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Armand, M.D.There are many different connections between migraine and the benefits of yoga, from managing triggers and prevention to treating symptoms. SOURCES: Rachel Colman, M.D., assistant professor, neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City Cynthia E. The American Migraine Foundation has lifestyle advice for those with migraine headaches. "You want to make sure you're at the right place, with the right instruction," she said. The practice in this study consisted of gentler poses and plenty of breath work and relaxation - not the fast-paced and strenuous styles offered in many real-world classes.Ĭolman recommended people with migraines avoid "hot yoga," which is practiced in heated rooms, since dehydration is a major trigger of headaches.Īrmand agreed on that point, and said that in general, it's wise to know what kind of yoga you're getting into beforehand. No study participants reported suffering headaches or nausea during their yoga practice.Ī caution, though, is that yoga exists in many different styles. "I think people can be encouraged by this, and consider adding yoga to their standard care," Colman said.Īn important point, Armand said, is that it appeared safe. There was little change in the comparison group, who went from an average of just under eight migraines a month, to just shy of seven.Īrmand and Colman called the results promising. The researchers randomly assigned half to add yoga to their usual medications all patients were given lifestyle advice.Īfter three months, people in the yoga group were having 48% fewer migraine episodes - dropping from an average of nine a month, to just under five. Most were taking preventive medication, mainly certain blood pressure drugs or antidepressants. It puts the brakes on the sympathetic nervous system - which governs "fight or flight" and its accompanying surge in stress hormones.įor the study, Bhatia's team recruited 160 adult patients in India with episodic migraines - meaning between four and 14 a month. That's the "rest and digest" arm of the nervous system, explained Armand, who was not involved in the study. Cynthia Armand, a neurologist at the Montefiore Headache Center in New York City. So yoga may offer a lower-impact way to be active, she said.īeyond physical exercise, yoga includes other ways to practice "mindfulness" - such as breathing practices, relaxation techniques and meditation.Īnd research shows that in general, mindfulness practices can support the parasympathetic nervous system, said Dr.
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Rachel Colman, an assistant professor of neurology at Mount Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine in New York City.īut a problem for some people is that higher-impact exercise, like running, can be a migraine trigger, said Colman, who was not involved in the study. "Physical exercise is one important part of migraine management," said Dr. Some people need to take preventive medication, but lifestyle choices - including sufficient sleep, regular meals and exercise - are always key, experts said. Migraines cause episodes of intense head pain, along with symptoms like nausea, visual disturbances and sensitivity to light and sound. They also felt their migraines were less disruptive to their daily lives, based on a standard rating scale.
#YOGA FOR MIGRAINES YOUTUBE MANUAL#
After that, they practiced at home with a manual for another two months.īy that three-month mark, their average headache frequency had dropped. In this study, migraine patients first had classes with a yoga teacher three times a week for one month. Rohit Bhatia, a neurologist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India, said in a journal news release. "The good news is that practicing something as simple and accessible as yoga may help much more than medications alone," lead researcher Dr. For people who suffer frequent episodes, there are medications that can help prevent them. Worldwide, an estimated 1 billion people have migraine headaches, according to the Migraine Research Foundation. The findings appear in the May 6 online issue of the journal Neurology.
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In contrast, study patients who stuck with medication alone saw only a small decline in migraine flare-ups. Researchers found that people who added the practice to their usual migraine medication suffered about half as many headache attacks as they normally did.
#YOGA FOR MIGRAINES YOUTUBE TRIAL#
That's according to a new trial that tested the effects of a gentle yoga practice - with slow-paced physical postures, breathing exercises and relaxation. WEDNESDAY, (HealthDay News) - People suffering from regular migraines despite medication might consider investing in a yoga mat.
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