Why is it easier for us to take better care of our car’s needs than our own health? We devotedly regularly take our vehicle to a specialist (a garage mechanic) for maintenance, and, in the case of mechanical problems, we ask questions, cluck with concern over every detail of the vehicle’s performance. We do not hesitate to consult a specialist (mechanic!) when this inanimate object is not performing up to snuff and pay much money on prevention and a cure.
If we want our own selves to turn into a classic or an antique in top condition, we need to focus on ourselves with the same care we give our cars. We must be as assiduous with our personal human chassis and its performance.
Dehydration is among the easiest migraine headache triggers to counteract, it seems to me. One of the problems with migraines is the supply of blood that flows to the head, engorges the arteries, inflates them, and causes pain when the arteries press up against the nerves in the skull, circulation is sluggish, and the blood does not flow out as rapidly as it flowed in.
Could one of the reasons the blood is so sluggish be that it is not fluid enough, not at its ideal level of liquidity? In other words, that its water content is too low?
Err on the side of caution and examine how many glasses of water or a hydrating fluid you need to take in every day as recommended for your weight, your level of activity (we lose a LOT of liquid through perspiration and simply breathing out), your gender (are you apt to be breastfeeding?) and other factors determined by your main care provider.
And just like getting enough sleep daily is vital, so is taking in enough fluid – daily optimal level. Cars need at least a dozen different fluids in order to function optimally. Our bodies are simpler: all they need is enough water.
It takes a bit of reflection on how to adopt a new behavior and adapt it to our daily routines and habits. We lead busy and varied lives and focus on the needs of others before tending to our own. (Yet we perform better for ourselves and them if we are in top condition!)
As you already know, I am not a doctor, and I cannot tell you why or how dehydration impacts migraines.
I am, however, a very successful former migraine headache sufferer with over 35 years of 100% pain relief, and I must have done a whole lot of things right to achieve that result. I may not have known WHY the steps I followed worked for me; all I know is that it worked beyond my wildest dreams and hopes, and today, the book I wrote and the method I used is recommended by doctors, including the professor of medicine at a major university who rid himself of migraines by following many of the same techniques I learned about and adopted for my own freedom from pain!
All that I know is what I have been taught by the specialists in human performance (doctors!) – dehydration is a migraine trigger and to be avoided if your goal is to find pain relief from migraines. It certainly is a problem with a cheap solution if dehydration is your only trigger!
Consult your list of Things To Do – and add “prepare daily water portion.” If those close to you ask what you want as a gift, you can ask for those nice thermos mugs with messages or photos on them – especially if they are motivational, inspirational personal messages, or photos of those you love. Multitasking – not only are you encouraged or reminded to drink water, but you have the benefit of the positive psychological lift every time you lift a glass to your better health.
Try to drink most of the water earlier in your day, and stop drinking at least around your last meal of the day, so that you don’t wake up at night needing to use the washroom. If you were in the habit of not drinking enough fluids, once you drink optimal amounts, your bladder will adapt, and you won’t have to head for the washroom as often.
Countries spend a lot of money for their Olympic athletes to become top performers, as do professional sports teams. One of the most important habits is to stay hydrated. What’s the first thing you see athletes do when they go to the sidelines, aside from picking up a towel – they reach for the water or sports drink bottles. They have discovered their bodies perform better if they are properly hydrated.
You may even find that your brain functions better – we can all use more smarts!
