It’s official—you and your doctor have discovered you are prone to migraines. What can you do to relieve the pain?
According to Mayo Clinic, there are simple steps to “head off” the pain. While medication is a proven way to treat and prevent migraines, it is only part of the treatment. Taking good care of yourself and understanding how to cope with migraine pain when it starts are also important.
Lifestyle choices that promote good health can reduce the frequency and severity of your migraines, Mayo Clinic says. Using medication and managing pain with lifestyle behaviors is the most effective way to handle migraines.
Mayo Clinic suggests that, at the first sign of a migraine, you should retreat from your usual activities, if you can, and try some of these methods:
- Turn off the lights—because migraines often cause sensitivity to light and sound
- Try temperature therapy. Apply hot or cold compresses to your head and neck. Ice packs have a numbing effect, which could dull the pain. Hot packs and heating pads can relax tense muscles. Warm showers or baths have a similar effect
- Drink a caffeinated beverage. In small amounts, caffeine alone can relieve migraine pain in the early stages, but drinking too much caffeine too often can lead to withdrawal headache pain later
- Sleep well. Migraines are often triggered by a poor night’s sleep, so it is important to establish regular sleeping habits, unwind at the end of the day, minimize distractions, and check your medications that may be interfering so that you can ensure good sleep
- Eat wisely. Eating habits can influence and trigger migraines. Follow the basics: Be consistent in meal times, don’t skip meals, keep a food journal, and avoid foods that previously have caused migraines
- Exercise regularly
- Manage stress in your life. Migraines and stress often go hand in hand, so simplify your life and manage your time wisely, making relaxation part of your routine
- Keep a migraine diary. This can help you figure out which foods or habits trigger your migraines, which can assist in avoiding triggering them in the future
If you are battling migraines daily, it can be a painful and frustrating process. If the combination of medicine and lifestyle changes doesn’t help you find relief, confide in your doctor. He or she can help you find what will help you live without persistent migraines.