Are There Certain Types of Exercise That Are Better Than Others for Migraine? (2:07)
Exercise that helps migraine makes you feel good and gives you a good workout. But it shouldn't stress you out, explains Emily Rubenstein Engel, MD, of the Dalessio Headache Center at Scripps Clinic.
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Dietary supplements are a common topic that patients come to me asking about in their migraine treatment. There is data that shows that the short term use of some supplements, does decrease migraine frequency. That said, I have a number of concerns about supplements. And I think it's very important for patients to understand that supplements are not natural.
They're made in factories, they end up in capsules, they are not regulated in any manner, and the problem with their lack of regulation is two-fold. One, that they're frequently contaminated, when independent organisations will study some of these supplements they find that they've arsenic or lead in them.
They're also because they're not regulated on the bottle little fake contains 200 mg of magnesium but it can have anything from 2- 2000. And in fact that's what, with the data shows when we actually look at the supplements in a scientific meanings. In addition it's not clear that taking supplements long term is safe.
And in fact there's literature to show that it's not. Â For example; we use to recommend high dose vitamin E to patients to patients with acute Alzheimer's, because it's an antioxidant, and it seemed to help. And then a couple of studies came up that showed taking high doses of vitamin E on a regular basis shortens your life span.
Similar there has been data for other supplements to show that it increases the risk of cancer. So I think the patient needs to be informed that number one they are not really natural I mean you're not growing it in your back yard and two, just because something is thought to be natural doesn't mean that it's safe.
