An estimated 30 million American adults and 1 million children suffer from migraine headaches. Now50 Ways to Control Migrainesoffers you welcome relief with 50 concrete strategies for understanding, preventing, and managing the pain of this chronic disease. Handy and comprehensive, this volume covers everything from environmental, psychological, hormonal, and dietary factors to treatment options, both traditional and alternative.

Ceabert J. Griffith, N.D., P.A.-C. is a doctor of natural medicine and the former director of the U.S. Air Force Health and Wellness Center in Japan. He has written extensively on medical topics.

Foreword

vii

Acknowledgments

ix

Introduction

xi

PART ONE Understanding Migraine Headaches

1

(48)

1. Learn the Basics About Pain

3

(2)

2. Know Why Your Head Aches

5

(2)

3. Know the Major Classifications of Headaches

7

(2)

4. Learn Who Gets Chronic Headaches

9

(1)

5. Recognize the Social and Economic Impact of Headaches

10

(1)

6. Study the Historical Perspectives on Headaches

11

(1)

7. Don't Fall for Chronic Headache Myths

12

(1)

8. Focus on Migraine Facts

13

(3)

9. Identify Migraine Triggers

16

(2)

10. Stay Away from Environmental Migraine Triggers

18

(3)

11. Avoid Dietary Migraine Triggers

21

(7)

12. Avoid Nutritional Deficiencies That Can Trigger Migraines

28

(3)

13. Refrain from Lifestyle Factors That Can Trigger Migraines

31

(2)

14. Get Rid of Social Habits That Can Trigger Migraines

33

(3)

15. Use Medications with Care and Don't Use Recreational Drugs

36

(4)

16. Learn About Common and Uncommon Types of Migraines

40

(4)

17. Learn Whether Migraines Are Inherited or Acquired, or Both

44

(1)

18. Understand How a Migraine Develops

45

(4)

PART TWO Migraines in Women and Children

49

(14)

19. Understand the Differences in Migraines Among Women, Men, Children, and Adolescents

551

20. Learn About the Menstrual Cycle and Migraines

52

(2)

21. Learn About Pregnancy and Migraines

54

(1)

22. Learn About Menopause and Migraines

55

(2)

23. Learn About Birth Control Pills and Migraines

57

(1)

24. Understand the Differences Between Migraines in Children and in Adults

58

(5)

25. Learn to Cope with School and Migraines

63

(1)

PART THREE Life-Threatening Headaches

63

(10)

26. Learn to Recognize the Features of Brain Tumors

67

(1)

27. Learn About Meningitis and Encephalitis

68

(1)

28. Become Familiar with Ruptured Aneurysms

69

(1)

29. Learn About Strokes

70

(3)

PART FOUR Medical Evaluation of the Migraine Patient

73

(26)

30. Know the Details of the Headache Medical History

75

(1)

31. Understand What Goes on During the Physical Examination

76

(1)

32. Be Aware of Common Laboratory and X-Ray Studies

77

(5)

33. Learn About Conventional Practitioners

82

(4)

34. Learn About Nonphysician Practitioners

86

(2)

35. Learn About Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practitioners

88

(6)

36. Know the Facts About Chronic Pain and Headache Centers

94

(1)

37. Know What to Expect from Your Health Care Team

95

(1)

38. Get the Most Out of Each Health Care Visit

96

(1)

39. Keep a Headache Diary

97

(1)

40. Form a Solid Provider-Patient Partnership

98

(1)

PART FIVE Managing Your Migraines

99

(40)

41. Engage in Regular Physical Exercise

101

(5)

42. Consider Physiological Therapies

106

(2)

43. Try. Mind/Body Therapies

108

(4)

44. Know When You Should and Shouldn't Take Headache Drugs

112

(2)

45. Learn About Headache Abortive (Acute Treatment) Medications

114

(7)

46. Thoroughly Study Headache Prophylactic Medications

121

(7)

47. Become Familiar with Migraine Medicinal Herbs

128

(5)

48. Calculate the Financial Impact of Your Headache

133

(1)

49. Be Sure You Have Health Insurance Coverage

134

(2)

50. Learn How to Reduce Medication Costs

136

(3)

Conclusion

139

(4)

Appendix A: Headache Symptom Diary

143

(2)

Appendix B: Migraine Headache Resources

145

(8)

Notes

153

(6)

Glossary

159

(12)

Bibliography

171

(2)

Index

173

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