If you get migraines you know how laughable it is to hear them described as headaches. As one poet put it, the migraine is a beast from Hell, a bone-crushing, brain-twisting, heart-rending, apocalyptic scourge an insult to all that s holy. And that s putting it mildly. People have been trying to tame the migraine beast for thousands of years. Some early healers bored holes into their patients skulls, the Greeks inhaled the smoke of burning coffee beans, while in ancient Egypt, doctors tied herb-stuffed clay crocodiles to migraine sufferer s heads. Fortunately, we live in more enlightened times and there are now medically sound approaches that are relatively simple and inexpensive and they don t leave scars or involve extreme fashion statements. Your complete guide to taking charge of your migraines and getting your life back, Migraines For Dummies offers a focused, fleshed-out program that works in the real world. This friendly guide fills you in on what you need to know to: Understand migraines and why you get them Relieve symptoms Pinpoint pain triggers Sort through the various medications Evaluate alternative remedies Make simple migraine-busting lifestyle changes Stop migraines from disrupting your family and work lives Find a good doctor to help you manage the beast The authors look at the whole spectrum of the problem from dealing with the number-one issue of pain relief, to handling the peripheral problems like absences from work skepticism from friends, and impact on family. They also explore a range of critical related issues, including: Different types of migraines, including abdominal, ocular, hemiplegic, opthamoplegic, and women s hormonal migraines Triggers, such as environmental allergens, stress, dietary triggers, and even exercises that can cause migraines Over-the-counter medications, vitamins and herbal supplements Biofeedback, meditation, massage, acupuncture, and other alternative remedies The pros and cons of prescription remedies, including ergotamine derivatives, antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, botox and more You ve tried Aunt Edna s camphor-soaked head cloths. Now explore a sensible, medically sound approach, and get on the road to full-fledged pain relief with Migraines For Dummies.

If you get migraines you know how laughable it is to hear themdescribed as "headaches." As one poet put it"the migraine is a beast from Hell, a bone-crushingbrain-twisting, heart-rending, apocalyptic scourge--an insultto all that's holy." And that's putting itmildly. People have been trying to tame the migraine beast forthousands of years. Some early healers bored holes into theirpatients' skulls, the Greeks inhaled the smoke of burningcoffee beans, while in ancient Egypt, doctors tied herb-stuffedclay crocodiles to migraine sufferer's heads. Fortunately, welive in more enlightened times and there are now medically soundapproaches that are relatively simple and inexpensive--andthey don't leave scars or involve extreme fashion statements.Your complete guide to taking charge of your migraines andgetting your life back, Migraines For Dummies offers afocused, fleshed-out program that works in the real world. Thisfriendly guide fills you in on what you need to know to:* Understand migraines and why you get them* Relieve symptoms* Pinpoint pain triggers* Sort through the various medications* Evaluate alternative remedies* Make simple migraine-busting lifestyle changes* Stop migraines from disrupting your family and work lives* Find a good doctor to help you manage the beastThe authors look at the whole spectrum of the problem--fromdealing with the number-one issue of pain relief, to handling theperipheral problems like absences from work skepticism fromfriends, and impact on family. They also explore a range ofcritical related issues, including:* Different types of migraines, including abdominal, ocularhemiplegic, opthamoplegic, and women's hormonalmigraines* Triggers, such as environmental allergens, stress, dietarytriggers, and even exercises that can cause migraines* Over-the-counter medications, vitamins and herbalsupplements* Biofeedback, meditation, massage, acupuncture, and otheralternative remedies* The pros and cons of prescription remedies, includingergotamine derivatives, antidepressants, nonsteroidalanti-inflammatory drugs, botox and moreYou've tried Aunt Edna's camphor-soaked head cloths.Now explore a sensible, medically sound approach, and get on theroad to full-fledged pain relief with Migraines ForDummies.

Introduction.Part I: Looking at the Big Picture: Migraines Demystified.Chapter 1: Knowing What You're Dealing With: AnOverview.Chapter 2: Coping with the Symptoms.Chapter 3: Knowing Your Foes.Part II: Getting Diagnosed.Chapter 4: Distinguishing a Migraine from Other Head Pain.Chapter 5: Finding a Good Migraine Doctor.Chapter 6: Having Your Head Examined and Coming Up with aPlan.Part III: Giving Migraines a Knockout Punch.Chapter 7: Spelling Relief without a Prescription.Chapter 8: Taking Care of Pain with Prescription Drugs.Chapter 9: Sampling Alternative Remedies.Chapter 10: Making Medical Decisions Even When You'reMigraine-Hazy.Part IV: Committing to Lifestyle Changes.Chapter 11: Catching and Rejecting Food Triggers.Chapter 12: Getting Physical with Your Migraines.Chapter 13: Eyeballing Environmental Enemies.Chapter 14: Looking at the Link between Migraines and Sleep.Part V: Staying Connected to the People in Your Life.Chapter 15: Living the Good Life Despite Migraines.Chapter 16: Managing Migraines at Work.Chapter 17: Handling Your Homelife.Part VI: Managing Special-Situation Migraines.Chapter 18: Spotting the Dangerous Headache.Chapter 19: Let's Hear It for the Girls: HormonalMigraines.Chapter 20: Helping a Child with Migraines.Chapter 21: Holding Off the Sex Migraine.Chapter 22: Sideswiping Migraines Caused by Stress.Chapter 23: The Senioring Effect: Aging and Migraines.Part VII: The Part of Tens.Chapter 24: Ten Tips for Dealing with Folks Who Don't GetMigraines.Chapter 25: Ten Things You Can Do for the Migraine Sufferer YouLove.Chapter 26: Eleven Ways NOT to Treat a Migraine.Index.