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Reducing Inflammation

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We recently featured Dr. Nathan Morris of Good Medicine Colorado on The Headache Doctor Podcast for a discussion on functional medicine and the role that inflammation plays in our body’s ability to process pain signals and heal itself. As we have discussed in previous podcast episodes (see The Effects of Diet on Headaches and Migraines ), inflammation can play a role in triggering a headache or a migraine attack . When we introduce inflammatory factors into an environment that is already dysfunctional at its baseline, our threshold for tolerating pain and dysfunction drops. Inflammation can be caused by lifestyle factors such as stress, lack of sleep, or obesity or by foods and things we ingest such as alcohol, sugar, and fried foods. Below are a few practical tips that you can implement to reduce inflammation within your body. Reduce Stress Consider implementing a yoga practice into your daily routine. Yoga helps build a mind-body connection and is a low impact way of moving your ...
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Can Magnesium Help With Migraines?

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If you have considered adding supplements to your migraine prevention toolkit , then magnesium might be a great option for you! Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral found in the body and is a safe, natural option for a migraine preventative that does not require a prescription. Below is more information about this supplement, as well as some things to keep in mind when considering adding it into your diet. Benefits/Effects Magnesium supplements have been found to be most effective in relieving symptoms of migraine with aura . It is believed that magnesium prevents the wave of brain signaling, called cortical spreading depression, which is what produces the visual and sensory changes known as aura. Daily oral supplementation of magnesium has also been shown to prevent hormonal migraines, especially in those with premenstrual migraines . Types of Magnesium Magnesium oxide : this is the type most commonly taken to prevent migraine, usually in pill form at a dose of 400-600 mg...
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What Is A Headache?

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Headaches are a very common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives. The   main symptom of a headache   is a pain in your head or face. This can be throbbing, constant, sharp or dull. Headache pain results from signals interacting among the brain, blood vessels and surrounding nerves. Headache symptoms vary based on the  type of headache  you have. While there are over 150 different classifications of headaches, some of the most common headache symptoms include: Pressure in the face Increased discomfort with movement Throbbing or pounding in the head Pain in the forehead or nose Crankiness  Difficulty concentrating Because there is still much to be discovered in the world of headaches it is important to do two things First  – the most conservative treatments should always come first Second  – all sources of pain should be evaluated in order to guide the proper treatment Why Does The Current Approach Fail? It is importan...
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