Managing Your Migraine A Migraine Sufferer's Practical Guide

For the first time, a migraine sufferer presents-with the close guidance of a renowned medical specialist-a comprehensive, sympathetic, up-to-date, and understandable survey of this painful and life-disrupting disorder and the measures you can take to break its iron grip. In Managing Your Migraine, Susan Burks, a longtime victim of the illness, speaks to all those who have not yet achieved adequate personal control and are dissatisfied with their current medical treatment. Tailoring her book to your individual needs through the use of self-surveys and questionnaires, she details lifestyle strategies for avoiding migraine and shows how to develop new skills for its control. She fully explains the role of dietary triggers in migraine attacks and outlines the three levels of dietary restriction appropriate for different types of sufferers. She also answers your questions about the effect of female hormones on migraine, the relationship between migraine and depression, and the potential dangers from nonheadache medications, noxious odors, and chemicals. When as a last resort drug remedies are needed, the author discusses in detail the cost/benefit ratio of popular medications and explains how to avoid misusing them. Addressing both over-the-counter and prescription medications, the book identifies the most effective medicines, concentrating on those with the lowest potential for unpleasant and/or dangerous side effects, and gives migraine sufferers practical tips for fine-tuning their dosages. Managing Your Migraine speaks to your needs as a migraine sufferer. It confirms that you suffer from a genuine physical illness and that others share your frustration, disappointments, and anger. Its goal is to move you beyond "learning to live with it" to a full understanding of its mechanisms, symptoms, and treatments. This book proves that you can take charge of your illness-and shows you how to do so safely, effectively, and with real confidence.