Migraines can disrupt daily routines and make concentration difficult, but you can take steps to manage their symptoms.
Food may also trigger migraines; aged cheeses, alcohol and certain fermented meats contain tyramine that may contribute to them. Skipping meals or fasting may also lead to migraines.
Overusing OTC pain medications may cause rebound headaches and dependency issues. If your migraines are frequent or severe, consult with your physician regarding possible prescription treatments.
Avoiding triggers
Migraines can be caused by any number of triggers. Common ones include food that contains histamine and monosodium glutamate (MSG), chocolate, cheese and dairy products, alcohol and caffeine; others can include cured meats with nitrates, certain smells or changes in weather patterns.
When it comes to knowing your triggers, try and avoid them whenever possible. Keep a headache diary and track what actions or inactivity led up to when your migraine began – this may help identify patterns which you can then try and eliminate by altering daily behavior or by decreasing caffeine consumption slowly over time. For instance, if migraines strike due to too much caffeine consumption, gradually lower it gradually over time until headaches no longer occur.
Stress can also be a key trigger for migraines. Consider techniques such as biofeedback, relaxation therapy, meditation and exercise to help de-stress. Be sure to get enough rest each night; talk with your physician if sleep apnea may be causing them. Incorporating regular meals into your schedule has proven useful in avoiding attacks; so do not skip meals!
Medications
Medication can help both prevent migraines and make them less painful, as well as help alleviate warning symptoms known as auras – including visual disturbances or tingling sensations.
Some prescription medications used to treat other ailments also provide relief for migraines, including antidepressants and medicines for high blood pressure. Calcium channel blockers like diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Tiazac), verapamil (Calan, Covera HS, Verelan) and fenarizine (Fenol) can reduce narrowed blood vessels; anti-seizure medicines like topiramate (Qudexy XR Topamax), verapamil (Calan, Covera HS Verelan) can all provide relief; anti-seizure medicines like topiramate (Qudexy XR Topamax), verapamil (Calan, Covera HS Verelan) and Valproic acid (Depakene/Depakote) can prevent migraines by blocking proteins called CGRP in sensory nerves; anti-seizure medications can prevent migraines by blocking this protein called CGRP in sensory nerves.
Some physicians also offer biofeedback, which involves learning to consciously control subconscious body functions such as headaches through relaxation exercises. Although biofeedback might not be suitable for everyone, and may take time for you to master, your physician can offer more insight.
Self-care
Migraines can be debilitating, with symptoms including throbbing head pain, vision changes, light and sound sensitivity and feelings of nausea. The good news is that medication, healthy habits and lifestyle modifications may reduce both frequency and intensity of migraine episodes for many people.
Migraines can be caused by various things, so it’s essential to limit any triggers wherever possible. For instance, alcohol could be one such trigger; therefore it would be wiser to limit consumption to special occasions only.
Maintaining a migraine diary can also help identify patterns. For instance, if you experience headaches once every week that don’t interfere with daily tasks and are nondisabling, mark those days as “green.” If the migraines recur more frequently or worsen over time, mark these as yellow or red days instead. Furthermore, skipping meals seems to aggravate migraines so try eating several small healthy meals throughout the day instead of skipping altogether; exercise can release chemicals that block pain signals as well.
See your doctor
Finding effective medication can be a tricky endeavor for migraine sufferers. Starting on low doses and gradually increasing them is sometimes required; sometimes multiple drugs must be tried until one satisfies them completely.
Your doctor will want to review your medical history, including that of any family members with migraines and treatments you have tried (including over-the-counter pain relievers). Furthermore, they’ll want to know when and for how long the migraine attacks occur – such as prior or during menstruation.
Your doctor may suggest taking preventive medications to decrease the chances of migraine attacks, including triptan medicines such as Imitrex or Maxalt, an NSAID such as ibuprofen, or acetaminophen; and anti-seizure drugs like topiramate (Qudexy XR, Topamax) and valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote); as well as beta blockers like atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) or propranolol (Inderal, Inderal LA, InnoPran nadolol); these medicines will slow your heart rate while lowering your blood pressure.
