Migraine can be difficult to treat, but medical treatments and lifestyle modifications may provide relief. Maintaining a diary may help identify triggers. Eliminating foods known to trigger migraine is also recommended, along with eating regular meals at set times each day and drinking plenty of water.
Sleep issues or serious medical conditions like sleep apnea could be contributing factors for migraine attacks. Make sure you get adequate rest, and consult with your physician about creating an ideal sleeping schedule.
Cold therapy
Migraines can cause more than just an uncomfortable headache – they can also bring with them unpleasant symptoms such as nausea and light sensitivity, which in some cases may even worsen than the pain itself.
Though doctors don’t fully understand what causes migraines, they have discovered that cold therapy can provide temporary relief by constricting blood vessels and restricting neurochemical release. They believe this helps ease discomfort by constricting blood vessels and restricting release of pro-inflammatory neurochemicals.
One study revealed that patients suffering from migraines involving the vasculature experienced less discomfort when wearing a hat with an ice pack. However, this relief technique only proved successful if worn for the entirety of a migraine attack; unfortunately silica-based blue gel packs used only stayed cold for 15-20 minutes in this wrap (despite participant complaints they wanted them colder longer!). Therefore, more research must be conducted into how effective this relief technique could be combined with analgesics to provide effective migraine relief.
Light therapy
Light sensitivity can increase migraine pain and even trigger attacks in some patients, but recent research by researchers has uncovered a specific wavelength of light that alleviates migraine discomfort and symptoms. Their research examined electrical signals generated in retina and cortex regions of the brain to see how different colors affected migraine pain and other associated symptoms; blue light intensified discomfort while green decreased it.
Migraine medications like ibuprofen can often provide effective relief; however, some patients may not respond well or experience side effects from medication alone. Finding alternative therapies like green light therapy – using narrow bands of green light from within your own home to produce soothing light therapy treatments with no severe side effects – becomes important. Green light therapy uses an inexpensive yet non-invasive solution.
While more research needs to be conducted, this study offers hope for potential migraine treatment solutions. Consult with your physician about including this technique as part of your migraine care plan; they may suggest adding other tactics, like avoiding triggers and getting adequate rest.
Medications
Migraine medications can either treat an existing migraine (acute therapies), or prevent future headaches from commencing (preventive therapies). Many of these drugs, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antiseizure medications, can be purchased over-the-counter.
Antiseizure medications such as topiramate and valproate can help prevent migraines by blocking certain brain chemicals that activate pain signals, alleviating nausea, and decreasing light and sound sensitivity.
Beta-blockers reduce the effects of stress hormones on heart and blood vessels, helping reduce both frequency and intensity of migraine attacks. Calcium channel blockers, commonly prescribed to manage high blood pressure, may provide relief by restricting constricted/dilated blood vessels that contribute to pain.
Antinausea medications such as metoclopramide (Reglan) and prochlorperazine (Metrodin) work by inhibiting stomach acid release. They are often taken in combination with an NSAID or triptan, although they can also be taken alone.
Relaxation
An attack can seriously disrupt your daily routine and limit your ability to work, exercise and socialize. If migraine attacks become debilitating for you, try practicing relaxation techniques as they could provide much-needed relief.
Drink plenty of water when experiencing headache symptoms; this could help shorten their duration and duration. Incorporating regular sleep, meals and activities into your schedule could also help protect against migraines.
Massage relaxes muscles and relieves stress, both of which are major triggers of migraine headaches. Acupuncture can also be effective, with practitioners applying pressure on specific points on your body such as Union Valley (Hegu) between thumb and index finger on top of hand as an effective migraine remedy.
Ginger can help relieve nausea, a common side effect of migraines. Try eating fresh ginger, taking ginger capsules or sipping ginger tea; also consider including caffeine into your daily diet as this acts as a pain reliever for many with migraines.
