Manage migraines through lifestyle modifications, medication and relaxation techniques. Common migraine symptoms are nausea, vomiting and light/sound sensitivity; migraine can also be triggered by food, alcohol or stress as well as hormonal fluctuations like those found during menstruation.
Over-using pain medicines may cause rebound headaches. Your healthcare provider may advise keeping a migraine diary to help identify triggers.
Avoiding triggers
Some migraine sufferers find certain foods and beverages, additives and beverages to be triggers, while others are sensitive to light, noise or odors or affected by weather changes.
Maintaining a headache diary may help identify triggers. Take notes of when and how often migraine attacks occurred as well as any events or experiences that might be potential triggers, like eating new foods or beverages that day.
Additionally, following a regular sleep schedule and staying hydrated could help protect against migraines. Skipping meals or making major changes to your daily routine could increase your migraine risk; trying reducing caffeine consumption gradually is better than abruptly stopping altogether; getting ample exercise as well as practicing stress-management techniques like biofeedback can also be effective ways of controlling migraines; it is best to consult with your physician on which techniques are right for you before pushing yourself too hard as this increases migraine risk.
Medications
Migraine medications offer both acute and preventive therapies; people experiencing frequent migraine attacks usually need both. Acute treatments aim to stop attacks that have already started while preventive medication may reduce both their frequency and severity.
Acute medication for migraine can come in both pill form and injectable solutions, and the most frequently used painkillers include paracetamol and ibuprofen; however, if an individual is allergic to either of these substances they may need another form of pain relief medication instead. Anti-sickness drugs like metoclopramide or prochlorperazine may help with any nausea experienced during an attack, as well as making any painkillers work more effectively.
Acupuncture and herbal remedies may help prevent migraines. Some people find keeping a headache diary useful to identify triggers of their attacks and, when possible, try to avoid them. Others are prescribed triptans which combine painkillers with anti-sickness drugs specifically designed to combat migraines, available either as tablets or subcutaneous injections; such triptans include sumatriptan, almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan and naratriptan among many others.
Relaxation techniques
Migraines often cause anxiety and stress. Relaxation techniques may reduce migraine frequency and severity by engaging in breathing and relaxation exercises, meditation and biofeedback sessions.
Paced breathing, commonly referred to as paced relaxation, is an easy and effective technique for those living with migraines. To practice it successfully, slowly inhale for four counts before exhaling for four counts – all done anywhere you feel comfortable! At least 10 minutes should be dedicated each day towards this exercise.
Stress and anxiety are often triggers of silent migraines, yet simple steps like limiting stressful foods, getting enough restful sleep and engaging in physical activity regularly can significantly lower stress levels. Relaxation techniques such as biofeedback or progressive muscle relaxation have also proven their efficacy for decreasing headaches while improving quality of life for people living with migraines. For maximum effectiveness these techniques should be practiced regularly for best results.
Exercise
People living with migraines may be afraid of beginning an exercise program out of fear that it may trigger another attack; however, over time incorporating exercise into your routine will actually help alleviate symptoms and prevent future episodes.
As well as aerobic exercise, diet and sleep patterns are integral to managing migraines effectively. You should try eating meals at consistent times each day without snacking between meals; additionally it’s also wise to drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Before beginning an exercise program, it is crucial that you consult with your doctor. Starting slowly and increasing gradually is recommended to avoid overexerting yourself during each workout session and giving your body time to recuperate between workout sessions – this is particularly crucial for beginners or recovering from migraine flare-ups. If lifting weights is something you find yourself drawn to doing frequently, try lifting only for short bursts instead of repeatedly as this will lessen strain on both muscles and joints.
