Migraine attacks can be excruciatingly painful and severely restrict quality of life, yet preventive migraine treatments may reduce both their frequency and intensity.
Preventative strategies include avoiding triggers, getting plenty of restful sleep and keeping a migraine diary. Preventive medications also exist such as beta blockers such as metoprolol, propranolol and timolol; calcium channel blockers like verapamil and amitriptyline; as well as antiseizure medicines such as topiramate or valproate for instance.
Avoiding triggers
Many people with migraines find that certain foods, additives and chemicals can trigger headaches. Avoiding as many of them as possible will help avoid migraine attacks while decreasing medication usage.
Foods that may trigger an allergy include processed foods, cheeses and chocolate, processed meats, fermented and pickled foods, artificial sweeteners, caffeine and certain odors. Hormonal changes may also play a part in trigger reactions – particularly around menstruation time.
Stress can also be a trigger for migraines. Exercise, eating healthily, hydrating regularly and getting plenty of rest are all ways you can decrease stress in your life. meditation, yoga or other relaxation techniques may also help ease tension; speak to your physician about ways to effectively manage stress in your daily life.
Getting plenty of sleep
Migraine symptoms may include throbbing pain, blurry vision, loss of hearing and light sensitivity issues as well as stiff neck or balance problems. Some people also experience nausea and vomiting. Meanwhile others might notice vision changes, slurred speech or ringing in their ears.
Stress, hormones (especially during menstruation cycle), certain foods and drinks and even weather can trigger migraines. Herbal remedies and dietary supplements may provide some protection from migraines; however, more research must be conducted into their effectiveness.
Get more sleep to help your brain function normally and reduce migraine frequency. Regular exercise, acupuncture and eating well are also helpful; keeping a headache diary may also help identify migraine triggers so they can be avoided in future; additionally, taking migraine-prevention medicines regularly may provide further assistance.
Keeping a migraine diary
Maintaining a migraine diary can be an effective tool in preventing or alleviating headaches, and can help track their frequency and severity. You’ll be able to record what kind of headache is plaguing you, its location and duration as well as possible triggers that could be impacting daily life (i.e. missed work days or family gatherings).
Migraine diaries can help you identify potential triggers like aged cheeses, chocolate and caffeine and make necessary dietary changes. A migraine diary may also prove helpful if taking preventive medication in terms of showing when and if it was taken and whether or not it helped or prevented your migraine attacks. There are even apps specifically tailored to keeping such diaries available that allow users to connect with others who also suffer migraines – some even offering community experiences with fellow sufferers!
Avoiding over-the-counter pain relievers
Migraines can be debilitating, so they should be addressed immediately. A combination of pain relievers may provide some relief; you can get these medications via IV in hospital or urgent care clinic settings – this combination is known as a migraine cocktail.
At present, its cause remains elusive, though temporary changes to blood vessels and nerve signals in the brain could be partly responsible. Migraines can be brought on by flashing lights or loud noises, skipping meals or eating foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG).
Neurologists can be invaluable resources when it comes to managing headache triggers and providing preventative treatments, including acupuncture, acupressure massage and stress reduction techniques such as biofeedback or meditation. You might also consider trying taking supplements such as riboflavin, coenzyme Q10 feverfew and magnesium for additional support.
Talking to your healthcare provider
Migraines affect over 37 million men, women and children in the US annually. If migraines are an issue for you, be sure to speak to your healthcare provider about what could be triggering them, how frequently they occur and for how long.
Your doctor will want to hear about any health concerns and treatments options you have tried in the past, such as pain medications (both over-the-counter and prescription) you’ve taken and when and in what amounts. Be sure to inform them about any painkillers you take ( including OTC ones) along with dosage amounts taken and when.
Your doctor may suggest various preventive treatments, including avoiding triggers, getting regular restful sleep, eating predictable times and using relaxation techniques or exercise to alleviate stress. They may also prescribe preventive medicines, such as an antidepressant, seizure medication or one to reduce the effects of CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide), a hormone known to widen blood vessels and cause headaches.
