Pain Management Clinic in Royal Palm Beach FL

Prevention Tips to Avoid Migraines

Migraine is an all-too-common source of misery among Americans: nearly 1 in 4 households in the United States include someone who has this debilitating neurological condition.

If you’re one of those people, you want to know what you can do to banish migraine for good. While there is currently no cure for migraine, the good news is that there are things you can do to stop it in its tracks. Below are a few tips to help you avoid migraine attacks.

Tip #1 Mind What You Eat and Drink

The following are some of the foods and drinks that are known to trigger migraines. It pays to steer clear of them:

  • Alcohol, specifically red wine
  • Chocolates
  • Coffee
  • Pickled and fermented foods
  • Processed foods, especially those that contain monosodium glutamate (MSG)
  • Soy and cultured dairy products

You can also take note of what time you ate the particular food and how much of that food you consumed.

In addition, don’t skip a meal, as fasting can also trigger migraine. It also helps to eat at about the same time every day.

Tip #2 Have a Good Night Sleep

Having too little or too much sleep can leave you susceptible to migraine attacks, according to the American Migraine Foundation. So, try to have just the right amount of sleep: seven to eight hours a day.

Here are some ways you can improve your sleep hygiene:

  • Being consistent – going to bed at the same time each night
  • Not sleeping for longer than 20 to 30 minutes during the daytime
  • Avoiding intense exercise, heavy meals, nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine at night
  • Shunning the blue light and noise
  • Not trying too hard to sleep – Instead, try to read or do a quiet activity until your feel drowsy.
  • Checking your medications and other stimulants that can interfere with your sleep

Tip #3 Know How to Tame Stress

Stress is a common migraine trigger, and migraine episodes can occur both during and after a stressful situation.

Avoiding stressful situations is almost impossible, but there are things you can do to keep stress under control. Below are some of them:

  • Practicing relaxation techniques, such as yoga and meditation
  • Trying not to squeeze activities into your day – Instead, leave something out and divide large tasks into small, manageable chunks.
  • Taking a break, if you feel overwhelmed
  • Keeping a positive outlook on life – helps you take everyday challenges in stride.

Tip #4 Incorporate Exercise into Your Daily Routine

Exercise helps migraine sufferers by:

  • Promoting better sleep
  • Reducing stress and anxiety as well as improving mood by releasing endorphins – Exercise triggers the release of feel-good hormones and natural painkillers, and lowers cortisol levels (stress hormones).

Migraine Treatment in Wellington, FL

At Advanced Medical Clinic, our team is led by a board-certified internal medicine provider and a board-certified family nurse practitioner who have made a name for themselves for the high-quality care they provide to people living with migraine and many other conditions, helping them conquer pain and quality-of-life issues.

To arrange a consultation with one of our providers, contact our office at (561) 434-1935. Alternatively, you may request an appointment right here on our website.

Can Exercising Help with Arthritis Pain Relief?

If you’re living with arthritis and joint pain and stiffness due are already bogging you down, the idea of exercising or even just walking around the block can seem like a tall order. However, it is what you exactly need to effectively alleviate your symptoms.

Getting your joints moving helps improve their flexibility, stability, range of motion, and overall function, all of which translate into significant symptom relief. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of exercise for alleviating arthritis pain as well as improving the overall health of your joints.

Strengthens Your Muscles

Joints rely upon muscles for stability and support: the stronger your muscles, the more capable they are of controlling the movements of – and absorbing the forces that impact – your joints.

Resistance training, a type of exercise that makes your muscle groups work against external force or weight, greatly helps improve their strength, mobility, and ultimately, ability to support your joints.

Keeps Your Joints “Well Oiled”

Each of your joints is surrounded by soft tissue called the synovial membrane, which produces fluid that acts like oil in an engine (synovial fluid). Synovial fluid allows for frictionless movement of your joints and cushions your bones.

Physical activity exposes your synovial membrane to a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients and boosts circulation of the synovial fluid.  Better joint lubrication means less joint pain and stiffness.

Promotes Weight Loss

Excess weight can add to the strain on your joints. While exercise doesn’t reverse arthritis, it facilitates weight loss, which can help arthritic joints feel better and slow the progression of the condition.

Biking, swimming, walking, and water activities are all safe, nondrug ways to ease arthritis pain. What’s more, these forms of exercise can help improve joint function and brighten your mood.

Arthritis Treatment in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, FL

If you have arthritis and you want to reap the benefits of exercise, it is best to consult your primary care provider. Ask your primary care provider about a referral to a physical therapist, who can put together a targeted exercise program for lasting pain relief.

Exercise, when overdone, can also harm your joints. A physical therapist can help you stay on the safe side and advance through stages according to what goals you have already achieved.

If you’re in search of a primary care provider in the Wellington area in Florida, consider us here at Advanced Medical Clinic. Our team includes a board-certified internal medicine provider and a board-certified family nurse practitioner who work hand in hand to bring one goal to fruition: to provide the highest quality of compassionate health care, so patients can focus on living their best lives.

To schedule an appointment with one of our providers, call our office today at (561) 434-1935 or use our convenient online request form.