Migraines can cause severe discomfort, sensitivity to light and sound, and nausea. Many treatments exist to mitigate or alleviate migraine pain such as over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen which are available over-the-counter.
Other effective treatments for migraine-related nausea are ice packs, hot compresses and the anti-nausea medication promethazine. Acupressure techniques can also be helpful.
Vitamin B-12
Cephalalgia (migraines), more formally known as cephalalgia, can completely disrupt your day and prevent you from functioning at work, often leading to nausea and fatigue as a side effect. While these headaches may last for days or even weeks at a time, there are ways of relieving their intensity and preventing further attacks; one method could include taking vitamin B-12 supplements.
Studies have demonstrated the correlation between an inadequate intake of this essential nutrient and migraine. It’s thought that deficiency leads to high homocysteinemia levels which result in endothelial cell damage and an increase in free radical production – two conditions linked with migraine episodes.
Researchers studying 127 migraine sufferers and 45 healthy controls conducted a study which demonstrated that taking vitamin B12 supplements to lower homocysteine levels significantly decreased migraine attacks frequency and intensity – particularly among individuals who carried MTHFR C677T genotype, associated with elevated homocysteine levels and migraine with aura.
Caffeine
Caffeine is an addictive stimulant found in numerous food and drinks, such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks and medications. An excessive consumption can trigger headaches; however it rarely acts alone to cause migraines. Caffeine affects headaches in several ways; most significantly by blocking adenosine effects that dilate blood vessels while interfering with its receptors to reduce blood flow further and cause pain.
Individuals suffering from migraines who wish to try caffeine should keep a diary to monitor their intake and symptoms, in order to identify potential triggers. They can then gradually decrease their consumption over a number of weeks without experiencing withdrawal symptoms – this should allow them to determine whether their headaches improve or worsen over time. Should caffeine trigger their headaches they should seek medical advice about safe solutions.
Avoiding triggers
Recognizing internal or external triggers that trigger migraine pain is crucial in controlling attacks. Maintaining a diary and taking steps to avoid such triggers may prove helpful.
Food can be an easy source of migraine triggers. Common triggers include aged cheese, chocolate, artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and monosodium glutamate (MSG), as well as skipping meals or not eating regularly enough. Avoiding such foods while keeping a consistent eating schedule and drinking lots of water may all help prevent migraine headaches from happening.
Migraine sufferers should keep a water bottle on them at all times to drink regularly during an attack and drink frequently throughout their migraine experience.
Hormonal changes may also play a part in migraine attacks or worsen their severity, particularly among women during their menstrual cycle or pregnancy when fluctuating estrogen levels change due to menstruation or pregnancy. Physical exercise may be another trigger; but regular physical activity should still be part of life for everyone; speak to your physician for an exercise plan that won’t aggravate your migraines.
Getting plenty of sleep
Study results have demonstrated the power of sleep to help decrease migraine headaches, though sleeping too much can also cause them. Staying hydrated is also beneficial; aim to drink lots of water throughout the day and keep a glass handy next to your bed at night; caffeine and sugar consumption disrupt sleep patterns while drinking alcohol too close to bedtime can trigger headaches.
For mild-to-moderate attacks, antiemetics such as metoclopramide and chlorpromazine may provide relief quickly; other options may include daily preventive medicines that take effect at the first sign of migraine symptoms or upon their onset.
Sleep can play an essential role in mitigating migraine headaches. To ensure maximum effectiveness, focus on improving your sleep hygiene and adopting healthy practices such as setting an early bedtime, avoiding stimulants, and keeping a food journal.
