| Common headaches can be caused by a number | | | | Wendy Hasnip, a special needs teacher from |
| of reasons-from dehydration to common colds | | | | Yorkshire who suffered a stroke in 1999 and |
| and flu and other symptoms. Migraines, on the | | | | subsequently speaking with a French accent. |
| other hand, are more serious medical conditions | | | | Lynda Walker from Newcastle upon Tyne also |
| that must be prevented as migraine sufferers are | | | | suffered a stroke, replacing her normal speech |
| more likely to be at risk for stroke. More than | | | | with a Jamaican accent. |
| just health risks, chronic migraine sufferers are | | | | A migraine is one form of vascular headache |
| also exposed to brain damage that may alter | | | | caused by the enlargement of blood vessels. This |
| one's memory, movement or speech. Such is the | | | | is commonly caused by a wide array of triggers, |
| case of Sarah Colwill, a 35-year-old IT project | | | | which highly depends on one's health and lifestyle. |
| manager who was born in Germany and resides | | | | Smoking is a common trigger for a number of |
| in Plymouth. | | | | people while food is also seen as a migraine |
| Colwill experienced a chronic migraine that was so | | | | trigger. Such food items such as chocolate, |
| bad, she had to be taken to the hospital. The | | | | cheese, nuts, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and |
| paramedics who took her in noticed that she | | | | alcohol are possible migraine triggers. Too much |
| sounded strange and that her accent was of a | | | | stress and tension can also trigger a migraine, so |
| Chinese person. Colwill admitted that she had | | | | be aware of your work stress levels and your |
| never been to China. Doctors later diagnosed her | | | | lifestyle. |
| with Foreign Accent Syndrome, a disorder caused | | | | The best way to prevent migraine attacks is to |
| by brain damage that occurs during a stroke. | | | | get proper exercise and eat a well-balanced, low |
| Colwill had been experiencing severe headaches | | | | fat meal. Watching what you eat not only helps in |
| for a decade and doctors examined her to find | | | | migraine prevention but also contributes to a |
| that she had sporadic hemiplegic migraines, which | | | | better, healthier life. Other ways to avoid migraine |
| causes blood vessels in the brain to expand. This | | | | is to maintain good posture and avoid repetitive |
| expansion results in even more serious stroke-like | | | | motion. If you have a desk job that gets you tied |
| symptoms such as paralysis. | | | | to the computer for endless hours, make sure to |
| Foreign Accent Syndrome, on the other hand, is a | | | | take regular breaks to rest your eyes and move |
| very rare condition that damages a part of our | | | | your legs and feet. Make sure that you're aware |
| brain that controls speech and word formation. | | | | of the foods that commonly cause you |
| There are only 60 recorded cases of the said | | | | headaches and migraines and maintain a regular |
| condition in the whole world. Some prominent | | | | sleeping schedule as to ensure enough rest. If |
| cases include BBC World Service broadcaster | | | | symptoms persist, have yourself checked by |
| Anne Bristow-Kitney, who suffered a stroke and | | | | your doctor and ask for advice regarding |
| brain hemorrhage in 1996. Another is that of | | | | medication. |