migraine-remedy.com

All drugs are dangerous. Before a person suffering with a migraine headache takes an over-the-counter medication they should be asking the question "Is the possible benefit worth the risk of taking that drug?" William Osler, M.D. once said "The person who takes medicine must recover twice; once from the disease and once from the medicine." Sadly, this can be all too true.

Dr. William Bennett, head of nephrology at Oregon Health Sciences University, estimates that over-the-counter painkillers are responsible for as many as 20% of the 125,000 cases of end-stage kidney disease in the United States.

Some medications have side effects that can be more serious than the painful migraine headaches themselves. Aspirin can cause internal hemorrhaging, or bleeding in the stomach. According to the Dec. 1996 issue of Health News and Views taking Tylenol once every 4 days increases the chance of liver damage by more than 400%.

The main pain-relief ingredient in Tylenol is acetaminophen which has been shown to cause liver disease. "Tylenol," as reported in the January 1998 issue of Forbes magazine, "can be very dangerous in doses not much greater" than the recommended dose. In 1989, Lacy Keele, a 5-year-old, took four extra strength tablets in one day, or twice what a child should receive. The overdose destroyed Lacy’s liver. Within a week she was dead. A jury found Tylenol to be a cause in her death.

There have been hundreds of fatalities and serious liver injuries attributed to acetaminophen, Tylenol’s active ingredient, since Lacy’s death. The biggest reason for these deaths is because people "tend to use Tylenol in a casual fashion." Think about it: You have a migraine headache so you take a few pills. The migraine doesn’t go away so you take a few more. The difference between a proper dose and an overdose is so small that dangerous amounts can easily be ingested accidentally. "No other over-the-counter drug has a more narrow range between therapy and toxicity than acetaminophen," says Dr. William Lee, a professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas’ Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

L.F. Kebler, M.D. once said "Why should a patient swallow a poison because he is ill, or take that which would make a well man sick?" And O.W. Holmes, M.D., Professor of Medicine at Harvard University said "If all the medicine in the world were thrown into the sea, it would be bad for the fish and good for humanity."

In the September 29, 1996 issue of the Los Angeles Times Magazine it makes it known that Ibuprofen kills thousands every year. Ibuprofen, the active ingredient in many pain relievers, including Advil, Motrin IB, and Nuprin, is known as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). People that take NSAIDs like ibuprofen regularly to ease their chronic migraine headaches are prone to gastric (stomach) disorders. Dr. James F. Fries, a leading arthritis expert and professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, says "there’s an epidemic of adverse drug reactions to NSAIDs. The FDA believes anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 deaths each year are the result of severe bleeding caused by NSAIDs. It’s a big problem."

When taking medication to relieve migraine headaches it’s always a good idea to read the label carefully. If you decide to take pain-killing medications for your migraine headaches be sure to follow the directions. Using common sense can reduce your chances of experiencing adverse reactions.

For many years, there was not much relief that a sufferer could find from the symptoms of these headaches. More recently, there have been new drugs and nasal sprays developed which have brought relief from this ailment. There has also been research to help people lessen the effects of these awful headaches.

A migraine headache is more than regular headache pain. A migraine headache brings unbearable, throbbing pain along with nausea, possibly vomiting and blurred vision. A migraine headache makes normal, daily activities difficult, and these headaches can last a few hours or a few days.

The research has also shown that certain foods in the diet may trigger the onset of migraine headaches, and there is now information on a migraine diet for those who suffer. Some research has identified the items which cause migraine headaches, and the researchers have provided much information on a migraine diet that those affected should follow. The people who have followed this advice have found some relief in the intensity of the headaches they suffer and the number of headaches that they suffer. Many of these people personally will recommend the migraine diet suggested by the researchers.

Stay away from certain foods to Prevent Migraine

For many years, people ate normal foods and had no idea that these might contribute to the headaches that they suffered. If they had known, the migraine headache is so painful; surely they would have avoided these foods. Now they know and their lives are better for the information on migraine diet. First of all, there is information that alcoholic beverages might be the trigger that sets off a migraine. Red wine seems to be one of the worst of these beverages for those affected by migraine. Processed meats are also on the list of foods to avoid on a migraine diet. Some fruits also may be the triggers. These fruits include avocadoes, passion fruits, and papayas.

Unfortunately the list of foods to avoid for a migraine diet is fairly long, but surely any person with more than one migraine will want to avoid these foods. These people should avoid chocolate and other products from cocoa. Caffeine is also on the list of foods that should be avoided along with dairy products including sour cream and buttermilk. Hopefully this information will help people avoid the pain and suffering that comes with migraine headaches.