Over eight million people in the UK suffer from migraines and until recently, Andrea Henson was one of them.
But the catering business owner, from Lincolnshire, claims to have beaten the severe headaches by changing her diet.
The 46-year-old stopped using cow’s milk and corn in her cooking and says she’s barely experienced a migraine since.
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Andrea Henson/Facebook
Andrea Henson with her husband, Andrew
Henson suffered from migraines for 25 years before changing her diet.
“My episodes were always unpredictable, they could come on quickly and affect my vision or be a slow starter, lasting anywhere between one to three days,” she told the Daily Mail.
“I was left feeling exhausted and achy but there was nothing anyone could do. As I run my own business, I had to try to soldier on the best I could. It was really hard.”
For years she got by on migraine relief tablets, but would often experience unpleasant side effects such as drowsiness and nausea.
By chance, she took a food intolerance test by YorkTest when she was trying to learn more about allergies to improve her catering business.
The test revealed she was allergic to cow’s milk and corn and since cutting the two ingredients from her diet, Henson says her migraines have dramatically improved.
“Since starting my new eating regime, I’ve gone from having migraines on a weekly basis to having just three in total - they pretty much disappeared after six weeks. I was amazed,” she said.
According to Rebekah Aitchison from the charity Migraine Action, diet can trigger migraines for some sufferers.
“It is always a good idea to eat a balanced diet regularly, as a drop or spike in glucose levels can be a trigger for migraine,” she told The Huffington Post UK.
“Keeping a regular routine can be the key for those whose migraines are affected by diet.”
She added that chocolate, red wine and cheese are some of the foods most commonly linked to triggering a migraine.
“However everyone’s migraines are individual and foods will affect everyone differently,” she said.
“The most important thing is to keep a diary, noting any changes 24 hours before an attack strikes and ascertain your own migraine triggers.”
“Mrs Henson’s case is a great example of taking a wider view of food as a possible causative agent, dairy foods in particular being one of the first places to look as a potential migraine trigger,” he said.
“Others to consider are wheat, citrus fruits, alcohol, caffeine, spices and fermented foods.”
However, he pointed out that there are many other potential tiggers associated with migraines.
“Food could be at the root of your pain but there could be other contributing issues to tease out such as spinal or postural problems, stress, hormonal imbalances and many others so try not to overlook these,” he said.
“Drugs absolutely do not have to be the only answer for every migraineur.”
While there is currently no cure for migraines, the symptoms can be reduced and controlled
“Learning triggers and early warning signs, as well as finding the best treatment for you, from B2 vitamins to Botox, can really help reduce the impact migraine has on your life,” Aitchison said.
To access migraine support, contact Migraine Action on 08456 011 033 weekdays 10am to 4pm to talk through all phases of a migraine and what treatment options are available.
10 Migraine Triggers
Sleeping In(01 of10)
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It may not be surprising that skimping on shut-eye can cause a migraine -- but so can binging on sleep on your days off."The migraine brain likes things to be as normal and reliable and routine as possible," Buse says. And that includes your sleep schedule -- getting too much or too little sleep, or experiencing jet lag, can trigger a migraine attack. "We always advise people to try to wake up at the same time every day, even on Saturday and Sunday," she says.It sounds tough, but it's worth it -- not only can you stave off headaches by keeping your weekend bedtime and wake-time within an hour or so of your weekday schedule, but it also will help your sleep. Shifting your body clock several hours at the end of every week forces the body into a so-called social jet lag, or stationary jet lag, that can cause sleep and health problems down the line. (credit:Getty Images)
The Letdown After Stress(02 of10)
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It makes sense that stress is a migraine trigger for many people -- but, turns out, so is the period of relaxation right after. The body's stress response increases levels of various chemicals that then drop off once we calm down. That chemical change could be what causes the so-called "letdown" or "weekend" migraines. This explains why an attack might strike on the first day of vacation, the day after you quit a stressful job or the beginning of your honeymoon, Buse says. In fact, according to research she presented at the 2011 American Neurological Association's annual meeting, people have a 20 percent increased likelihood of having a migraine in the 12 to 24 hours after their mood shifts from "sad" or "nervous" to "happy" or "relaxed."This underscores the importance of managing stress effectively as it's happening, Buse says: "It's really tough to do, but incredibly important." (credit:Getty Images)
Rain(03 of10)
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While there hasn't yet been any definitive research linking migraines with the weather, anecdotally speaking, patients often report getting more migraines on rainy days, Silberstein says.While you can't control the weather, you can take extra care to avoid other triggers on rainy days. (credit:Getty Images)
Oestrogen Fluctuations(04 of10)
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Fluctuations in oestrogen -- whether that be menstruation, coming off birth control pills, pregnancy, the time right after delivering a baby, menopause or taking oral contraceptives with changing doses throughout the month -- can trigger migraines. What's more, they can also lower your migraine threshold, meaning you're more susceptible to other triggers. If you find you're getting migraines between ovulation and menses, you might want to talk to your doctor about taking an extended oral contraceptive, Buse suggests, which can eliminate 75 percent of these hormonal periods. (credit:Getty Images)
Food(05 of10)
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The jury is still out on many of the foods people report triggering migraines. But while the science isn't conclusive, Buse says foods containing tyramine (including red wine, aged cheeses, certain processed meats and pork, to name a few) and tannins (including red wine, tea, coffee and apple juice), may cause an attack. Other food additives, including MSG, aspartame and nitrites, could be headache culprits, though, again, much of the data is anecdotal and not scientific at this point. In people with celiac disease or an allergy, gluten can also cause migraines.Keeping a diary can help you to pinpoint what foods you think could be setting off headaches for you. "One person will have one food be a problem and another person will say that doesn't happen with them," Buse says. But while avoiding a suspected trigger food might be helpful, she advises speaking to your doctor before making any extreme diet changes in the name of migraines. (credit:Getty Images)
Your Co-Worker's Perfume(06 of10)
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That strong scent is more than annoying -- for some migraine sufferers, it's enough to set off an attack. Sensory stimuli like bright lights (including the sun, computer screen or movie theater screen glare), strong smells (like perfume or cigarette smoke) and loud noises can all be headache culprits, Buse says.Some stimuli you can't do much about, but she suggests wearing sunglasses outdoors year-round if light is a problem and asking friends and co-workers to go easy on the perfume, if possible. (credit:Shutterstock)
Drinking Coffee (And Not Drinking Coffee)(07 of10)
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This one works both ways: Too much caffeine can trigger a headache and, for heavy drinkers, not getting your fix can also set off your migraines. This might also be the culprit for your weekend headaches if you're guzzling coffee all week at the office and skipping it at home (or sleeping past your morning jolt), Silberstein says.To avoid caffeine-related migraines, Buse recommends people cap their daily intake at 200 mg (about the amount in a cup of coffee). Drinking more than that now? Taper off slowly to avoid withdrawal headaches. (credit:Shutterstock)
Happy Hour(08 of10)
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The body metabolizes alcohol into acetate, which might cause a migraine, Silberstein says. To avoid the morning-after pain, he suggests drinking only in moderation, taking an an Aleve or Motrin before you drink and consuming food with your alcohol.While all alcohol can trigger migraines, Buse says dark-colored liquors, such as tequila and bourbon, and red wine anecdotally seem to be worse -- though there isn't hard data to back that up. (credit:Shutterstock)
Sex(09 of10)
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According to Buse, physical exertion -- including sex -- can trigger a headache. While the exact cause of exercise-induced migraines isn't totally understood, it could be a chemical change in the brain, especially among those who are out of shape, or it could be that the very early stages of the attack have already begun, meaning the nervous system might be extra sensitive, she explains.The good news is that regularly breaking a sweat can often be a successful way to reduce the number of migraine attacks you experience. "If you exercise on a regular basis, the body makes its own painkillers," Silberstein says. (Even better, one study published earlier this year found that sex can relieve migraine pain for some people.)If the impact that comes with some exercise seems to be the problem, Buse suggests trying swimming, biking or yoga instead. (credit:Getty Images)
Skipping Lunch(10 of10)
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Again, routine is key for migraine sufferers. Skipping a meal or fasting can set off a headache, Silberstein says. We don't know exactly why, he explains, but it might have something to do with low glucose levels. Either way, it's important to eat regularly when possible to avoid an attack. (credit:Getty Images)