Chocolate And Headaches?
by Jill
(Port Douglas, Australia)
A Migraine Food Trigger?
Dear Mary Kay
One hears so much these days about the health benefits of having small amounts of dark chocolate, regularly.
Yet chocolate is often listed as a common trigger for migraines.
So what is your advice?
Can I enjoy chocolate without the fear of having a terrible migraine as a result?
Answer:
Hi Jill,
Great topic..one I hear often from my patients.
The truth is no..chocolate does not cause a migraine or a headache. The entire migraine process is very complex once it starts firing off in the brain. Part of it involves a prodromal phase where there may be food or sugar cravings.
Then the migraine hits. After several hours of head pain, the postdromal phase sets in where you are tired and feel like you could just lie down and go to sleep.
Because this is such a popular topic when discussing migraine food triggers I devoted a whole page to the headache chocolate connection.
So have a piece of chocolate now and then and don't worry about it!
Take care,
Mary Kay Betz MS RPA-C
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Alcohol headache
by Alireza
(Isfahan, Iran)
Migraine Food Triggers
Why do I get headache just one hour after drinking wine?
Answer
Hello Alireza,
That is a very good question! You do not describe the headache in more detail but if it is a pulsing, throbbing headache and it lasts more than 4 hours (without treatment) then it might be a migraine.
Alcohol is a known trigger for migraine, especially red wines and very dry white wine. It is one of those migraine food triggers, and yes, the headache usually shows up within an hour of drinking.
If the headaches are moderate to severe, with nausea, I would consider talking to your physician.
Good luck!
Mary Kay Betz MS RPA-C
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Does the scenerio above sound like you? If not, or if you think you need more information please read about different types of headaches
to find out which type of headache you are experiencing.
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