holiday activity. Y If you are traveling long distances, leave yourself plenty of time to minimize stress and pack snacksfor the trip. ~Y Watch the holiday buffets—if you are attending a party where you knowtrigger foods will be pre- (NAPSA)—Holiday parties...vis- its with family and friends...cooking, baking...and shopping, shopping, shopping! For migraine sufferers, some of the very ways we celebrate can bring on an attack. However, treatments are available to stop migraine pain before it puts a stop to your holiday enjoyment. “It is important that people seek treatment advice and prepare now before they are caught off-guard by a holiday migraine,” said Loretta Mueller, D.O., of the University Headache Center in Moorestown, New Jersey. “Migraine sufferers who are prepared can enjoy the season if they are aware of and avoid their triggers, bring along their migraine medicine wherever they go, and takeit at the first sign of a headache.” Migraine is an intense, throbbing headache, usually located on one side of the head, that affects 30 million people in the U.S. or 12 percent of the population. Approximately 70 percent of all migraine sufferers are women. The following tips can help you recognize and minimize a holiday migraine: Plan Ahead: Y Don’t ignore troublesome symptoms: Nausea * Vomiting Sensitivity to light and sound Visual symptoms such as flashing lights or wavy lines (also called “aura”) Y See your physician to confirm you have migraine and discuss treatment options. Recent advances in migraine treatments include a class of drugs called triptans, such as AXERT™”(almotriptan malate tablets). Triptans work in part by sent, eat a small meal before going to help resist the temptation to eat foods that may cause a migraine. Take Charge: Y Recognize when a migraineis coming on. shrinking blood vessels in the head that become enlarged during an attack. Y Keep your doctor’s name and contact information handy. Y Fill your migraine prescription before holiday travel or festivities. Y Start shopping early to avoid the stress of last minute mall trips. Y Be awareof your body: Intense physical exertion, sexual activity, menstruation, fatigue and hormone changes can cause migraines. Y Foods including chocolate and artificial sweeteners, and some alcoholic beverages such as red wine, can trigger a migraine. Know what foods bring on your migraine and avoid them. Y Be prepared for environmental triggers such as bright lights, weather changes and secondhand smoke. Be Smart: Y Don’t sacrifice regular meals, sleep or exercise in the rush of Y Take your medication at the first sign of an attack. Y Lie down in a dark room or use a cold compress to help alleviate your headache. Y Record triggers(i.e., food, activities, etc.) and avoid them in the future. For more information about common migraine triggers, hints on managing the condition, coping tips and information, both for diagnosed sufferers and for those who aren’t sure if those bad headaches are actually migraines, visit www.axert.com. 10 Common Holiday Migraine Triggers: Alcoholic beverages Chocolate Fatty foods Lack of sleep Vigorousactivity (exercise, sex) Irregular or skipped meals Motion, travel Glare,brightlights . Secondhand smoke 10. Weather changes @ AXERTis a prescription drug used to treat acute migraine with or without aura in adults. AXERT should only be used where a clear diagnosis of migraine has been made. The most common side effects reported in clinical trials were nausea, sleepiness, tingling /numbness, headache and dry mouth.
