| Women Living Well Seminar
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FORUM ARCHIVE
Migraine
Name: Amy Campbell
Username: acampbel@brynmawr.edu
Subject: Forum Question for the Migraine Talk, Dr. Kerson
Date: 2002-03-20 15:07:24
Message Id: 1543
Comments:
What, in your experience, contributes to headaches. How do you manage them and what lifestyle changes or lifestyle habits would help to minimize headaches. How do the habits of regular exercise, regular eating and getting enough sleep, contribute to minimizing stress, migraines, headaches etc.
If you suffer from headaches or migraines, try keeping a daily log tracking the amount of sleep you are getting, daily exercise and your eating habits.
Name: Shanze
Username: smunir@brynmawr.edu
Subject: headaches
Date: 2002-03-20 16:10:30
Message Id: 1548
Comments:
I think lack of sleep, not eating properly, and too much stress contributes to headaches. In order to minimize headaches one needs to have a good amount of sleep, eat at least three meals a day, and balance out your workload and other things so that you are not under too much stress. These things contribute to minimize headaches because then there is not too much pressure on your body and it is not lacking anything (ex: food, sleep) and can function properly.
Name: ashley
Username: lgarriga@brynmawr.edu
Subject: headaches
Date: 2002-03-20 18:04:32
Message Id: 1549
Comments:
Well, I guess I am fortunate in that I don't really get headaches. When I do get them it tends to be if I haven't eaten or slept enough in quite a while. I guess then, just to echo our speaker today, that minimizing headaches could be helped by not abusing OTC or prescription medication, but instead using them responsibly as a response to a grade of headache, as well as regularly eating 3 meals a day and getting enough sleep.
Name: Kate Lenahan
Username: klenahan@brynmawr.edu
Subject: headaches
Date: 2002-03-20 18:13:11
Message Id: 1550
Comments:
I think stress is a major factor in contributing to headaches, but I don't really get them too often, so I don't really know. I know that when I'm tired or hungry, I'm definitely more prone to get headaches.
Name: Jennings
Username: amayne@brynmawr.edu
Subject: headaches
Date: 2002-03-20 18:30:36
Message Id: 1551
Comments:
classes usually give me a headache, but today's was really interesting. I enjoyed learning about the disease that plagues many of my friends. Today's speaker gave many interesting insights and I thouroughly enjoyed todays class.
Name: student contributor
Username:
Subject:
Date: 2002-03-20 20:04:11
Message Id: 1552
Comments:
in my own experience my headaches seem to be caused by my sleeping in awkward positions for a long period of time, or by my being in a small, noisy confined space for a long time. i don't know what categories you'd put these types of headaches in, i.e. tension or what.
since my headaches are usually one-time things that result from something i can specifically pick out, i don't think of them as needing to be managed. i don't alter my diet or exercise routine and all that kind of stuff to get rid of them. i just suffer it (say, as a consequence of going out to a rock concert) as part of my experience and remember not to do it again.
in general though (meaning for most people) i'm sure that there is very definitely a relationship between lifestyle habits and incidence of headaches. if there wasn't, then changes to your lifestyle wouldn't be prescribed as a way to treat those headaches. what those habits are, though, or what changes would need to be made to help, are things that i can't say. i'm sure it needs to be tweaked from patient to patient.
Name: Hedya
Username: haryani@brynmawr.edu
Subject: Headaches
Date: 2002-03-20 20:12:55
Message Id: 1553
Comments:
In my experience, the only headaches I've had to deal with are tension/stress-related and I rarely get them. When I do, I find them clearly connected to environmental factors (such as during finals week, after a heated argument, and more or less overwhelming situations). These times are usually associated with contributing headache factors such as the lack of a steady sleeping schedule or less than adequate nourishment. Obviously, to minimize the occurrence of headaches, I need a balance of these factors. Exercise helps to relieve stress by releasing endorphines , while eating/sleeping provides an individual with energy to function.
Name: Liz Bonovitz
Username: ebonovit@brynmawr.edu
Subject: Headaches
Date: 2002-03-20 21:18:09
Message Id: 1554
Comments:
Luckily for me, I don't have headaches often. When I do get one, it's generally only when I'm sick with a cold. Resting and eating properly when I'm sick usually help me to get better and as I get better, any headache that I have goes away. In my experience the things that Amy mentioned: "regular exercise, regular eating and getting enough sleep, minimizing stress..." are key to staying healthy in general and will reduce that chance of getting a cold and therefore getting a headache that would come with it.
Name: Diana La Femina
Username: dlafemin@brynmawr.edu
Subject: headaches
Date: 2002-03-21 09:35:50
Message Id: 1555
Comments:
I usually get headaches after I've been studying or working hard. My eyes get strained, and I don't even realize it, then it's all gone. I get that terrible pounding that can only be helped with darkness and closing my eyes. All in all, a very good excuse not to do more work (hehe). There are times, though, when I get headaches from OVERsleeping. My head will just feel thick, and that's when getting outside and exercising helps me. I don't really understand why this is, or why my two normal headaches differ so greatly. I just know what works for them and when I get them, which is enough for me. I have friends who get mingrains, but they're usually caused by chocolate, which they have now cut from their diet entirely and suffer no longer. I don't know, maybe it's a Long Island thing...
Name: Nicole Pietras
Username: npietras@brynmawr.edu
Subject: Week 1 question
Date: 2002-03-21 12:04:53
Message Id: 1557
Comments:
For me, I normally get headaches when I am stressed out, haven't slept enough, I look in a book or at my computer for long periods of time, mainly when my eyes are tired, or if i have too much sugar or chocolate(I absolutely love chocolate !!) Normally I know when a headache is coming on because my body warns me by sending a little pain to my head and then I know when to stop. When it deals with my eyes, if I take a nap or just close my eyes for a while it works. If it's because of too much sugar or chocolate, I stop eating it and take something for my headache. Since here at Bryn Mawr there is minimal time for sleep, eating well or working out that I'd have to say that I don't really know how those healthy habits contribute to not geting headaches, but if I had to make an assumption I would have to say that by having healthy habits would not contribute to having headaches.
Name:
Username: Anonymous
Subject: Headaches
Date: 2002-03-21 16:53:26
Message Id: 1558
Comments:
I have only had a headache once in my life, that I recall. It was probably due to fatigue, and I think I was getting sick at the time, as well. I don't take any particular measures to avoid headaches; it seems I am just one of those people, as the speaker mentioned, with a high threshold for this particular condition. Any habit that contributes to one's overall health--exercise, eating well, etc.--should, it seems to me, help reduce the incidence or the severity of headaches.
Name: Jennifer Vaughan
Username: jvaughan@brynmawr.edu
Subject: Message above
Date: 2002-03-21 16:56:28
Message Id: 1559
Comments:
(Sorry, I reset and forgot to reenter my name. 1558 is mine.)
Name: Monica Locsin
Username: mlocsin@brynmawr.edu
Subject: Migraine Headaches and Stress
Date: 2002-03-21 19:44:09
Message Id: 1560
Comments:
What, in your experience, contributes to headaches. How do you manage them and what lifestyle changes or lifestyle habits would
help to minimize headaches. How do the habits of regular exercise, regular eating and getting enough sleep, contribute to minimizing
stress, migraines, headaches etc.
I usually get headaches after sleeping with wet hair or studying too hard or watching too much TV. I don't watch as much TV now because of all the work I get so at least not all of my headaches are caused by watching too much TV. I barely get headaches in Bryn Mawr but when I do I know it is because of lack of sleep and too much work! I make sure that I eat properly because when I get hungry I also get headaches. I am still working on getting more sleep. I think that regular exercise and regualar eating and getting an adequate enough amount of sleep will definitely eliminate headaches.
Name: nana ama adom-boakye
Username: nadomboa@brynmawr.edu
Subject: Headaches
Date: 2002-03-21 22:31:25
Message Id: 1561
Comments:
I get headaches more often than not because i never get enough sleep, i never make to to erdman for breakfast, and i am constantly stressed. From the last lecture, i think eating at least times a day, (and drinking enough water), exercising regularly, getting enough sleep and giving myself "study break" somtimes would help.
Name:
Username: Anonymous
Subject: headaches
Date: 2002-03-22 01:34:18
Message Id: 1562
Comments:
I thought that I got a lot of headaches but listening to the lecture, I realize that I dont have migraines and there are others out there who suffer greatly. Some of the greatest causes of my headaches seem to be either lack of sleep/too much sleep, when I smell something wrong and noxious, being in a poorly ventilated area, and if I'm in the sun too long.
Usually, I try not to take medicine (ie. Tylenol, Advil), unless my headache interferes with my activities.
Name: Sarah Kim
Username: sgkim@brynmawr.edu
Subject: last post mine.......sorry
Date: 2002-03-22 01:35:11
Message Id: 1563
Comments:
i forgot to add my name! hopefully we'll all get the hang of this soon
Name: Lois McAffrey-Lopez
Username: lmcaffre@brynmawr.edu
Subject: headaches and hello
Date: 2002-03-22 11:16:21
Message Id: 1564
Comments:
Hi - I haven't introduced myself yet, I'm Lois, a McBride student taking the seminars for a phys ed. credt.
I have found it to be true that I get less headaches now that I'm not "taking something" everytime I think I have a headache - I think the "rebound headache" is a fact. I also find it to be true that by incorporating exercize in my daily routine - I feel the effects of stress much less on my body, and results are less headaches.
Name: Marie Brown
Username: mgbrown@brynmawr.edu
Subject: Headaches
Date: 2002-03-22 11:18:52
Message Id: 1565
Comments:
I found the migraine lecture incredibly informative!! Headaches run in my family. My grandfather, aunt, mom, and myself are all plagued with them fairly consistently. Eating right and getting enough sleep is certainly important, but so is one's environment. My aunt and grandfather both have/had daily headaches relating to their jobs. For the last 5 years that he worked, my grandfather had terrible migraines daily. He retired and hasn't had them since. I get migraines and used to have them almost daily. The past two years my headaches have really reduced in frequency. I've figured out why: attending Bryn Mawr has removed me from the major stressors at home. To be sure, Bryn Mawr has its own stress and tensions but they rarely induce migraines. Unfortunately, when I go home for the summers, I get migraines more often. To me this is an excellent example of a mind body connection. The tense mental environment I face at home manifests itself in my migraines. When I am removed from the environment, I feel an increased sense of wellness.
Name: Rabia
Username: rqureshi@brynmawr.edu
Subject: Headaches
Date: 2002-03-23 12:42:51
Message Id: 1567
Comments:
Everyone seems to get headaches at one time or another. I, for instance, always seem to get headaches around my menstrual cycle and when I oversleep. In my experience, when one's routine is disrupted, one usually gets a headache or falls ill somehow. As far as exercise is concerned, the mind and body both have to be healthy for the entire person to be healthy and to function properly. When I have a headache, I usually drink some honey. It may sound unorthodox, but it hasn't failed me yet. Also, regular eating and an overall routine help to keep the body healthy, as well as staying away from harmful substances like drugs or alcohol.
Name: Sara Press
Username: spress@brynmawr.edu
Subject: Migraines
Date: 2002-03-24 12:14:46
Message Id: 1568
Comments:
The lecture on Migraines was really interesting and informational. I learned a lot about headaches and found the information about caffeine especially interesting. I never knew what was in excedrin or why, now I have a fun fact. And I also dont feel so bad about having coffee in the morning, at least I do not drink twenty cups a day. I haven't had headaches in a while, and hope that with some of the information I learned on Wednesday I can prevent future headaches.
Name: Ana Salzberg
Username: asalzber@brynmawr.edu
Subject: headaches
Date: 2002-03-24 17:36:07
Message Id: 1569
Comments:
In my experience, headaches are caused by stress and lack of sleep. Also, I often get sinus headaches. Whenever I get a headache, I take an aspirin and try to find some time to get some extra sleep.
Name: Greta Tessman
Username: gtessman@brynmawr.edu
Subject: Headaches
Date: 2002-03-24 22:40:26
Message Id: 1574
Comments:
Most of my headaches are the result of a lack of sleep or stress. I try to get a consistent amount of sleep every night which reduces the sleep-related headaches. Exercising usually helps to get my mind off of the stressful events, increases blood flow in my body, and leaves me with more energy. I use exercise as a preventative measure against body aches and pains in general. When all else fails, a trip to Starbucks is a sure and quick way to rid myself of headaches--and thanks to Dr. Kerson's comments about the positive effects of caffeine on headaches--a guilt-free trip!
Name: C.D.
Username:
Subject: Introduction and Migraines
Date: 2002-03-25 03:31:19
Message Id: 1575
Comments:
Well I will introduce myself quickily since I haven't done so...
I am a Senior and my major is Growth and Structure of Cities, next year I will be teaching with Teach For America in New york city. Wellness to me is an overall concern and actions one takes to preserve a physically and mentally balanced self.
As for the headache lecture, I have always suffered from very painful migraines since the age of 7. I don't know why but my mother has always had them as well. My migraines were so bad that my grandmother had a stack of scarfs around the house for me. Whenever I would get a migraine I would immediately tie a scarf as tight as I could around my head. This would relieve it a little, but not by much. I would then immediately take a nap. I really don't know what causes my migraine. Stress does not really cause them all too much. I think anything and everything could set off a migraine depending on my mood. If I sleep too much, I get a migraine. If I don't sleep enough within a week by Sunday I'll have a migraine. I haven't really done anything to help my migraines because I don't have a list of things that really causes them. It can change from week to week. Fortunately, I don't get them as bad as I used to and now I have one every other two weeks sometimes only once a month.
Name: C.D.
Username:
Subject: Introduction and Migraines
Date: 2002-03-25 03:31:29
Message Id: 1576
Comments:
Well I will introduce myself quickily since I haven't done so...
I am a Senior and my major is Growth and Structure of Cities, next year I will be teaching with Teach For America in New york city. Wellness to me is an overall concern and actions one takes to preserve a physically and mentally balanced self.
As for the headache lecture, I have always suffered from very painful migraines since the age of 7. I don't know why but my mother has always had them as well. My migraines were so bad that my grandmother had a stack of scarfs around the house for me. Whenever I would get a migraine I would immediately tie a scarf as tight as I could around my head. This would relieve it a little, but not by much. I would then immediately take a nap. I really don't know what causes my migraine. Stress does not really cause them all too much. I think anything and everything could set off a migraine depending on my mood. If I sleep too much, I get a migraine. If I don't sleep enough within a week by Sunday I'll have a migraine. I haven't really done anything to help my migraines because I don't have a list of things that really causes them. It can change from week to week. Fortunately, I don't get them as bad as I used to and now I have one every other two weeks sometimes only once a month.
Name: Elizabeth Marcus
Username: emarcus@brynmawr.edu
Subject:
Date: 2002-03-25 12:06:24
Message Id: 1578
Comments:
For me, the biggest cause of headahes is fatigue. These are also the headahes that are the worst. Allergies and not eatting properly also are a large causes of headaches for me. For me, the easiest way to fix these are to make sure I get enough sleep and proper meals. The only harder ones to deal with are the allergy ones. Those are easier to just let run their course. With regular exercise and other healthy habits, many headahes can be eliminated. This especially true for non-reoccurring headaches.
Name: molly finnegan
Username: mfinnega@brynmawr.edu
Subject: headache mania
Date: 2002-03-25 18:46:06
Message Id: 1584
Comments:
I have to admit I indulge in eight hours of sleep every night and breakfast every morning. And somehow my life hasn't miraculously become perfect. Stress is the biggest reason for my getting headaches I believe. I also if I have a long day without time to calm down and relax...that sounds like a stress issue too.
Name: Meghan Lammie
Username: meggums@hotmail.com
Subject: Headaches
Date: 2002-03-26 22:04:02
Message Id: 1602
Comments:
Hi, I haven't yet introduced myself. I am a senior double major in French and Italian. The headache seminar was wonderfully informative. I find that I get headaches after a)drinking too much coffee and b)staring at the computer screen for too long. I have always attributed my rare headaches to eye strain from reading in poor light, or to stuffy environments, etc. One of the most interesting things Dr. Kerson mentioned in his lecture was the "drug rebound" headache. I realized that several years ago, when I was taking 4 to 10 Advil or Ibuprofen per day, that my headaches were most probably due to the excessive amounts of headache medication I was taking. As a very minor whole-foods nut, I loved seeing the connection between foods and headaches, showing that what you put in your body really can affect how you feel.
Name: Kristina Davis
Username: kdavis
Subject: introduction and headaches
Date: 2002-03-26 22:30:05
Message Id: 1603
Comments:
Hi, I'm Kris Davis and I am a Political Science major. Our last seminar was very interesting to college students as we usually commit most of the don'ts on the list. Previously, I had not thought much about a connection between food and headaches. There were always the obvious links like alcohol and caffeine but i did not realize that cheese or peanut butter could trigger migraines.
Name: Shanti Mikkilineni
Username: smikkili@brynmawr.edu
Subject: headaches
Date: 2002-03-27 00:09:42
Message Id: 1605
Comments:
What, in your experience, contributes to headaches. How do you manage them and what lifestyle changes or lifestyle habits would help to minimize headaches. How do the habits of regular exercise, regular eating and getting enough sleep, contribute to minimizing stress, migraines, headaches etc.
In my experience, headaches are mostly due to stress and anxiety. I used to get headaches more frequently when I didn't vent my stress in any one outlet. I started exercising more and I found that that became my outlet for stress and it helped reduce my headaches. I also found that when my body was stressed, by me not eating well or not sleeping well, that it manifested itself in headaches. I tried to make my habits more regular and it helped me reduce my stress level in general. Your body feels a lack of sleep and a bad diet as stresses upon it and so its important to get a reasonable amount of rest and to realize that though your busy, its important to take some time to eat.
Name: Irum Shehreen Ali
Username: iali@brynmawr.edu
Subject: Wellness
Date: 2002-03-27 00:28:43
Message Id: 1607
Comments:
Hello. I am a Senior Sociology major. For me, wellness is having a certain sense of balance between my mind. body and spirit. It is to feel an overall sense of ease in the environment I spend most of my time in, and to not be physically ill, or be facing extreme mental stress. Wellness doesn't necessarily mean a situation that is completely stress free or without any physical discomfort, but a time and feeling where one on the whole feels healthy and able to cope with life's problems.
Name: Irum Shehreen Ali
Username: iali@brynmawr.edu
Subject: Headaches
Date: 2002-03-27 00:34:18
Message Id: 1608
Comments:
I am extremely prone to headaches! I just lost my glasses - which I need to watch tv, read, just for about everything - because I have astigmatism and my headaches are worse! I tend to get headaches more when I am not sleeping/eating well - ie during exam, big paper due and other high stress times. I also get heachaches from the sun. I try to balance my diet to the best of my ability, and also to get as much sleep as possible(nowhere near as much as I would like!!!!). I have recently started taking a dance class and I find that the physical acitivity helps in reducing headsches.
When I get headaches I usually tend to take exedrin or exedrin migraine for serious ones. I also try to nap for a while.
Name: Sherolyn Oh
Username: soh@brynmawr.edu
Subject: Headaches
Date: 2002-03-27 00:50:34
Message Id: 1609
Comments:
Fortunately, I do not get headaches very often. The few times I remember getting a headache were when I was suffering from a lot of stress and wasn't getting enough sleep during the week. I would imagine that the habits of regular exercise, eating, and sleeping have a positive influence on minimizing stress and headaches. Engaging in a lifestyle of consistent exercise, healthy eating, and normal sleeping patterns would reduce one's chances of getting headaches, or lessen the severity of the symptoms.
Name:
Username: Anonymous
Subject: headaches
Date: 2002-03-27 02:02:47
Message Id: 1610
Comments:
I am another one of those lucky people who suffers very rarely from headaches, though I have had a migraine twice in my life (my mom also has had them extremely infrequently). The first time, I had pushed my body way beyond its exercise limit, an argument for respecting a my body's level of fitness while exercising, and the second time, I had suffered an injury to the jaw so I had some facial trauma that set it off.
Generally speaking though, my headaches are caused by tension, though I think that dehydration also plays a huge part in headaches. I used to drink a lot of soda (which dehydrates) but since switching to water as my primary drink of choice, I have far fewer headaches. In fact, I can tell if I've had too little water in a given day if my head hurts. As for true tension headaches, I try to take a few minutes to destress, and if that doesn't work, I do resort to advil.
Name: Mariah Schumacher
Username: mschumac@brynmawr.edu
Subject: headaches
Date: 2002-03-27 10:22:33
Message Id: 1613
Comments:
Although I am fortunate and do not often get headaches, when I do it is often the result of external factors such as weather changes or allergies. Occasionally gettin too little or too much sleep or stress cause headaches. I feel that maintaining overall wellness, balance and routine in one's life can reduce the occurance of many kinds of headaches.
Name: Barbara Cathcart
Username: bcathcar@brynmawr.edu
Subject: headaches and stress
Date: 2002-03-27 10:37:22
Message Id: 1614
Comments:
Although I don't usually suffer from headaches, I was able to pass on some of the information we got at the seminar last week to friends and family who do. It was interesting to learn about some of the causes of headaches, especially the effects of strong odors (perfume and cigarettes) and stress that builds up over the day. This just gives me another reason to try to plan ahead, eat regular meals, and stay on a more stable and balanced schedule.
Name: Abby Mathews
Username: Anonymous
Subject: headaches
Date: 2002-03-27 11:29:24
Message Id: 1615
Comments:
Though I do not usually get headaches, I went to class last Wednesday with one. It was interesting to hear about some of the causes of migraines - especially the effect that strong odors and foods may have. I realize in retrospect that many of my headaches occur when someone on my hall is burning incense or when I walk past a perfume counter, and I wonder if some of those headaches could actually have been migraines. I also got proof that some headaches may be caused by the sufferer's own occupation with the subject - as soon as I left the class and stopped thinking about headaches, my own pain vanished.
Name: Alia Preston
Username: apreston@brynmawr.edu
Subject: headaches
Date: 2002-03-27 11:59:17
Message Id: 1617
Comments:
Thankfully, even though I do sometimes get headaches, I don't have problems often, nor do I get chronic migranes. I do notice that my headaches are directly related to my stress level.