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Doc says I have to give up coffee if I want to get rid of my migraines. Would a single cup of coffee in the morning still be a problem?

Eliminating coffee can be an effective way to reduce migraine headaches. Caffeine in its various forms is considered a psychoactive agent. Psychoactive means it has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system. Many migraine sufferers are addicted to caffeine and don't realize its role in causing headaches. But there have been enough studies showing the link between caffeine consumption and headaches to take this seriously. And it's not just coffee that we are talking about. Don't forget caffeine in tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, and chocolate. There is caffeine in many over-the-counter drugs (for cold symptoms, headache pain relievers) and some prescription medications. Taking caffeine in any form decreases our fatigue and boosts our energy level -- that's why so many people reach for that cup of coffee, latte, espresso, or chocolate bar. Chronic fatigue from too many late nights and lack of sleep makes an early morning jolt of java or energy bar necessary to jump start the day. Your physician is right that cutting out caffeine is a must if you want to beat the migraines. But good nutrition and getting enough sleep are also important. If eliminating caffeine in all its forms does not stop the headaches, there may be other triggering factors to consider. For example, certain foods (e.g., aged cheese and other dairy products, vinegar, lunch meats, alcohol, nuts, yeast products) are known to produce headaches in some people. Caffeine reduction is a good place to start. if that is not completely successful, your physician will help you find other triggers as well.

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