Thursday, December 15, 2011

Avoiding Holiday Headaches

Anyone can suffer from a headache after a hectic day of shopping or fighting traffic during the holiday season. For a migraineur the situation can be much worse.

The stress of any event, let alone the added stress related to the holidays can trigger a migraine. In the case of a migraine the stress headache does not come about as the result of a psychological tension as many would have you believe, but rather a biological event caused by hormones secreted within the endocrine system as a coping mechanism. Therefore, a migraineur can't just think the headache away or take the "just relax and everything will be just fine" attitude.

Especially during this season, migraine triggers and conditions are compounded. In other words, something that may not have bothered your head at other times of the year suddenly becomes a major trigger for a severe migraine when other factors are also in play.

For example, you may be able to get away with drinking a single small glass of wine at home once in awhile, but couple it with stress, strange foods, excitement, winter weather changes, and overactive hormones and you could be on your way to paying the high price of a migraine.

Food and drink generally are part of any celebration. Tempting foods are served without labels and no way of knowing their ingredients. Your favorite aunt who won't hear of you not at least trying her special dish loaded with the secret spice mixture containing MSG may be your worst enemy. Her disappointment may be well worth your avoiding a horrible migraine the next morning.

Red wine is a well know major trigger, but are you prepared to refuse it when your host offers you a glass of wine to join in on the celebration? Being ready to refuse anything that may cause you a headache with a prepared answer may save you hours and even days fighting a horrible migraine.

You shouldn't expect others to know what might bother you; rather you should be ready with a good explanation as to why you must decline the offer. There is nothing wrong with saying, "Thank you very much for offering, but I have a genetic condition that certain foods or drinks can cause me to have severe migraine headaches and I just can't afford to take the chance."

And watch out for those dishes that may have been bought at a store and "re-plated" as they may be loaded with MSG, nitrates, L-tyrosine, and other "do not touch" ingredients lying in wait to set off a migraine in you. If your first bite says "yummy, this tastes different or really good," and has a slight salty taste, put it down because more than likely that good taste is MSG. Remember, MSG is a flavor enhancer.

Party Triggers. The following is our partial list of key foods and drinks to avoid at parties:

  • Almonds and nuts Lots of these around at parties, but don't eat them.
  • Wines, especially red wine - instead you may want to try a drink made of cranberry juice, club soda and a clear alcohol.
  • Cheeses - especially the cheese balls and aged cheese - the better the cheese the more powerful the trigger.
  • Sausages, little wieners, and other such things floating around in a crock pot full of the special BBQ sauce that may be loaded with MSG and nitrates.
  • Snack mixes - these are party and office favorites that may contain MSG to heighten the flavor.
  • Chocolate - I hate to mention this hard to resist confection, but for some people it can be a real problem - again keep in mind that triggers are not the same for everyone - always avoid what you know will hurt you  no matter how good it looks.
  • Beer and other alcohol beverages - Beer is a fermented beverage and may be a problem for some. It is not the alcohol but the process that creates the trigger. Clear alcohol products may be a better choice.
  • Your Triggers. Don't cheat just because it is a party. Triggers compound rapidly and the last thing you want is to have to leave the party because of another migraine headache.
If you are unsure about a product or have any questions about triggers or migraines, call us at 1-866-867-5953 or send an email to Questions@Tuliv.comand we will do the research for you. We do this as a free service to help prevent migraines and add to the list of products that may cause migraines. 

Be safe and enjoy the holidays.

There is still time for you to Enjoy the Holidays without Migraines. What a great gift to yourself that will be enjoyed every day of your life. Click Here.

Let us hear from you today. Our toll-free phone number is 1-866-367-5953 or send an email to Migraines@Tuliv.com