re prone to suffering from really thick and scaly eczema then make sure to check out EczeHerbal #3 Dry Eczema Treatment for Adults. This treatment is specially formulated with Chinese herbs to treat and offer relief to dry and scaly eczema.
Got itchy and scaly eczema? Try this Grass Fed Tallow Balm that will immediately soothe dry skin and provide natural relief for your itchy skin. Not only is this balm extremely nourishing and thick, but it comes in three variations: unscented, with lavender and with lavender and tea tree. So you can choose how much herbal power you’d like. For the most sensitive of skin, the unscented would be best. And for full antibacterial and antiseptic properties, go for the lavender and tea tree variation.
Red/Weeping Eczema
If your weeping eczema only gets worse in the winter then this Emily Skin Soothers for Red Eczema Rashes is a great option. It was created by an acupuncturist as a natural alternative for healing weeping and crusty eczema. Not only does it calm the red, but it will help treat topical bacteria, yeast and fungus.
Another great natural treatment is EczeHerbal #1 Oozing Eczema Treatment that contains a mixture of Chinese herbs perfect for relieving itchy and crusty eczema. A little goes a long way, so don’t let the small jars worry you.
Wet/Dry Wrapping
Because skin is highly sensitive in the winter months and has the tendency to become dry, itchy and scaly, we definitely recommend wet and dry wrapping. This process only requires a bath, moisturizer and a layer of clothing to seal in moisture. We guarantee that dry, winter eczema will feel much better after trying this! Read more about wet wrap therapy here.
Vitamin D
With winter months comes less sunshine and that means less Vitamin D. As discussed in our blog post The Truth about Vitamin D and Eczema, studies have shown that the consumption of vitamin D has been effective in treating and healing eczema. In fact, without enough vitamin D, your immune system can weaken which can cause the skin barrier to break down and the chances for skin infection to increase.
By supplementing with tablets such as these Viva Naturals High Potency Vitamin D3 or by increasing your intake of fatty fish and fish oils, you can decrease your chance of skin infection and even provide some much needed relief to your dry skin.
Eat Properly
Aside from keeping skin moisturized all season long, it’s very important to also heal yourself from within. As we have mentioned in many other posts, carrying out an elimination diet can help you discover what is triggering your dry, itchy eczema. Yes, winter is making your eczema worse, but your body is likely already inflamed, so reducing inflammation by way of diet can really help your skin! To learn more about elimination diets and if they work, make sure to check out: Our Eczema Elimination Diet Success (How You Can Do It Too!).
You can also heal eczema by focusing on certain foods during the winter months like root vegetables and warming, nourishing foods like bone broth that can help keep your gut balanced. To get a better idea of what foods are beneficial for winter eczema, take a look at our blog post: How to Eat Well For Winter Eczema Relief that is packed with suggestions and recommendations from Naturopath Dr. Amy Duong.
Although the winter months might be the harshest time for eczema, there are many treatments and practices one can adopt to keep their skin safe. The above tips might help keep your eczema hydrated at the surface, but eating healthy and knowing which allergens to stay away from will also help wonders.
How do you deal with winter eczema? Let us know in the comments below!
Bio: Laura is a contributor and content developer for It’s An Itchy Little World. She is in no way a medical professional. Her comments, suggestions, and reflections are not intended to replace any medical advice. Always seek the help of a medical professional before undertaking any diet or lifestyle changes. Please see It’s An Itchy Little World’s disclaimer for information about affiliate links and more.
The Ultimate Winter Eczema Care Guide appeared first on itchylittleworld.com. Come read more about natural remedies for eczema!
Guide to ID at-risk patients
A recent study explored varying statistical approaches to a metastatic risk model for identifying SCC tumors at high risk of metastasis. Researchers identified six risk factors.
Modern medicine – dermatology
The FreeFromers guide to Food Matters Live 2017
Food Matters Live is the UK’s first cross-sector event which brings together the food and drink industry, retailers, foodservice providers, government and those working in nutrition, to enable collaboration and innovation to support a sustainable food landscape for the future.
The three day event has been running now for a number of years at the Excel in London. Visit the Food Matters Live website to find out more.
My advice is to plan ahead. Study the programme and work out which events you want to attend. Certain events, like the Allergy UK Catering session required pre-booking so do this early to avoid missing out. Others get full up quickly to make sure you get to the room on time.
- Free Seminars – There are so many subjects, streams and speakers to choose from that it’s actually hard to decide and there were many clashes that meant I couldn’t attend everything I had ear marked but I did cram in a lot of learning. As well as a whole afternoon crammed with speakers in the FreeFrom seminar series you could learn about so many things from The Future of Food to Tackling Obesity to name just a few.
- Allergy UK ran a seminar – Catering for those affected by Food Allergy – I was lucky to be able to attend this and it was so useful for me, not to mention timely after my recent experience in America. Find out more here.
- New Products – It was exciting to discover a new Dairy Free Chocolate from Push. It is dairy, soya and nut free and also very low in sugar. I was lucky enough to try to some it was really delicious, not too sweet and great cocoa flavour. It’s not on the market yet but look out for news in 2018. Remember, you hear about it here first!
- The FreeFrom Eating Out Awards were hosted in the main glass theatre room to a packed audience. This was the highlight of the show for me and main reason for me attending. As a judge for the awards I’m so passionate about finding safe places to eat where I feel included and not like I’m awkward or not welcome. To see the Winners of the FreeFrom Eating out Awards visit their website here. More blogs soon on the amazing restaurants I was privileged to be able to judge.
- Networking – I managed to catch up with so many friendly faces and fellow bloggers and enjoyed coffees, catch-ups, wine, cuddles and support. Thank you Natalie (Intolerant Gourmand), Vicki (FreeFrom Fairy and the best freefrom flour), Carly (Gluten Free B), Sue Cane (GF Beer expert), Michelle, Cressida and Hannah, Jenny (The Lunchbox Doctor), Steve Walpole and so many more of you… you really don’t know how helpful those three days were for me.
- Meeting new people – I also made a few new contacts, including a blogger who I have been following on Twitter and not met properly before. I think we had met but I’d not connected the dots. So lovely to meet you 7 Years to diagnosis. You can read her review of Food Matters Live and the FFEO Awards 2017 here.
- New Skinny gluten free beer – A chance meeting on the train home on the last day meant I had a bottle of this to sample and it’s delicious. It’s not as sweet at a lot of gluten free beers and was really refreshing. I would definitely drink this again, and the creative in my just loves the brand and labelling. So clean, fresh and modern. Find out more about Skinny Brands lager here.
- Low FODMAP diets – Dr Megan Rossi presented a really informative talk about this very complicated area of food and diet.
- Histamine Intolerance – If you want to know about this check out Dr Janice Joneja who has written two books, one for the layman and another for professionals. This was such an interesting session as I hadn’t really grasped quite what histamine intolerance was or how it could be controlled. Read, The Beginners Guide to Histamine Intolerance here.
- Fecal Microbiota Transplant – don’t be squeamish, this isn’t a disgusting as it sounds and could really change the lives of many people with allergies. Visit the Taymount Clinic website to find out how introducing missing, healthy, clean and tested bacteria could help many immune conditions to improve.
Don’t go there expecting to find loads of FreeFrom foods. There were some of great brands there but many were not offering samples and none of them were selling their products. The lovely ladies from Angels and Cookies were there showcasing their delicious and totally freefrom cookie dough. Yes of course I had to try some of that! I did get to try some amazing Sprouted Rye Bread which was so moist and tasty, as well as Freedom Vegan Mallows. And Don’t forget the chocolate and beer – see above!
If you’re interested in food, science, the future and more, you should consider attending this next year. It’s completely free and well worth the horrible train journey out to the Excel Conference Centre.
A Guide to… The Flu
The common cold or flu?
It’s not uncommon around wintertime for you, or the people you know, to start falling ill, complaining of sore throats and blocked noses – maybe even missing a day or two of work. Often, people will say that they’re “down with the flu”. But can you tell the difference between the common cold and a proper bout of the flu? Influenza can be a very serious illness depending on who it infects and what the strain is. After all, 20 million people died of influenza in 1918! While there has never been an epidemic anything like as bad as this since, it will make you sick far beyond the sniffles that many of us are prone to melodramatically label ‘flu’. In this post, we’ll find out how to tell the difference between these two seasonal afflictions, as well as when it’s appropriate to seek medical advice.
What is it?
The flu, short for “influenza”, is a viral infection of the upper and lower respiratory tract. This includes the nose, throat, sinuses, voice box and lungs. While it can happen at any time of the year, it is most common around winter. Although an annual flu vaccine is released, the virus undergoes genetic changes as it passes from person to person, leading to new outbreaks yearly across the world. The virus is spread through the air, infecting other people in droplets spread by coughing and sneezing. Although it is very contagious, hand-washing and not touching your face can play a significant role in preventing spread.
Symptoms
Unlike the common cold, which comes on gradually, the symptoms of the flu develop very quickly. Usually they begin a couple of days after exposure to the virus, but fortunately, the disease tends to run its course in a week or so. Some of the symptoms are the same as with a cold: blocked nose, sore throat, sneezing and coughing. However, the flu is also associated with a sudden fever with muscle aches and pains all over the body, as well as significant fatigue. Other common symptoms that are less associated with a cold are headaches and chills. Less frequent symptoms include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty sleeping
Although the flu is very rarely life-threatening in healthy people, an important distinction between it and the common cold is that the flu will disrupt normal activities of daily living, such as going to work. If you do have the flu, it is recommended that you stay at home and get some bed rest – chances are you won’t want to be out and about in any case!
Should I see my GP?
The short answer is: It is hard to say for certain, but probably not, not unless you feel really sick – or have another condition as listed below. The virus causing the flu cannot be treated with antibiotics however sometimes people do get pneumonia which does need antibiotics. The only way to treat most cases is with bed rest, making sure to drink a reasonable amount of fluids and taking over-the-counter medications for fever and soreness, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Nevertheless, there are certain people for whom coming down with the flu should mean visiting their local GP:
- People over 65 years of age
- Pregnant women
- People with chronic health conditions
- People with weakened immune systems
These groups of people are also eligible for the flu vaccine, which is available for free every year on the NHS.
Even if you don’t fall into any of these categories, there are certain symptoms that should prompt you to seek medical attention. These include:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing up blood
- If the normal symptoms last for longer than a week
- If your symptoms are getting worse over time
These symptoms may mean that you may be developing a chest infection or pneumonia, which is the most common complication of the flu. Fortunately, these are usually treatable with a course of antibiotics.
Further information
For more information about the causes and features of the flu, check out the NHS Choices website. If you are unsure about any of the symptoms you might be experiencing, call NHS Direct on 111 or, if you are particularly concerned, visit your local GP.
NHS Choices: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Flu/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Dr Seth Rankin is Founder of London Doctors Clinic
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A Guide to Norovirus
A nasty strain of Norovirus (otherwise known as the ‘winter vomiting bug’) is expected to sweep across Britain this winter and leave us all feeling under the weather.
What actually is Norovirus and is there a way of preventing the virus from spreading?
Dr Seth Rankin, the founder of London Doctors Clinic, gives us a quick overview of this seasonal sickness bug….
What is Norovirus?
Norovirus is a gastrointestinal condition which generally leads to an upset stomach. This nasty virus is a common cause of vomiting and diarrhoea and can affect people of any age. Fortunately, the body generally fights the virus on its own, however, there are plenty of tips for reducing the unpleasant symptoms in the meantime!
What are the Symptoms of Norovirus?
The virus affects the gastrointestinal system and therefore produces many of the same symptoms of gastroenteritis. The symptoms of Norovirus include:
• Suddenly feeling sick
• Projective vomiting
• Watery diarrhoea
• A slight fever
• Stomach pain
• Aches and pains in your limbs
The symptoms of norovirus generally start to show a couple of days after catching the virus and generally resolve themselves after 2/3 days.
Unfortunately, like many other viruses, the Norovirus can mutate (change), meaning your body cannot develop long-term resistance to it and you could catch it again.
How Do People Catch Norovirus?
Norovirus spreads easily in places where lots of people are in close contact, such as; schools, workplaces, hospitals and nursing homes.
You can catch Norovirus through:
• Close contact with someone infected with Norovirus – it can be airborne and can be spread by breathing in particles others have breathed out.
• Touching contaminated surfaces/objects – the virus can live outside the body for several days.
• Eating contaminated food – this tends to happen if a person with the virus does not wash their hands before handling food.
Cruise ships are notoriously bad places for outbreaks of Norovirus, due to the high volume of people living in close quarters.
Treating Norovirus
Like many other viral infections, there is no specific treatment or cure that is effective against Norovirus, and antibiotics will not help. The symptoms, however, will pass by themselves as your body fights the infection.
If you are experiencing diarrhoea and vomiting, it is advisable to stay at home and rest until the symptoms subside. Norovirus is highly contagious so staying home will also reduce the risk of others becoming unwell.
Despite there being no direct treatment against Norovirus, the symptoms can be eased and reduced in the following ways:
1. Drinking plenty of fluids:
· You will need to drink more than usual to replace the fluids, lost through diarrhoea and vomiting.
· Although water is best, fruit juice and soup can also help reduce dehydration. However, children should stick to water, as fizzy drinks and juice may worsen the diarrhoea.
2. Taking paracetamol will help ease the fever or aches and pains.
3. Lots of rest will help your body fight the issues.
4. Eating plain foods, such as soup, rice, pasta, bread will give you energy.
5. Taking rehydration solution – these can be purchased from a pharmacy and come in a range of flavours. They may be particularly helpful if you have symptoms of dehydration such as dry mouth or dark urine. Children under the age of 1 are at a much greater risk of dehydration especially following diarrhoea and vomiting so if your child is unwell, keep a close eye on their fluid intake.
Stop the Spread of Norovirus!
Remember, Norovirus is very contagious.
You can reduce the risk of spread by:
• Washing your hands regularly with soap and water
• Staying off work or school for at least 48 hours if you are ill
• Disinfecting surfaces with a bleach-based cleaner
• Not sharing towels
• Flushing away infected bodily fluids and cleaning the surrounding area – particularly faeces and vomit
• Avoid eating raw/unwashed produce
You will be infectious from the start of your symptoms until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped.
Washing hands is very important to prevent the spread of Norovirus, especially before preparing food and after going to the toilet!
When to Seek Medical Advice with Norovirus
While you generally will not need to visit the doctor if you are suffering from Norovirus,
there are some situations where it may be necessary.
As an adult, you should seek medical help if:
• You have bloody diarrhoea
• You have a previous underlying condition such as kidney disease, which may worsen the symptoms
• Your symptoms have not improved after a few days
• You have symptoms of severe dehydration:
◦ Dizziness
◦ Passing small amounts of urine or no urine at all
◦ Reduced consciousness
If your child has Norovirus/diarrhoea and vomiting, you should seek medical help if:
• Your baby or child has passed 6 or more watery stools in 24 hours
• Your baby or child has vomited 3 times or more in 24 hours
• Your baby or child is less responsive, feverish or has pale/mottled skin
Despite being very unpleasant, the Norovirus is usually self-limiting, meaning your body will overcome the disease by itself. There is no specific treatment available, although symptoms can be managed with paracetamol, rehydration therapies and lots of rest. It’s still important, however, to seek medical help if you’re severely unwell, or exhibit any of the symptoms mentioned above.
If you are worried, your GP will be able to perform a thorough medical assessment, and then facilitate any necessary tests. These may include blood tests or stool sample testing, to narrow down the cause of the symptoms (Norovirus, or other bacterial cause). This will also rule out any other causes, and advise on better management, to help you feel better sooner.
Dr Seth Rankin is founder of London Doctors Clinic
Global Handwashing Day – A Guide to washing your hands
To mark Global Handwashing Day here is our guide for washing your hands the right way. Handwashing is the easiest way to prevent the spread of germs and infections, such as the common cold, meningitis, diarrhoea and hepatitis A. It only requires soap and water or an alcohol based hand sanitiser to reduce spread of bacteria. Keeping your hands clean consistently is crucial for preventing yourself and others around you from unwanted illnesses.
When should you wash your hands?
Throughout the day we touch many objects and come in contact with people that we often forget to remind ourselves to wash our hands or sometimes we do not even know when we are supposed to wash our hands after:
- After using the toilet
- Before eating
- After touching animals
- Treating wounds or caring for someone who is sick
- After sneezing , coughing or blowing your nose
- Handling household waste or garbage
- After changing a baby
- After shaking someone hand
- Before, during and after preparing food
How to wash your hands
- Wet your hands with running water it can be cold or warm.
- Apply soap and gently rub your hands together with the soap. Make sure the soap reaches the back of your hands, nails and fingers.
- For 20 seconds lather and scrub your hands.
- Rinse the soap off your hands with clean running water.
- Dry your hands thoroughly using a hand dryer, towel or air dry them.
Washing your hands this way will reduce the number of germs that your hands may come in contact with. It is also important to remember that hand sanitisers do not eliminate germs but only reduces them quickly. If you have a skin irritation after washing your hands please visit your GP for help and advice. More importantly, washing your hands helps keep you clean and the environment around you.
A Guide to…Migraines
We have all suffered the discomfort of a headache at some point in our lives, but anyone who has ever suffered from migraines knows all too well the misery and suffering that this condition can cause.
Migraines are a disorder which are characterised by recurrent disabling headaches that are much more severe than your average headache, and it often begins in childhood or adolescence. The disorder is less common than other types of headache disorders, but it still affects many people, and is usually a long-lasting condition.
But how do we distinguish between migraine and other types of headaches? Well, there are certain features that are individual to migraine attacks specifically, which helps to set it apart from other types of headaches. Often, the migraine attack is divided into four distinct phases:
Prodrome Phase (60% of sufferers):
This phase occurs hours or even days before the attacks hits in full force. Symptoms can be physical or psychological. Watch out for:
- Muscle stiffness
- Food cravings
- Constipation or diarrhoea
- Altered perception (e.g of heat or cold) or sensitivity to light or noise
- Feelings of depression, abnormal excitement or unusual fatigue
Migraine Aura phase (20% of people):
Aura symptoms can develop quickly and last up to one hour. They typically involve visual symptoms (but sometimes other strange physical signs) such as:
- Bright rims around an area of visual loss
- Flashing lights
- Blurred vision
- Areas of numb skin
- Muscular weakness
Headache Phase:
This phase is experienced by all migraine sufferers, and can be extremely unpleasant. Typical characteristic include:
- Moderate or severe pain, typically affecting one side of the head
- Pain is throbbing in nature and lasts for 4-72 hours
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sensitivity to light, sounds, or smells
- Stiff or tender neck or shoulder
Postdrome phase:
This phase follows the headache, and may last for up to 48 hours. Typical of this phase are:
- Fatigue
- Food intolerance
- Nausea
- Scalp tenderness
- Sore muscles in the region of the head, neck or upper back
Causes of migraine
It is not totally clear what causes migraines but there are certain “triggers”.
Triggers do not directly cause migraines, but are implicated in some way in about 40% of attacks, so identifying these triggers (so that they may be avoided) is often a powerful first step in reducing the number of migraine attacks that you experience:
There are lots of triggers for migraines, but here are some of the most common ones:
- Travel
- Lack of sleep
- Increased stress or anxiety
- Changing hormone levels (in women) throughout the month
- Excessive alcohol or caffeine
- Dehydration
- Certain foods (common culprits include chocolate and cheese)
- Change to regular routine e.g shift work
Increasingly, it is thought that there is a genetic link to migraines; if someone in your family suffers from migraine, it is more likely that you will too.
Diagnosis of Migraine
Many people who suffer from regular severe headaches worry that their symptoms may be a sign of something very serious, such as a brain tumour. In reality, it’s very rare that headaches are a sign of a life-threatening underlying condition. However, it’s best to consult a Doctor if:
- Your headaches change – if they begin to occur more regularly than normal, or the symptoms change
- If your headaches are impacting on your quality of life or your ability to function
- If pharmacy remedies or lifestyle changes don’t improve your migraines
- If you feel unwell between migraine attacks, or have other distressing symptoms, such as visual or personality changes
Your GP will want to know all about your symptoms. Keeping a “migraine diary” might be helpful, and will allow you and your GP to better understand your triggers, and the impact of the migraines on your life. Your GP can act as a source of support, advice and education. There are many treatment options, and you may need to “experiment” with different ones until you find the one that works for you, but you can discuss this further with your GP.
Treatment of migraines
Migraines can be notoriously difficult to treat, but for many people, simple lifestyle changes can make a huge difference. Try some of the following tips:
- Avoid your triggers: once you have identified what sets off a migraine for you, your trigger can be avoided!
- Start a relaxation or mindfulness practice: mindfulness classes are becoming increasingly available in most areas, or you could simply fashion your own relaxation routine, such as deep breathing or guided meditation, all of which are techniques designed to help you take a moment for yourself, no matter how busy or stressful your routine
- Eat and sleep well, and don’t forget to hydrate!
- For some women, migraines are linked with the menstrual cycle, or taking oral contraception, such as the Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill (COCP). If you think this may be a problem for you, speak to your Doctor about alternatives for contraception
- Minimise stress, anxiety and changing routines as much as possible
Medication
In some cases, lifestyle changes alone are not enough to tackle migraines, and further treatment is needed. A full discussion of the medications used to treat migraines is beyond the scope of this article, but common options for the acute (short-term) treatment of migraine include:
- Pain relief such as paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen
- Anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac
- Anti – nausea medication
- Triptans – these are drugs that act at certain receptor sites in the brain, causing constriction of blood vessels, inhibition of the release of pain causing substances, and block transmission of pain to areas of the brain where pain is perceived. They are generally well tolerated.
Prophylaxis of migraines
Prophylaxis means prevention, and some people are so troubled by regular migraines that they opt to take medication daily to prevent new attacks. The medications used for prophylaxis are:
- Beta- Blockers
- Tricyclic Antidepressants
- Serotonin Antagonists
- Anti-convulsants
- Calcium Antagonists
These medications are available on prescription only, and all may cause side effects, so it’s best to seek guidance from your GP if you are thinking about trying out a preventative treatment.
Dr Seth Rankin is founder of London Doctors Clinic