Video: Holidays can mean headaches for many

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Amanda Gabbard hopes to avoid a repeat of last year's holiday season. She had to miss out because of migraines.

"I was sitting there with a heated cloth on my head because I couldn't partake, even though I really, really wanted to," she said.

All that decking the halls can trigger unbearable headaches.

"The pain behind the eye, sweating, blurred vision," said Amanda.

"You expect that these would be happy times, headaches would decrease, when in fact we're seeing just the opposite is the case," said Dr. Larry Newman, Director, Headache Institute.

Dr. Newman sees a 30 to 40 percent increase in calls this time of year.

"There's the stress of the shopping for the holidays and preparing for the holiday meals. There's the stress of seeing in-laws and other family members,” he said.

Plus all the rich food and drink.

"Alcoholic beverages, nitrate-containing foods like ham and smoked sausages, even the chips we serve as hors d'oeuvres have MSG and other additives that we know trigger migraine headaches," said Dr. Newman.

So can cheeses and chocolates, but don't let the Grinch steal all the holiday fun. Instead, follow this advice:

"Don't take on the entire load yourself, ask for help, don't do all the shopping, there's no need to go to every single party," said Dr. Newman.

And when you do party, limit your intake of trigger foods and drinks. 

That's advice that Amanda takes to heart.

"It's still festive and fun, but I'm not going to wake up the next day and have a downward spiral of migraines for the next few weeks," she said.

If you're traveling during the holidays, get to the airport early to avoid stress and don't forget to pack your headache medication in your carry-on bag.