Migraines can be extremely disruptive, so using preventive strategies to lessen attacks is vitally important. Your doctor might suggest keeping a migraine journal to identify common triggers like weather or hormonal shifts associated with menstruation and perimenopause as possible triggers.
Acupuncture, biofeedback and cognitive behavioral therapy may all provide some relief; new medications designed specifically to treat and prevent migraine include Erenumab (Aimovig) and Fremanezumab (Ajovy).
Keep a migraine diary
For migraine sufferers, keeping a headache diary is often the best way to identify triggers and understand whether certain events, like missing meals or drinking alcohol, contribute to headaches. Furthermore, this diary allows you to see whether changes to your diet or lifestyle are helping or hindering.
Diaries can also be invaluable if you’re trying out a new preventive medication. By recording information in your diary, you can determine how often to take it to achieve maximum results and reduce side effects. Diaries are particularly useful for tracking episodic migraine attacks – they allow doctors to identify triggers more easily as well as find effective preventive treatment solutions.
Avoid over-the-counter pain relievers
Aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) are effective preventives of migraine attacks if taken early enough; however, taking too often could result in medication-overuse headaches which can be more painful than traditional migraine attacks.
Antiseizure medications like topiramate (Qudexy XR, Topamax) and valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote) can provide significant relief by making it harder for nerve cells to misfire and send out abnormal signals that create pain. Beta blockers like atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) or propranolol (Inderal LA, Inderal XL or InnoPran) may also provide significant relief.
Nerve stimulation treatments such as Spring TMS or eNeura sTM use magnetic pulses to gently jolt various nerves in your head and neck and interrupt abnormal brain activity that triggers migraines. They should be worn like a headband for several minutes daily for best results.
Eat a healthy diet
Many foods and food additives may trigger migraine in some individuals. Eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet with plenty of water may help protect against migraine. Avoid skipping meals or changing your meal schedule; additionally, limit caffeine consumption as much as possible to prevent overdosing or withdrawal headaches from coffee consumption.
Migraines often feature abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, light or sound sensitivity and vision changes; certain forms of migraine even involve muscle weakness (hemiplegic).
Treatment options for migraine include pain-relieving medications and preventative medicines. You should discuss with your physician an individual plan tailored specifically to you which could include lifestyle changes, exercise and medications; further studies on some herbal supplements and vitamins could reduce migraine.
Exercise regularly
Many people with migraines can reduce both the frequency and severity of attacks by making lifestyle adjustments, specifically regular physical exercise (such as brisk walking) and eating foods low in caffeine.
Migraines are a type of headache characterized by throbbing pain in the head and neck, often caused by foods, chemicals, nitrates found in lunchmeats and hot dogs, alcohol consumption, changes in weather, stress levels or menstruation periods. Acupuncture and certain herbal supplements (feverfew or butterbur) have proven successful at relieving migraine pain.
Maintaining a migraine diary can be an invaluable resource to both diagnose and treat migraine. This is particularly true for individuals experiencing intermittent or frequent episodes; aside from documenting symptoms, diaries also enable healthcare providers to track analgesic use as well as identify possible triggers.
Manage stress
Take control of daily routines and avoid stress to help protect against headaches. Engaging in aerobic exercise regularly and maintaining a nutritious diet are both key in doing just that, though always check with a healthcare professional prior to beginning any new fitness programs as vigorous or sudden change could trigger migraines in certain individuals.
A headache diary can help you identify triggers. Note when and why migraines occur, as well as what you were doing or eating beforehand, any weather changes, hormonal shifts (like ovulating or starting menstruation cycle) or hormonal fluctuations such as menstrual cycle ovulation/start.
Sticking to a schedule can also reduce migraine frequency, according to Strauss. He suggests setting alarms and going to bed and waking up at the same times each day and limiting any naps during the day that could interfere with sleep and lead to headaches as well as restricting caffeine to one full cup per morning, rather than multiple smaller cups throughout the day.
