Migraines are complex conditions involving head pain and other symptoms, making management of symptoms challenging. To effectively treat migraine, it’s essential to identify triggers and develop a treatment plan tailored specifically to each sufferer.
Medication to treat migraine headaches includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as paracetamol and acetaminophen; triptans like sumatriptan, naratriptan, zolmitriptan and frovatriptan; antiemetics (such as metoclopramide or chlorpromazine) and diphenhydramine can help decrease nausea and vomiting.
Acupuncture
Migraine is a medical condition affecting 39 million people globally, and current migraine treatments aim to stop symptoms during an attack as well as prevent future ones. There have been significant advances in both areas and new therapies continue to emerge.
Medication to alleviate headache pain during an attack includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen; these NSAIDs work to block pain signals in the brain, making them generally safe. Triptans, too, block these pain pathways; they come as pills, shots or nasal sprays and may help with nausea and vomiting as well. People at high risk for cardiovascular events should avoid taking triptans.
Chronic migraine sufferers should be assessed for cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension and smoking, before being aggressively treated. Recently approved CGRP monoclonal antibodies such as erenumab, fremanezumab and galcanezumab for preventive use have recently become available via trial programs – these could potentially provide effective protection.
Biofeedback
As soon as you raise your hand to wave at someone or take another step on the Stairmaster, you are conscious and in control of that movement. Other body functions, like skin temperature and blood pressure levels are controlled involuntary by your nervous system; however, biofeedback techniques allow people to learn consciously how to manipulate these responses.
Biofeedback sessions involve watching a monitor that shows your physiological response while performing relaxation exercises. Thermal biofeedback measures your hand or foot temperature and provides feedback by showing color changes on a screen and making sounds that correspond with any temperature shifts; over time this can result in long-lasting relaxation and an enhanced ability to resist stressors.
EEG (electroencephalography) biofeedback measures brainwave activity. Sensors will be placed on your scalp while you focus on various images or patterns on a screen – this process helps regulate brainwave patterns to relieve tension that could trigger migraines.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for managing migraine attacks. CBT is a form of psychotherapy which emphasizes the relationships among thoughts, emotions, and behaviors; its goal is to help individuals recognize and change negative patterns which contribute to emotional distress or unhealthy habits that contribute to further emotional distress or unhealthy behavior patterns. CBT has proven itself effective at treating various mental health disorders including anxiety and depression.
Behavioral therapy includes relaxation techniques and strategies designed to alleviate stress that could contribute to migraine attacks, and helps individuals establish and stick to a routine for sleep, eating, hydration and exercise. It can be administered either with medications or on its own.
Behavior modification is a crucial component of treating migraine. A psychologist can teach their patients about adhering to medication guidelines, such as recognizing early warning symptoms and keeping a diary of attacks as well as tracking medication use. Furthermore, they may focus on behavior that increases risk such as smoking or oral contraceptive use which could increase migraine attacks.
Meditation and yoga
Meditation and yoga have been found to reduce stress, which is often the source of migraine headaches. Studies have demonstrated that regular yoga practice can decrease both frequency and severity of headaches.
Migraines are intense headaches that usually strike one side of the head and are characterized by painful throbbing sensations that radiate pain into other areas. Other symptoms may also present such as nausea, vomiting and light/sound sensitivity. Migraines typically last from several hours up to several days.
Migraines can be treated using medication that treats headaches as they arise (acute treatments) and/or those that help prevent their occurrence altogether (preventive medications). Non-pharmacological therapies, including acupuncture, biofeedback, cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation training may also prove effective.
Studies suggest that combining both pharmaceutical and non-pharmacological prevention treatments could be effective in improving outcomes for people living with migraine. More research needs to be conducted in order to ascertain long-term effectiveness; alternative wellness approaches like yoga may prove valuable tools in managing this complex condition.
