Imagine X Functional Neurology

TIP #2: While decreasing stress around the holidays may seem like a tall order, be sure to take YOU time no matter what else is going on. . Find quiet time for yourself, meditate, take a nap, lay down in a quiet room for 15-20 mins, schedule a massage, go for a walk alone If you want to decrease the likelihood of having a migraine, do as MANY of these things as MANY times a day you think you need them. . Ironically, taking enough short breaks from friends and family will all...ow you to spend the most time with them. . Many of you have things that you know work well for you... Essential oils, massage, acupuncture, a warm cup of calming tea... If you know something works well for you, do it! . Stress is one of the strongest and most important triggers for migraine. It is one you can’t ignore. It may be helpful to notify your friends and family of this and excuse yourself when necessary. . Due to the holidays, many of us are in a different time zone than where we normally live, we are staying up late hanging out with friends and family and our body clocks are all over the place. . It is very important to sleep EXTRA. The most ideal night’s sleep is from 10 PM - 7 AM. (Some say that for every hour you go to bed before midnight, it is equal to 2 hours of sleep after midnight). . Going to bed after 10 PM should be strictly avoided. Listen to your body and take naps throughout the day. If you’re tired, you’re tired for a reason. Go to bed! . While you are sleeping, the brain changes it’s conformation (and actual shape!) to allow for better removal of debris and waste products that have been produced during the day. Not getting the proper amount of sleep allows these waste products to accumulate. . Lack of sleep is now being associated with brain fog, chronic fatigue, headaches and more. Studies have shown that people who work third shift (11pm-7am aka the graveyard shift) live on average 10 years LESS than those who sleep normal hours. . Chronic lack of sleep is also being associated with neurodegenerative diseases later in life, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The research is pretty convincing... Get to sleep early tonight! . - Dr. Adam Harcourt See more

TIP #1: . If you are a migraine sufferer, blood sugar regulation is one of THE most important things to be aware of during the holidays. Even the most disciplined people have a hard time avoiding sweets during this time of year, so if you are going to have sweets, have them in WITH a fat and/or protein. This helps avoid a blood sugar spike. . . A blood sugar spike causes inflammation, and inflammation increases the chance of a migraine. Eat 4-5 smaller meals throughout the da...y instead of a couple of large meals. For example, if you have dinner plans, don’t wait to eat all day and gorge during that one meal. Eat smaller meals throughout the day, then a small snack 1-2 hours before dinner. . . I always recommend that my patients limit sugar, caffeine, gluten, dairy and alcohol and increase their plant intake, as a rule. Flooding your body with plants is one of THE best things you can do for your body. Plants help your body to detoxify itself from the exposure to all of the holiday foods you probably don’t normally eat. Plants include fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and herbs. . . Stay VERY hydrated. Many of you have changed geographical areas to be with family. Some of you are in dryer areas, have gone through time changes and your body clock will be off. In general, travel tends to dehydrate you and increase stress. Combat this by drinking a ton of water to decrease inflammation and keep things regulated. . . Don’t let ONE cheat meal, turn into a cheat WEEK But at the same don’t stress over eating 1 wrong thing. The stress can sometimes be worse for triggering a migraine than the thing you actually ate! . . Avoid alcohol, but if you decide to partake, drink 2 cups of water for every 1 alcoholic drink. This will help keep you hydrated. We recommend not having more than 1-2 drinks per day. . . This time of year can be one of the most memorable, so follow these simple tips to hopefully keep a migraine from ruining all the fun. . . Leave me a in the comments if you learned something new. . . Stay tuned for the next tip! . . - Dr. Adam Harcourt See more

Imagine X would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest team member Ari! Our SB office will be closed until January 4th while Dr. Silver bonds with his new son. Have a wonderful holiday and an even happier new year!

The Imagine X SB team wishing you and your loved ones a safe and healthy Holiday Season!