In the modern world, migraines affect a staggering 25% of adults. Migraine is a condition that typically causes intense pain on one side of the head and neck, which is usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting. In some cases, migraine can lead to paralysis, with the symptoms effecting the whole entire body.
There are many different types of migraines, and the severity and frequency of the headaches, and symptoms vary from person to person. Like many health conditions, what helps one person won’t help another, so it’s often a long road of trials and tests to see what helps.
When dealing with a migraine-related headache or migraine attack, it is important to learn what you can do in an attempt to avoid them in the future. There are many things that can typically trigger a migraine attack such as stress, noise, bright lights and certain foods such as caffeine, too much sugar or alcohol. Again, different triggers affect different people, and sometimes something like hormones thrown into the mix, can make the symptoms a little worse too.
Why You Should Get an Accurate Understanding of Your Migraine Triggers
Migraine triggers are just about the most important things to understand in order to avoid headaches. They can be anything from smells, sights, sounds, or thoughts that trigger a migraine attack. To better understand what your migraine triggers are, you need to be aware of what causes your migraines and how the brain reacts during the pain.
One of the best ways to do this is by keeping a headache diary, so you can see what you were doing, eating, drinking or sleeping like around the time of the attack. It’ll help you to hopefully see a potential pattern, which will then help you discover potential triggers. Some women find they get more migraines at different times in their menstrual cycles, depending on what the hormones are doing, so by having a diary, you can draw a correlation between similar migraine attacks.
What’s annoying with migraines is that they happen suddenly and often without warning. So it can be difficult for people to know exactly when they will strike next. Many people also experience a migraine aura, which is an experience that comes before one’s migraine attacks, and it’s still not always easy for people with migraines to spot them starting to appear. Symptoms vary from person to person, but often includes a headache or pressure in the head or neck and vague discomfort in the brain.
Migraine is a neurological disease that can cause severe, disabling pain. If you have a migraine headache, it’s important to know the steps you can take to reduce the risk of getting one in the future. Head pain relief for migraines:
- Drink plenty of water and avoid sugary and caffeinated drinks
- Keep your bedroom dark and cool
- Try a tight eye mask to relieve any pressure in your head
- Try and avoid caffeine alcohol that can worsen your symptoms
- Take migraine specific medication, if recommended by a medical professional
- Avoid being near loud noises or vibrations
Lifestyle changes that can be made in order to prevent migraines
One of the lifestyle changes that can help you prevent migraines is quitting smoking. Although quitting smoking may not be an easy task, it can have a significant impact on reducing migraines. Other lifestyle changes that can help prevent migraines are:
- Quitting caffeine, alcohol, and certain trigger foods like chocolate, cheese and artificial sweeteners
- Medication therapy
- Proper diet and exercise
- Avoiding stressors from work or home life
- Ensuring you’re having at least 8 hours of sleep every night
Migraine headaches can be a powerful and debilitating pain. Many sufferers often find it difficult to prepare for and fight the pain. This is why it is important to learn what helps you individually, so you can be ready when your next attack strikes. This includes having proper sleep, hydration, nervous system rest and blood sugar regulation before the onset of headaches so that you can fight it better.