Migraine Awareness: How Our Products Can Help Reduce Migraine Symptoms
Globally, one in seven people are known to be affected by migraines
If you've ever had a migraine, you will know just how disruptive they can be to everyday life. We have written this blog post to show you how our products can help alliviete the painful symptoms that a migraine attack can cause.
With more awareness on migraines, we can dispel any ideas that having a migraine is 'just a bad headache'.
Migraines are a long term health condition; the symptoms are both severe and painful and can cause huge disruption to the lives of those who suffer. For those who experience migraines, they can be whole-body experiences.
Symptoms of a migraine attack might include:
- Head pain, especially on one side
- Problems with your sight - such as seeing flashing lights
- Being very sensitive to light, sounds and smells
- Fatigue
- Feeling sick and being sick
- Dizziness
- Difficulty speaking or communicating
- Vertigo
What causes migraines?
The exact cause of migraines is currently still being researched, but they're thought to be the result of abnormal brain activity temporarily affecting nerve signals, chemicals and blood vessels in the brain.
Studies have also shown that those that suffer migraine may do so from certain triggers. These include:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Tension
- Missing meals
- Alcohol
- Low blood sugar
- Poor quality sleep
- Neck or shoulder stiffness and tension
For women, hormonal changes can be a big factor. Some women experience migraines around the time of their period, possibly because of changes in the levels of hormones such as oestrogen.
Some women only experience migraines around this time, which is known as pure menstrual migraine.
Lack of good quality sleep and rest, hard to come by in our busy lives, are also commong triggers for the onset of a migraine.
The artificial environment around us, such as temperature and lighting can also contribute to migraine symptoms. If you suffer from migraines and are sat, staring at a screen all day, consider how this setting might affect your body and brain.
Symptoms vary from person to person; it certainly isn't 'one size fits all' when dealing with migraines. Statistics show that for some patients, the on-set of symptoms can start 24 hours before any head pain and end 24 hours after head pain has ceased.
Types of Migraines
There is an international classification system which doctors use to diagnose and treat migraine patients. The most common types of migraine fall into two main categories;
Migraines 'with aura’ and 'without aura’
Migraines without aura are said to be the most common, and go by the name 'Hemicrania simplex’.
Migraines with aura are recurring headaches that strikes after or at the same time as sensory disturbance. Studies have shown that this commonly affects one's sight, with reports of experiencing blind spots and seeing flashing lights. For more extreme cases one may experience problems with speech, numbness, pins and needles, dizziness and even vertigo.
Auras show up in about 1 in 3 people with a migraine, but you're not likely to get them every time. So it's possible you might have both types of migraine, with auras happening here and there.
Treatment of 'without aura migraines' are generally over the counter painkillers and anti-sickness medicine, specific to migraine treatment. For more acute cases, beta-blockers have been known to be prescribed and even antidepressants have been proven to help alleviate symptoms.
Natural Pain Relief
Our Wheat Bags, Pillow Spray and Eye Pillows can offer a drug free alternative and help alleviate the symptoms of migraines and headaches. A few ways that they can help include:
- Numbing the sensation of pain
- Relaxing tense muscles
- Blocking out light with gentle pressure on eyelids or temples
- Calming the mind
Alongside natural pain relief, it is always advised to take into consideration some lifestyle changes, with many people benefiting from reviewing theirs to help reduce their migraine attacks. This could include spending more time outside in nature, reducing screen time or stopping your alcohol consumption for a while.
Through our research into migraines, we discovered some more advice to help you avoid them including:
- Having a routine by waking up at the same time every day and practising good sleep hygiene (try our eye pillows for a deeper sleep!)
- Eating at regular times each day with a well-balanced diet - avoid getting hungry and burning out
- Keeping well hydrated with low sugar, caffeine free drinks throughout the day
- Practising gentle, regular exercise such as walking and generally maintaining a healthy lifestyle (use our wheat bags to reduce any muscle stiffness and tension before and after working out)
It can be helpful to monitor alcohol, caffeine and sugar intake. Studies have shown that these elements can be a factor in contributing to migraine attacks.
Research suggests that yoga can be a complementary practice that helps treat migraines and disabilities associated with migraines. Yoga is a wonderful tool to destress and reconnect with your body. Our weighted eye pillow can help deepen your relaxation during Savasana.
For those that work at a desk for most of the day - our Wheat Bags can be draped over the shoulders or placed around the base of the spine for support and to relieve tension build up. Our Wheat Bags can be both heated and cooled to offer both hot & cold therapy to suit your needs all year round.
Using our products
Each Wheat Bag is filled with natural wheat grains, which are evenly distributed to fit the contours of your body. Simply remove the cover and pop the inner bag into the microwave or pre-heated oven and once removed, apply to the area of discomfort or pain. If you prefer a cold compress, simply popit into the freezer for a minimum of half an hour and use it this way.
Our Eye Pillows can be used in exactly the same way. They are deisgned to help the eyes and central nervous system to relax and release tension. The delicate weight of the pillow applies subtle acupressure for the eye muscles and head.
We are so happy to have had lots of feedback claiming that our products have reduced or, in some cases, completely eradicated the onset of a migraine.
There are a number of organisations that offer advice and support for people with migraines, including The Migraine Trust
Their helpline team offer free, confidential information and support for everyone affected by migraines.
They provide evidence-based information and support on all aspects of migraines, including:
- Types of migraine
- Triggers
- Access to appropriate healthcare
- Treatments
- Your rights in employment and education
- Research
- Managing migraines
- Living with migraines
- The emotional impact of migraines
If you have any more questions about using our products alongside your journey to recovery, please contact us; we would be more than happy to help in any way we can.
