The migraine headaches cause a lot of pain and can be debilitating. Some of the symptoms usually linked with migraines include a pulsating or throbbing pain centered on a single region of the head. Nausea and vomiting can also occur along with a migraine and can experience extreme sensitivity to light. There are certain ingredients in some sodas that can affect the start or course of the migraine headache. It is best to consult a doctor for proper assessment instead of trying to self-treat the condition. If a family member is prone to migraine attacks, it is best that you are prepared to ease the symptoms. All you have to do is to enroll in a course on first aid today.
Food triggers
There are certain foods and beverages that can trigger migraines in some individuals. The common trigger foods include beer, red wine, monosodium glutamate (MSG), aged cheese, caffeine and chocolate. The individual can also suffer from a migraine if he/she is fasting or skipping meals. Various sodas contain both aspartame and caffeine. Take note that caffeine is present in cola as well as pepper-style beverages while aspartame is usually present in light or diet sodas.
Theories
In studies conducted, migraines are attributed to changes in the diameter of the blood vessels in the head of the individual. The caffeine which is usually present in cola and pepper-type sodas can cause the constriction of the blood vessels in the head and body. With this in mind, in case a migraine is caused by excessively dilated blood vessels, a caffeinated soda can help relieve some of the symptoms. In case migraine was caused by narrowed blood vessels, caffeine will likely worsen the symptoms.
Migraines might be primarily triggered by genetic factors. There are certain genes that are responsible for regulating the activity of the brain cells. If the individual suffers from migraines, it is best to ask a family member with the similar condition whether certain foods eaten can trigger or alleviate the migraine. In case the migraine is determined genetically, it is likely that the individual shares the same triggers with parents or siblings.
Considerations to bear in mind
There are anti-migraine medications readily available if the individual finds it hard to eliminate the migraine with changes to the diet or lifestyle. A doctor must be consulted for any possible interactions between the migraine medications and other prescription or over-the-counter medications currently taken.
It is also essential to consider the importance of the sleeping patterns in causing or alleviating the migraines. Any changes to the sleeping pattern can instigate a migraine attack, thus it is best to avoid drinking caffeinated sodas close to the regular bedtime of the individual. Remember that caffeinated beverages can disturb the regular sleeping pattern, thus causing more migraine attacks.