Exertional Migraines – What a Pain! You just finished a great workout, but instead of exercise high, you end up with throbbing head pain.  Learn how to avoid exercise headaches caused by exertion.

You just finished a great workout, but instead of exercise high, you end up with throbbing head pain.  Learn how to avoid exercise headaches caused by exertion.

To run or not to run?  That is the migraineur’s question…

Research proves that some of the best ways to avoid chronic pain is by eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of rest, managing stress, avoiding pain triggers, and incorporating exercise into your daily schedule.  But what are you supposed to do if exercise turns out to be one of your worst migraine triggers?

What are exertional headaches?

People use the term “exertional headaches” interchangeably with “exercise headaches,” but that can be misleading.  While it’s true that exertional headaches usually occur after strenuous exercise, such as weight lifting, running, and other high-impact aerobic activity, there are other activities that may precede an exertional headache, including sneezing, coughing, sexual intercourse, or just having a strong bowel movement.  Also read:  5 Sports-Related Migraines You Never Heard Of

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What’s the best way to prevent exertional headaches without dropping my fitness regimen?

Tip #1- Ease into it!

Don’t just run out the door and take off at a fast sprint, and expect the rest of your body to catch up.  You need to give your heart rate a chance to slowly build up to your endurance level, in order to better regulate blood flow to your brain, and thus prevent a backlash of head pain.  Similarly, ease out of your workout gently, by slowing down gradually and taking lots of deep cleansing breaths.

Tip #2- Check your heart rate!

If you use an elliptical machine, stair stepper, or stationary bike, then you can keep track of your heart rate, pace, and calories burned easily.  If you choose the road less traveled, invest in a simple heart rate device.  It will save you a headache later, and maximize your fitness potential.

Tip #3- Breathe!

If anaerobic exercise, such as weight lifting or yoga, is your workout choice, then remember to breathe deeply and regularly throughout.  Take plenty of controlled breaths, and coordinate them with your movements- first breathing in, and then out while exerting your strength.

Tip #4- Check your blood sugar!

Some people who get migraines are very sensitive to changes in blood sugar.  Try drinking orange juice or a sports drink before exercising, and see if that makes any difference in your migraine headache symptoms.

Tip #5- Don’t forget to stay hydrated, too!

Even if you don’t opt for sports drinks, it’s essential to stay hydrated during a workout, and the rest of the day, as well, particularly if you live in a hot, dry climate.  Dehydration is one of the leading causes of headaches.  Also read: 15 Tricks for Staying Hydrated and Avoiding Migraines

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Tip #6- Try a bit of caffeine!

This is only good advice if caffeine isn’t one of your headache triggers, of course.  Many headache treatments use caffeine to constrict the blood vessels.  If you do decide to drink coffee before a workout, remember rule #5- drink extra portions of water!  Which Foods Trigger the Most Migraines? See our Checklist

Tip #7- Try indomethacin!

Exertional headaches are usually benign.  In that case, your doc tor might prescribe indomethacin to help you avoid getting migraines every time you want to get a good workout.

Tip #8- Take more magnesium!

In some cases, a simple magnesium deficiency correlates strongly with migraine headaches.  Many popular nutrients for migraines combine the beneficial properties of magnesium, riboflavin, and butterbur.

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Sources:

Exertional Headaches- National Headache Foundation

Get a Headache after Working Out?

Is Your Exercise Routine Turning Into a Headache?

Exercise headaches- Mayo Clinic

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Migraine Blogs that Rock- Migravent Review: Where do you go for the freshest, most helpful information on migraine illness and chronic pain?  Featured are 20 funny, inspiring migraine blogs you’ll love.

Got Blogs, Will Follow

If you’ve got migraine illness, then you have better things to do with your time than scour the internet for useful information about migraine treatments, symptoms, opinion, and chronic pain therapies, don’t you? Look no further- listed below are the 20 best migraine blogs, listed according to traffic ranking, including a personal review.

The 20 Best Blog Sites

1- Brain Blogger “This is a fabulous award-winning medical blog that posts interesting topics related to neurological health, in addition to psychology and healthcare.  Fabulous.”

2- NeuroLogica “More of a blog about critical thinking in neuroscience, it still deserves honorable mention for stimulating issues about the brain.”

3- Migraine.com “Excellent landing base for migraine news and opinion, featuring well-written, professional articles and many candid observations on migraine illness.”

4- Migraine Girl “The Migraine Girl, Janet Geddis, now has her own spot on Migraine.com, and she deserves it!  Her opinion posts and reviews on migraine news are reflective, often witty, and always honest.”

5- Headache and Migraine News “Informative, updated migraine news you can trust.”

6-  The Daily Headache “Refreshing, thought-provoking migraine topics.  A pleasure to read!”

7-  Somebody Heal Me “Helpful, informative website dealing with all aspects of invisible disease, such as migraines, depression and chronic pain.  Large fan base, written by Diana Lee, who also contributes to Migraine.com.”

8- War on Headaches “Fresh, clean site with great pics and slice-of-life articles about dealing with migraines, and learning to love life.  Inspiring!”

9- The Migraineur “She’s got her migraines under control, now she blogs about life, health, dieting, and- oh yeah, migraines.”

10- Wind Lost “The author of this blog is an inspiration to every migraineur who thinks she can’t cope with life.  She’s an engineer who also loves art, interior design, writing, and gardening, in addition to many other interests.”

11- In Sickness and in Health “Inspirational, multi-faceted blog for all couples coping with chronic illness, featuring a wide range of relevant material, such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, chronic pain, and suicide.”

12- Migraine Chick “Funny and talented, the Migraine Chick is as much of an artist as she is an expert blogger.  Her migraine collages, comic strips, and line drawings are raw, revealing, and unique.”

13- Head Wise “Interesting outlook on various pain treatments, written by a chronic migraine sufferer.”

14- Migraine Journey “Great pictures, maintained by author of Migraine Expressions: A Creative Journey through Life with Migraine.”

15- The Migraine Chronicles “Migraineur Sarah Hackley likes her weather hot, and her food hotter.  Born in Austin, Texas, she writes about treating migraines naturally.  See her post, Magnesium and Coenzyme Q-10 for Migraine Prevention.”

16- Brainless Blogger “Inspirational, well written.  Love the Invisible Bob comics.”

17- Against the ‘Graine “Great source of information for anybody seeking pain relief.  Funny pics!”

18- Inner Dorothy “Funny, openly honest blog written by a chronic pain sufferer married to another chronic pain sufferer.  Love the pics!”

19- Glass Pineapple “She’s been battling with migraines since the age of 7.  An inspiration to us all, is Christy, blogger, migraineur, and monster-hunter fanatic.”

20- Give me Something to Sing About “Witty, motivating mommy blog written by a chronic pain sufferer who shares her wisdom with her fans, plus lots of family photos.  See her artwork on Etsy.”

Related reading:

12 Ways to spread Migraine Awareness without saying a Word

Top 20 Websites for Migraine Headache Patients

6 Migraine Myth-conceptions

35 Things you should never tell a Chronic Migraine Sufferer

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Manage Pain through Diet and Nutrition: Fighting minor pain is easy when you follow a healthy diet plan of nutritious healthy foods that maintain proper joint function, promote a healthy response to inflammation, and alleviate minor aches and pains associated with daily life.

Eating healthy is a win-win situation

Following a healthy diet is advisable, even if you don’t suffer from pain.  The best diet plans include low fat, vitamin-enriched foods for optimum heart health, maintaining already healthy levels of cholesterol and blood sugar, and controlling your weight.

Healthy foods for minor pain

Many healthy foods contain antioxidants that promote a healthy inflammatory response  and protect cellular and tissue health. Including these foods in your diet is an excellent way to supplement your current minor pain management program.  However, it is not advisable to forgo any prescription pain medications without first consulting in your physician.

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Foods that Relieve Stress and Improve your Mood- The Fab 4

1) Sesame seeds

Sesame seeds are rich in bone-healthy calcium and zinc.  Additionally, sesame seeds contain copper, an essential mineral for normal inflammatory response.

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Try this: Crunchy Sesame Seed Candy, a healthy sweet treat made with brown sugar, honey, sesame seeds, and ginger. –Food.com

2) Spinach

Spinach is a powerhouse of nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin K, folate, and manganese.  Eating fresh, frozen, or canned spinach is helpful for strengthening  joint cartilage, building healthy bones, and promoting cardiovascular health.

Try this: Jamie’s Cranberry Spinach Salad, complete with almonds, sesame seeds, cranberries, and fresh spinach. –Allrecipes.com

3) Flax seeds

Ground flax seeds and flax oil are premium sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, in addition to an essential fibrous phytonutrient, lignan.  Don’t use flax oil for cooking; instead, add a teaspoon of flax oil to salad dressings and dips.  Flax seeds have a nutty flavor that complements many dishes.  Use it as a topping for yogurt, ice cream, and fruit salad.

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Try this: Oven Fried Chicken, a healthier version of fried chicken, coated in crushed crackers and ground flax seed. –Ameriflax.com

4) Raw walnuts

Resist the urge to toss them in brownie batter; walnut oil’s healthful properties are optimal in their raw form.  Crunch on a handful of raw walnuts for a healthy snack, or use walnut oil in your cooking.

Try this: Black-Eyed Peas & Walnut Lettuce Wraps, a healthy “taco” that uses large lettuce leaves instead of corn taco shells.  –Walnuts.org

5) Cherries

One study proved that tart cherries are significantly effective at promoting a healthy response to inflammation. Whether you choose sweet or tart, a few spoons of cherry juice should do the trick.  Add cherry juice to lemonade, smoothies, or salad dressings.

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Try this: 4 J’s And A Cherry, a non-alcoholic bar drink containing cherry juice, pineapple juice, orange juice, and cranberry juice.  –Bar None Drinks.com

6) Celery

Celery and celery seeds contain many nurturing agents, including apigenin.  Add crunchy celery to Waldorf salad and tuna casseroles, or sprinkle celery seed on salads, stews, and roasts.

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Try this: Celery Root and Potato Purée with Chervil (Céleri Rave en Purée) , a grown-up version of mashed potatoes. –Epicurious.com

7) Ginger

In addition to reducing nausea and vomiting, ginger also relieves many minor everyday aches and pains.  Taken in a capsule, the “gingerols” contained in ginger supplements are 25% effective at regulating muscular tone.

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Migraine Nausea and Vomiting- 10 Natural Home Remedies

Try this: Ginger Ale, home brewed with fresh grated ginger, dry yeast, sugar, lemon juice, and filtered water. –BBC Good Food.com

8) Fatty fish

Studies prove that fatty foods containing Omega-3 oils are effective at regulating your healthy inflammatory response.  Salmon, mackerel, and herring the richest seafood sources of Omega-3 fatty acids.

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Try this: Salmon & ginger fish cakes utilizes the pain-killing power of salmon and ginger! –BBC Good Food.com

9) Turmeric

Turmeric spice is a popular staple in Indian and Middle-Eastern cuisine; in addition to flavoring curries such as Aloo Gobi and Lamb Tagine, many also use turmeric for a healthy response to inflammation.  For centuries, people have used turmeric for cellular and tissue health.  Today, we know that the “magic” behind turmeric lies in its active ingredient, curcumin.

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Try this: Indian-Style Rice with Cashews, Raisins and Turmeric, a fragrant, exotic dish of basmati rice, coconut milk, raisins, cashews, and spices.  -Allrecipes.com

Related reading:

3 Migraine Elimination Diet Cookbooks, plus Sample Recipes

Which Foods Trigger the Most Migraines? See our Checklist

Sources:

4 Foods That Fight Pain – 1 – MSN Health – Arthritis Slide Show

13 Foods that Fight Pain- Care2 Healthy Living

Fatty Foods Fight Inflammation

A Bowl of Cherries

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Migraine Shirts, iPad Cases, and More

Do you suffer from migraines, and have difficulty explaining chronic pain symptoms to friends and family? Say it with awareness t-shirts, mugs, and posters.

More than words

Migraine illness is an invisible disease- chronic sufferers who experience pain symptoms such as excruciating headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, visual hallucinations, and hypersensitivity to lights, sounds, and scents usually suffer alone, and end up feeling helpless, sad, angry, and neglected.

When words fail, it’s nice to know that there are some clever ways of getting your message across silently.  Migraine awareness items such as shirts, mouse pads, buttons, and cards are nothing new, but they are still great tools for encouraging discussion about migraine disease, migraine treatments, and migraine stigma, for starters.

Want a Cure for Migraines? 10 Ways you can help

Web sites like Zazzle and Café Press offer a variety of interesting and unique, humorous migraine awareness merchandise.  Here are 12 notables for you to check out:

Migraine Tee

1- Migraine “I Have Headaches” Ringer-Style T-Shirt, Café Press, $21.99

Doggy Tee

2- “Migraine Fighter” Dog T-shirt, Café Press, $18.00

Pin It

3- Migraine Button, Zazzle, $4.35

iPad Migraines

4- Machining Migraine iPad Case, Zazzle, $56.20

20 iPad Apps for Migraine Sufferers

Migraine Lit

5- Migraine Expressions, by Betsy Baxter Blondin, Amazon, $24.85

Gotta Have Books for Migraineurs- 5 that Stand Out

Migraine Art

6- Migraine Art Poster, Fine Art America, $49.00

Migraine Pain, Portrayed through Art and Poetry

Hydrate

7- Migraine “Take Charge” Sigg Water Bottle, Café Press, $25.99

15 Tricks for Staying Hydrated and Avoiding Migraines

Get your Mug

8- “What’s Your Excuse” Migraine Coffee Mug, Zazzle, $20.55

Tote-ally Migraines

9- Migraine “Knowledge is Power” Messenger Bag, Café Press, $21.99

Log your Migraines

10- “Migraine: a Disease” Migraine Journal, Café Press, $12.49

10 Clues your should Include in your Headache Diary Today

Spread Migraine Cheer

11- Migraine Holiday Greeting Card, Zazzle, $3.80

Laugh a Little

12- “Migraine Chick” Comic Strip, Strip Generator

Related Reading:

Migraine Sufferer to World: It’s not just a Headache, People!

35 Things you should never tell a Chronic Migraine Sufferer

Thoughtful Gifts for Migraine Sufferers- 20 They will Love

Eliminate migraines by eliminating food triggers, such as aged cheese, wine, chocolate, dried meats, and MSG.  Here are some migraine-friendly cookbook recipes.

Beyond medicating

Migraine headaches are debilitating, painful, and unfortunately, difficult to cure.  A variety of pain relievers, abortive medicines, and natural ingredients are available, and what works for one migraine sufferer, doesn’t necessarily kill the head pain for the rest of them.  The best way to battle migraines is to adapt to a migraine-friendly lifestyle, and that means avoiding migraine triggers, such as stress, strong scents, bright lights, and dietary red-flag items.

Perfumes and Migraines: The Good, the Bad, and the Downright Stinky

Migraineurs’ cookbooks

Migraine-friendly cookbooks take all the guesswork out of elimination dieting.  Here are three that are worth checking out on Amazon, or through your local library.

“Migraine-Free Cooking,” by Heidi Gunderson is the unofficial companion book to “The 1-2-3 Program for Taking Charge of Your Pain” by David Buchholz, M.D.  If you miss Italian food dishes, such as spaghetti and lasagna, which are often loaded with aged salamis, then concoct your own Italian feast.  Heidi includes recipes for Fresh Sausage, Tomato Sauce, and tortilla Pizza.  For more recipes, get Heidi’s cookbook on Amazon.

The “Headache Prevention Cookbook- Starting Your Own Elimination Diet,” by Dr. David Marks and Dr. Laura Marks:  This book, written by the director of the New England Center for Headache, Dr. David Marks, a fellow headache sufferer himself, includes one hundred recipes collected by his wife, Dr. Laura Marks.  Some recipes include Orange Blossom French Toast and Grape Tarts with Vanilla Pastry Cream. Find it at Amazon.

“Joy Bauer’s Food Cures- Eat Right to Get Healthier, Look Younger, and Add Years to Your Life,” written by acclaimed nutritionist Joy Bauer, shows you how to reverse illness through diet.  Joy includes migraine-friendly recipes like Gingered Carrots, Ginger-Spiced Pumpkin Muffins, and Cranberry Basil Vinaigrette.  For more help curing migraine illness through diet, get her book on Amazon.

Related reading:

Foods that Relieve Stress and Improve your Mood- The Fab 4

Which Foods Trigger the Most Migraines? See our Checklist

Gotta Have Books for Migraineurs- 5 that Stand Out

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Explaining Migraine Symptoms to Friends- Other people have difficulty understanding chronic migraine illness; here are some communication tips to improve your relationship with friends and family.

Invisible illness, unmistakable pain.

How many times have people said to you, “How was I supposed to know you had a headache?  You look fine to me.” Haven’t you ever wished that you had a “not now, I have a headache,” sign that you could paste to your forehead?  Although migraine isn’t officially an “invisible illness,” it ought to be.  Admit it- sometimes, when you see somebody hobbling along with a crutch, or wearing a cast, you’re a bit jealous.  You think, “Hey!  I’m suffering, too…the only reason nobody notices is because I don’t show it externally.”

Get it all out into the open

You might not have any observable handicaps, but you do have a tool that you can use to communicate your illness to others: your voice. It might not get you a spot in the handicapped parking zone, but communicating verbally with others to help them understand your condition will go a long way towards improving your relationships, relieving stress, and removing migraine stigma.

There are no psychics, mind readers, or empaths here

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Friends and family won’t know that you’re suffering a migraine attack unless you tell them each time.  Don’t expect people to sense that you often feel depressed, anxious, alone, helpless, angry, or weak.  They can’t understand what you go through without some help on your part.

Here are some excellent tips for breaking the ice about migraines:

1- Talk about your migraines when you’re not in pain. Don’t wait until you’re writhing in pain to explain that the noise from the television feels like a drill boring through your skull.  Take your husband, son, daughter, or friend aside on a good day.  Make a lunch date, or just pick a quiet moment before bedtime.  Explain to them all about all the ins and outs of migraine attacks- the aura that sometimes occurs before the attack, symptoms such as nausea, stomach cramping, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to lights, scents, and sounds.  See Migraine Sufferer to World: It’s not just a Headache, People!

2- Introduce them to migraine art. A picture is worth a thousand words, so why waste your breath?  Sometimes, video imagery, artistic renderings, or even poetry by fellow migraine sufferers explains migraine symptoms in ways that mere words cannot express.  See here for some examples of Migraine Pain, Portrayed through Art and Poetry.

3- Share links. Email your friends links to various migraine advocacy groups, or other organizations that help people with chronic pain.  Some good ones are Migraine.com, Magnum, and the Invisible Disabilities Association.  See our list of the Top 20 Websites for Migraine Headache Patients.

4- “Like” migraines. Share relevant information on Facebook.  Join migraine pages, and suggest them to your friends.  Here are some great blogs for migraine awareness. Tell them about Invisible Illness Week, which takes place on September 12-18, 2011.

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5- Say it in a letter. Read to them “A Letter to People Without Chronic Pain.”

6- Encourage questions. Your family might not realize that it’s okay to ask you how you’re feeling, or what they can do to help.  Make it clear to them that you welcome their comments, as long as they respect your feelings.  Read 35 Things you should never tell a Chronic Migraine Sufferer.

7- Educate your friends and family. Have any good books on migraines, chronic pain, or other invisible illnesses?  Offer to lend them a copy, or send them a link to a good migraine book on Amazon.    See our list of Gotta Have Books for Migraineurs- 5 that Stand Out.

8- Keep your workmates in the know. If migraine triggers at work are an issue, then explain your situation to your boss and coworkers.  Does somebody at work wear overpoweringly strong perfume every day?  Talk to her openly about it.  Explain that it’s not personal, but that you are, in a sense, allergic to perfumes, the reaction being severe migraine pain.  If your employers are unable to provide you with a migraine-free environment, then you might have the right to disability benefits.

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Sources:

When Migraines Endanger Our Friendships

Helping Others Understand Your Migraine

Helping Others Understand: A Letter to People Without Chronic Pain

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Patient Satisfaction without the Pain- Pharmacists and chronic pain patients don’t always see eye to eye.  Here are tips for getting customer satisfaction on your migraine pain treatment refills.

Is this déjà vu to you, too?

If you suffer from chronic pain, such as migraine headaches, muscular stiffness, or arthritis, then you might recognize this scenario:

A customer walks into a Walgreen’s pharmacy, stands in line, and then comes up to the register.  She inquires about her Darvocet prescription, which she takes for migraine headaches.  She mentions that she ordered her refill online, and believes that her medication should be ready for pick-up.

Imagine her surprise, and shock, when instead of retrieving her order, the pharmacist leans over menacingly, points at her, and shouts at the top of his voice, “What?  You shouldn’t be out, yet!  You need to quit gobbling those things up.  If you’re still in pain, then ask your doctor to prescribe something else.”

35 Things you should never tell a Chronic Migraine Sufferer

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It’s not just you.

According to a report, published by the National Institutes of Health, many pharmacists exhibit an astonishing lack of regard and knowledge for basic migraine management guidelines, despite their intensive educational background.

• More than half of the 171 pharmacists surveyed believe that migraine patients should take over-the-counter painkillers, such as Advil or Tylenol, before submitting to prescription migraine medications.
• Only half ever inquire about migraine-related conditions, such as nausea or vomiting.
• About one-third believe that migraine-specific medications should be a last resort when all other drug treatments have failed.
• Two-thirds do not believe that migraine is a neurological illness.

You have options.

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1- Switch pharmacies.

If you currently support a large chain-store pharmacy, such as Wal-Mart, Walgreens, or CVS, then visit a small local pharmacy, instead.  Experiences among patients vary, but overwhelmingly, chronic pain sufferers who give their business to “mom and pop” pharmacists report getting more customer satisfaction.

2- Communicate.

Be open, and explain to your pharmacist about your chronic migraines, disabilities, symptoms, comorbidities, and pain medication preferences.  Choose a pharmacist who is experienced, compassionate, and open to fostering a customer-pharmacist relationship.

3- Don’t shop around.

Once you find a pharmacy that meets your needs, stick with them.  Pharmacists receive training to sniff out “drug seekers,” addicts or street dealers who fill out prescriptions for narcotics frequently and at random pharmacies, in order to avoid being recognized.  Sadly, each time you switch pharmacies, you run the risk of falling under the radar, despite your best attempts to explain your case.  The best way to avoid an unpleasant scenario is to pick up your medications from the same pharmacy.  Before you go on vacation, notify your doctor and pharmacist, and check to make sure that you have enough meds to get by.  For more advice on traveling with migraines, read Plan a Headache-Free Summer Vacation: Five Travel Tips.

4- Notify management.

If you feel you’ve received unfair or offensive treatment from a pharmacist, then discreetly complain to the higher-ups.  It’s not “ratting out” when you report to superiors, but rather ensuring that other customers don’t receive similar abuse in the future.  First, take a deep breath, and regain your composure.  It won’t do to approach management in a fit of tears- they won’t take you seriously, and your grievances will likely fall on deaf ears.  Unfortunately, pharmacists have a high turnover rate, particularly the ones who work in large corporation pharmacies.  Don’t be surprised when you see the same pharmacist, the one who treated you rudely, back behind the counter the next day.

5- Develop a thick skin.

This is tough advice, but a necessary coping mechanism for all chronic pain patients, migraineurs included.  You may not be able to change the world, but you can change your reaction to “snide remarks and whispering” from health professionals who should know better.

6- Know the system.

It helps to see things from the other perspective, not only because it reduces anxiety, but also because it allows you to see the bigger picture.  Here a few pet peeves of most pharmacists:

• Sometimes, doctors make hasty prescriptions.  It’s the pharmacist’s duty to double-check before dispensing orders.  If they dispense a wrongful medication, then they are equally liable, particularly where narcotics are concerned.
• When a doctor orders a medication, he operates in conjunction with the pharmacist.  The pharmacy technician is under no obligation to hand out drugs mindlessly, just because the physician requested it.  To do so would be to risk losing their license.
• Dispensing early refills is punishable by fine, in addition to loss of license.
• Pharmacists earn a degree from medical school, yet they feel that they are often treated like store clerks.
• Working in a pharmacy is a high-pressure job.  You must be able to make quick decisions that affect the lives of others significantly.  That’s not an easy feat, considering bureaucratic intricacies, insurance policies, and conflicts between physicians and patients.

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Related reading:

Migraine Pop Quiz: How Well do you Understand your Headaches?

New Study Warns against Taking these Painkillers with Antidepressants

Should I Take Excedrin for Migraine Headaches?

Sources:

Chronic Pain General Discussions at DailyStrength: Being treated like a junkie at the Pharmacy

Treated Bad by Pharmacy Today : FightingFatigue.org

Migraine Headache: The Pharmacist and the Role of OTC Medications

Migraine therapy: a survey of pharmacists’ knowled… [Headache. 2005] – PubMed result

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Hypnic Jerks while Falling Asleep- Hypnic jerks, or exploding head syndrome, are sleep disorders characterized by quick, sudden seizures that occur while falling asleep, and may cause insomnia.

Have you ever been on the verge of a deep asleep, only to be jolted awake by a terrifyingly loud crashing noise in your head?  Hypnic jerks include symptoms like:

• Sudden, involuntary jerks while falling asleep
• Phantom sounds, such as popping, gunshot noises, and explosions, clashing cymbals, or banging sounds in the head
• Brief flashes of light
• Feeling of falling
• Electric charge

Also read: Rock On for More Sleep and Fewer Headaches

It’s not an obnoxious mind reader.

What is a hypnic jerk?

Hypnic jerks, also called “exploding head syndrome” or “sleep starts,” is a benign condition, causing sudden involuntary muscular twitches that occur within a few hours of falling asleep.  In some cases, you might also hear a loud snapping or cracking noise inside your head, something akin to an explosion or a fired gunshot.

You’re not crazy, and you’re not having a stroke.

Are hypnic headaches normal?

First, there is no connection between these strange noises and the auditory hallucinations heard by the mentally ill.  Second, while it is advisable to get a check-up, these symptoms alone probably don’t indicate anything life threatening, such as stroke.   To ER or not to ER? 8 Migraine Signals that call for Emergency Care

However, if you experience severe headaches along with hypnic jerks, then you should call 911 right away.

Hypnic jerks- what they are, and what they’re not

What causes hypnic jerks?

As you fall asleep, your whole body unwinds; your muscles relax and your body temperature drops.  During the shift from wakefulness to sleepiness, your brain sometimes “panics,” mistaking the sensation of falling asleep as actual, physical falling, hence the phenomenon.

Is a hypnic jerk kind of like a migraine with aura?

No.  While some people who experience exploding head syndrome report seeing brief flashes of light, there is no correlation with migraine headaches.  If you experience symptoms similar to hypnic jerks that accompany head pain, then you must report to your doctor immediately, in order to rule out stroke, or other life-threatening illness.  Go Ask Alice: Migraine Auras in Wonderland

Who gets hypnic jerks?

Most people who experience hypnic jerks tend to be women who are over the age of 50, but they can happen to anybody of any age, male or female. In some cases, hypnic jerks can become habitual, leading to insomnia, especially if that person suffers from stress or panics over difficulty falling asleep. Some helpful stress-reduction techniques include cutting out caffeine, eating light, healthy meals, supplementing with vitamins and herbs, including 30 minutes of exercise per day, and practicing deep breathing, meditation, or yoga.

Related reading:

Stop Your Next Panic Attack in 4 Simple Steps

“What are Ice Pick Headaches, and should I be worried?”

Foods that Relieve Stress and Improve your Mood- The Fab 4

Resources:

What is a Hypnic Jerk?

Get Some Sleep: Bang in your head waking you?  It has a name- The Chart- CNN.com Blogs

Exploding head syndrome

Loud crash at 3 a.m.? It may be your exploding head

Chronic Headache Websites on Twitter: Follow the best Twitter pages, get updated news, opinion, and research on migraine headaches from top online forums, web communities, and chronic pain experts.

What’s the best way to find informative, trustworthy information on migraine headaches?

The internet is the best place to find the most recent information about health issues, such as chronic pain, fibromyalgia, chronic migraines, and more.  However, to ensure that you get the most accurate data, it helps to get your updates from multiple sources.  The net is crawling with migraine advocacy groups, online forums for migraine support, and numerous web communities.  (See our list of Top 20 Websites for Migraine Headache Patients.)

That’s a lot of internet websites to sift through.

Thankfully, you don’t have to.  Included in this list are the most revered, well liked, and helpful Twitter pages for migraineurs:

The top 40 list

40-@MigraineNurse Chronic migraineur/nurse answers your most pressing questions about migraine treatments, from an RN’s perspective.

39-@headacherecover Online community of migraineurs share their experiences.

38-@MigraineWizard Mr Ahmed Sadiq, ophthalmic surgeon and Botox expert dishes out advice on healing migraines through Botox injections.

37-@themigrainegirl Feature writer for Migraine.com, and fellow migraine sufferer, shares revealing, often uplifting, anecdotes on living with migraines.

36-@forMigraines Migraine-specific Tweets; everything you wanted to know about migraine headache meds, management, and coping mechanisms.

35-@TDHblog Twitter landing page for The Daily Headache blog.

34-@MigraineAction UK charity organization for migraine sufferers.

33-@Migravent Get all of our most recent, updated blog postings about migraine symptoms, research, and alternative headache treatments.

32-@TRobert Teri Robert, noted author and migraine advocate, also contributes to various migraine health sites all over the web.

31-@MigraineRF Migraine Research Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises funding for migraine illness research.

30-@drummerheather Heather Hefner, blogger (War on Headaches), talks about her day-to-day life, as a migraineur, student, and drummer.

29-@headachehelper Chicago, Illinois outpatient center that specializes in diagnosis and treatment of migraine and other headache conditions.

28-@MigraineTrust UK non-profit charitable group devoted to raising migraine awareness.

27-@NHF National Headache Foundation Twitter page, for their site- http://www.headaches.org.

26-@migrainecooking Heidi Gunderson, author of  Migraine-Free Cooking!, shares her favorite recipes and tips, all geared towards helping you avoid common migraine headache food triggers.  Which Foods Trigger the Most Migraines? See our Checklist

25-@BetsyBlondin Betsy Baxter Blondin, publisher of Migraine Expressions, keeps you updated on the politics of migraine.

24-@migraine_tweets Interesting, off-beat articles related to migraines and chronic pain.

23-@KimmyDarling Kimmy Darling is a fun-lovin’ gal from Virginia who doesn’t let migraines slow her down.

22-@freemybrain Megan Oltman is a migraine management coach who also treats people suffering from fibromyalgia and IBS.

21-@DanaBaker Dana Baker has over 1,000 followers; she shares her views on life as a patient of headaches and migraines, fibromyalgia, and as a thyroid cancer survivor

20-@DisabledUnited Online community of over 50,000 disabled individuals.  Social Security Disability for Migraine- 5 Tips for Filing

19-@somebodyhealme Diana Lee, talented writer for Migraine.com and her blog, Somebody Heal Me, discusses chronic illness from a lawyer’s perspective.

18-@painspeaks Liz Hall manages the Pain Sufferers Speak blog, a global community of chronic pain patients.

17-@Migrainedotcom Migraine.com is one of the leading websites for migraine sufferers, featuring online support, migraine forums, expert advice on migraine medications, and thought-provoking articles on migraine stigma.

16-@disabilityscoop Before you file for disability insurance, check out what Disability Scoop has to say on the latest developments in disability law.

15-@disabledworld Close to 7,000 Twitterers get updated news, videos, and community input on disability insurance reform.

14-@CindyhM1 Cindy McCain, wife of Senator John McCain, is one of the most outspoken, well-connected advocates for migraine awareness in the US.  Cindy McCain Gives Voice to Migraine Syndrome

13-@EmpowHER : EmpowHER is one of the leading news sources for women’s health news.

12-@medlineplus is the Twitter page for the government website that provides updated info on medical research.

11-@Disabilitygov. Official U.S. Government website for information on disability-related programs, services, laws & benefits

10- 39,077 Followers– @PreventionMag The Prevention Magazine Twitter site offers information on anti-aging, nutrition, fitness, and fighting chronic illness.

09-120,468 followers- @WSJHealthBlog The Wall Street Journal health blog offers tips and advice from the world’s leading health experts.

08-131,183 followers- @JohnsHopkinsSPH Medical science news from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

07-147,255 followers- @healthfinder healthfinder.gov Government website for reliable prevention and health information.

06- 160,179 followers- @NPRHealth Health coverage from the NPR Science Desk.

05- 176,327 followers- @msnbc_health The latest health-related news from MSNBC.

04- 223,120 followers- @MayoClinic Comprehensive, easy-t0-follow medical information on diseases, including symptoms, treatment options, risks, and more.

03- 269,620 followers- @womenshealth Womenshealth.gov is part of the U.S. HHS Office on Women’s Health.

02- 3,020 followers- @NeurologyToday Official newspaper of the American Academy of Neurology.

01- 332,112 followers- @DailyHealthTips Get practical, useful health tips everyday, from real doctors.

4 Tips for getting them ready for Class- Does your child suffer headaches, and dread going back to school?  For children who get migraine headaches, September means anxiety, stress, and chronic head pain.

School’s In for Fall

Summer is almost over, and while parents of school-aged children are hurriedly shopping for new clothes, schoolbooks, and school supplies for their kids, your biggest concern is how to prepare your child for the inevitability of migraine symptoms at school.  Worries flood your thoughts; some of your doubts might include:

• What will happen if his new teacher doesn’t understand about child migraines?
• What can I do if she has a migraine at school?
• What is the school’s “zero tolerance” policy regarding children with headaches?
• How can I effectively protect my child from migraine headache triggers?
• If he misses a test because of migraines, can he take a retest?
• Will the other children in class tease him because of his frequent migraines?
• How can I raise migraine awareness in my child’s new school?

In order to start the school year off right, you need to have a migraine strategy.  Below are some helpful tips for asserting your child’s rights without drawing any unnecessary attention.

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(1) Be open, but optimistic about your child’s illness. Inform the teacher that should she feel a migraine headache approaching, your daughter might need to get a drink of cold water and lie down for a few minutes, or step outside for a breath of fresh air.  If bright fluorescent lighting triggers her migraines, then she will need permission to wear sunglasses during class.

(2) Familiarize yourself with school policies. Ask your school’s principal about their policy regarding absences, tardiness, medications, and any special arrangements for children who suffer from chronic illness.  Explain that while you fully expect your child to participate in class, there might be times when severe migraines prevent him from handing in a homework assignment on time, or appearing for a test.  If exercise is a factor in his migraines, then ask if he may sit out any strenuous workouts during physical education classes.

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(3) Keep the migraine management regimen active. Make sure your child gets plenty of rest, drinks water throughout the day, eats three square meals a day, and has all her migraine treatment prescriptions refilled.  If she requires any identification for her chronic migraines, make sure that she wears it to school every day.  Explain that she is not under any circumstances to accept medicine from anybody other than the school nurse, providing that the school has up-to-date information on her migraine medications.

(4) Get support. The internet is full of great migraine advocacy sites, forums, and online support groups for families with migraine.  Visit the American Migraine Foundation site, and download their school lists, forms, and literature regarding migraine awareness, management, and information, which is available from their Migraine Resources and Links page.

Related reading:

Teens and Migraines- 3 Headache Triggers that Spell Trouble

The Teen Headache Connection

7 Healing Headache Relief Treatments for Children

Adolescent Migraine Mistaken for Drug Use (News)

Sources:

Migraines make school extra challenging for young people

Back To School With Migraines or Headaches

Migraines at School- Coping with Migraines at School

Migraines & School- Migraine.com

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