Christmas dinner typically means tables laden with food and drink, twinkling lights and festive sounds, alongside the cheerful chaos of family gatherings. But for those who suffer from migraines, this combination can create the perfect circumstances to trigger the often crippling condition.
Speaking on BBC Morning Live, Dr Kasim Ahmed disclosed that he’s among the 10 million people in the UK – roughly one in six – who are affected by migraines. He explained: “If you’re going to a family gathering, three or four people there at least are going to be sufferers of migraines.
“Everyone’s symptoms and triggers are different. For me my triggers are sleep deprivation, stress is a big one, lack of hydration. Drinking plenty in general makes a big big difference. Alcohol is really dehydrating, you’re not drinking enough water at the same time. Christmas time is a time when these triggers can all come together.”
The doctor encouraged migraine sufferers to monitor their triggers and any early warning signs they typically notice, which can vary from person to person.
Common warning signs of migraines include these six symptoms:
- Sight problems
- Difficulty speaking
- Excessive yawning
- Numbness or tingling
- Stiffness
- Difficulty concentrating
One of the most frequent and well-recognised signs is known as an aura. Visual auras might involve seeing flashing lights, kaleidoscope-style colours, zig-zag lines or blurred vision.
These auras generally last around 20 to 30 minutes and will appear 20 to 30 minutes before the migraine actually begins. Dr Kas advised: “If you know what your warning signs on, get on top of it early on. Things like paracetamol and ibuprofen, taking those responsibly and regularly. Making sure you’ve had something to eat at the same time.”
The GP suggested considering blackout eye masks with cold pack inserts to cool the area surrounding the eyes. Addressing the recent social media trend of placing your feet in hot water to draw blood away from the head, Dr Kas noted there’s “no evidence it actually works, but you can see how theoretically it might work”.
He continued: “Over the Christmas period I think it’s important to say if you are someone who suffers from migraines, you’ve got family who does, just think how to accommodate for them – speaking to people about their migraines, the symptoms they might be getting. But don’t be scared, if you need that space don’t be afraid to ask for it so you can really enjoy the festive period as best you can.”
Simple ways to help migraine sufferers during Christmas include dimming the lights and turning down the music, steering clear of strong fragrances, and setting up a quiet space away from the celebrations where they can retreat if necessary.
Dr Kas emphasised: “Migraines are not just headaches. They’re a clinical syndrome of what you get as a result of this brain overload that happens.
“There’s a whole sequence that builds up into a migraine, it can be days to hours beforehand. People who suffer from migraines will know what that feels like and they’ve had these trigger signs.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
