An effective preventive migraine plan is key to effectively managing symptoms. A successful plan can reduce migraine attacks in frequency, severity and duration while improving response to acute medications when needed.
Keep a diary to learn your triggers. Additionally, preventative strategies include acupuncture and eating or drinking foods or beverages that could trigger migraines while exercising regularly.
Relaxation
Relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises and meditation have been shown to significantly decrease migraine pain, whether taught by health care professionals or practiced on your own. Acupuncture can also help decrease both frequency and duration of migraine attacks.
Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. Studies have revealed that it may help alleviate nausea and vomiting associated with migraine attacks, and can even treat tight temporomandibular joints, which often contribute to migraine symptoms.
Stressors are one of the primary triggers of migraine headaches, so it’s crucial to find ways to relax and manage your stress levels. Physical exercise may help relieve tension, improve your mood and sleep patterns while imagery can provide similar sensory stimulation like sounds, smells, feelings and sights as reality; biofeedback provides feedback that teaches you to control autonomic responses by monitoring changes in physiological processes.
Pain relievers
There are various over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers that may help ease migraine attacks. When taken as soon as they show symptoms, taking medication quickly after may be most beneficial and prevent further attacks from reoccurring.
Some medications used both abortively and preventively include: Nebivolol, bisoprolol, pindolol, carbamazepine, gabapentin, clonidine, valsartan, lamotrigine and nimodipine are among those that could prove effective treatments; others could include antiseizure drugs like Acebutolol, Nizatidine Topiramate Tetracycline as well as several others that may assist treatment as well.
Regular physical activity and stress-reduction techniques such as yoga, tai chi and meditation are effective tools in combatting migraines. All three can reduce stress levels.
Consistent sleep patterns are also key to combatting migraines. Experts advise setting a regular bedtime and wake time, cutting back on watching television or reading before sleeping, limiting napping during the day and maintaining a healthy diet with enough water intake – keeping a headache diary helps track triggers and symptoms and make better choices; butterbur is another herbal remedy which may prevent migraines in small doses if taken on an ongoing basis. But please make sure it does not contain pyrrolizidine alkaloid chemical which could harm liver or circulatory system health – to avoid being harmful effects purchase pyrrolizidine alkaloid alkaloid free versions when taking regular and taking small doses!
Diet
Diets low in foods known to trigger migraines may help lower their incidence. Avoiding red wine, alcoholic beverages, chocolate and caffeine (including tea and coffee), nitrates found in some cold cuts of meat and processed food and monosodium glutamate found in sauces, canned or frozen food and some cheese can all help protect you.
Eating regularly and not missing meals can also reduce migraine attacks, while moderate exercise such as walking, swimming or cycling for 30-50 minutes per day may provide further relief from migraine pain signals.
Stress relief techniques like yoga, Tai chi, breathing exercises and meditation may also be effective in relieving migraine symptoms. Sleep is particularly essential to someone with migraines as poor rest can aggravate or even trigger their attacks; setting an early bedtime and wake-up time daily will be especially helpful to get enough restful restful slumber.
Medicine
if your migraine attacks occur more than twice weekly, your GP may suggest preventive medication to stop them. Preventive medicines are usually taken after trying to identify and avoid potential triggers as well as trying over-the-counter pain relievers which have not helped. Your GP will prescribe more effective medicines often developed for other conditions but proven beneficial against migraine.
Some individuals find keeping a diary helps them identify possible migraine triggers, which may include certain foods and drinks like caffeine or alcohol as well as stress or sleep issues. Exercise and avoiding bright lights may also help ease migraine symptoms.
Acupuncture and certain dietary supplements may offer relief. Tight temporomandibular joint (TMJ) muscles can lead to headaches; so if you clench or grind your teeth at night or have neck issues, and have headaches as a result, speak to your GP about ways to ease tension in these muscles – gentle neck exercises, massaging the jaw hinges daily or taking steps against stress could all be effective approaches for relieving TMJ pain.
