Migraine and Anemia Rantings 

Dear Moms,

I recently had to face the truth about the seriousness of living with anemia. I have had anemia my entire life and never knew the true depths of how ugly it can get. I have discovered in my research, that living with anemia is wrought with hidden pitfalls that deplete the body's natural iron levels. Seemingly, every other thing one puts in their mouths on a daily basis is a culprit; robbing the body of iron. Soda, cow's milk, tannins in tea and coffee, and omeprazole (active ingredient in Prilosec an OTC heartburn medication) all deplete your iron levels. So, having an already depleted blood iron content (being anemic) and enjoying the ingestion of the abovementioned items... ¡No es bueno!

Anemia is linked to restless leg syndrome and also known to be a cause of Anxiety and Depression. It causes insomnia, and even migraines! And all this time my mother just said I was "special" lol I was obviously being driven mad by a blood disorder SINCE childhood! Speaking of migraines, recently I read an interview with Jordin Sparks (http://www.lifescript.com/health/centers/migraine/articles/singer_jordin_sparks_reveals_how_she_handles_migraines.aspx) and how she deals with her migraines.

As she found out, migraines are more than a bad headache. They affect 36 million men, women and children in the U.S., says the Migraine Research Foundation (MRF), a nonprofit advocacy organization based in New York City.

Three times as many women as men suffer from the debilitating condition, according to MRF. That may be because of changes in a woman’s hormone levels.

Did you know that almost half of women with migraines are undiagnosed?

Nearly half of women who suffer from migraines report having migraine attacks during or near their menstrual periods, according to the Migraine Trust, a nonprofit research organization in London.

After menopause, a woman’s risk of developing migraines drops; only 5 percent of women over age 60 suffer migraines, the MRF reports. Yay for old age?!

Not to be exclusionary to us gals; lol in addition to hormonal fluctuations, foods, scents, bright lights and too little sleep can trigger migraines.

Migraines often are accompanied by visual problems and symptoms including:

Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Extreme sensitivity to sound, light, touch and smell

She stressed finding out your triggers.

Often when I experience a migraine there are no noticeable triggers. I just get a headache that suddenly escalates into a cacophony of blinding light and ear splitting noises. (Sound familiar to anyone else out there?!)

Jordon also stressed the need to change one's diet to healthier options, and increasing or adding exercise to your regular routine. I have a pretty set regime for working out and I have been building a brand around healthy options! Plus, with having anemia requires eating healthier things, or risk passing out! Lol

Many of the medications for migraine relief contain another iron depletion culprit: Caffeine. Soooooo, in my case my go to migraine relief plan is: lots of water, dimming my surroundings, (room darkening blinds, curtains, dimmer switches etc) and a cool compress at the base of my head and neck. (I have recently come to understand the importance of taking care of the ME part of MOMMY. I told ya this is a journey!)

Take a minute and see how else JSparks deals with and monitors her symptoms in the article provided in the link above.

Until Next Time, Stay Healthy!