Migraine symptoms: Eat chocolate? Doctor on This Morning warns this may be headache sign
MIGRAINE symptoms could appear as soon as two days before the painful headache is actually triggered, according to a Doctor on ITV’s This Morning. Reaching for snacks such as chocolate could be a sign of the condition.
Migraines should be 'understood' more says Dr Goadsby
Migraine symptoms could include reaching for a chocolate bar.
Professor Peter Goadsby, Director of the National Institute for Health Research, speaking on ITV’s This Morning, said it was right to associate the urge to eat chocolate, and other snacks, with getting a “disabling” painful headache.
He said it was “absolutely right” to suggest wanting to reach for snacks was a symptom of headaches.
“Many of these things that people think are triggers [like eating chocolate] are actually a warning it’s happening,” he said to flabbergasted presenters.
“Migraines can actually start two days before you feel any symptoms”.
Migraine symptoms: Eating chocolate a headache pain warning said Doctor on This Morning
Cheese and coffee were also named as possible items people snack on which are actually a warning sign a migraine is only a day away.
“Your brain tells you when to pass urine, it tells you when to go to sleep, it tells you when to do things.
“If it tells you to eat some chocolate and a day later you get a migraine, then you are wrong to think this causes a migraine.
“If people understand their condition better then they can manage their lives when one is approaching.”
The Doctor’s revelations mean it may not be necessary to deny yourself a favourite snack to avoid a migraine.
Symptoms of a migraine are usually an “intense headache on one side of the head”, the NHS revealed.
“The pain is usually a moderate or severe throbbing sensation that gets worse when you move and prevents you from carrying out normal activities.
“In some cases, the pain can occur on both sides of your head and may affect your face or neck.
They further added nausea, vomiting and an increased sensitivity to light and sound could also be a sign.
The debilitating symptoms could last for between “four hours to three days”, they continued.
Treatment options for a migraine involve taking painkillers such as Naproxen.
“A migraine happens because the brain wants everything to be normal,” said Dr Goadsby.
“It wants regular sleep, regular exercise, regular hydration and so on.”
“Naproxen medicine should help your migraine,” he continued on ITV’s This Morning.
Other treatment options include drinking enough water.