Some tidbits I've just read this week:
I know at least Mom has been clued into the first, but if the others haven't (and there's a little something extra even for Mom)...
Washing down a painkiller (any kind of painkiller) with a cup of coffee instantly boosts the pill's effectiveness by 40 percent. Yea coffee! I assume any highly caffeinated drink will do if you don't like coffee - kind of sucks if you get hit with one right around bed time. Caution: if caffeine is a migraine trigger, I'd avoid this tip.
Also, according to a recent Vanderbilt University study, taking the migraine medication Imitrex with naproxen (Aleve) significantly increases its effectiveness.
Also, if you take prescription medications (of any kind) and ginkgo and/or ginseng (and possibly other herbal meds), talk with your pharmacist as you might be causing some interactions that trigger headaches.
Bad news for those who like to sleep: oversleeping even one morning each week can raise your risk of a tension or migraine headache, often in as little as 24 hours. The changing wake-up time alters your brain function, lowering your pain threshold and making your brain's blood vessels more likely to spasm.
Sweeteners least likely to cause inflammation in the brain's blood vessels (the reason for headaches) are sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol and sucralose.
- However, I would not recommend sucralose (trade name Splenda) due to the recent research I've been doing and the things I've been reading about it.
- Sorbitol is a common diet food sweetener. Most common side effects are gastro-intestinal problems if one eats too much.
- Mannitol is similar to sorbitol and is used most often in breath-fresheners due to the "cooling" effect it can cause. Most common side effects are gastro-intestinal problems if one eats too much. It's actually sold as a laxative for children.
- Out of them all, I'd recommend the xylitol (see my other posts on this sweetener).