As distressing as a migraine affliction may seem, there are simple, but effective ways, you can manage and control migraine attacks, as well as ease the symptoms. Here are 10 simple and practical tips you can easily employ to help you manage your migraine.
1. Stick to a schedule.
Whatever your daily lifestyle activities may be, try and stick to a regular schedule. This should include going to bed and getting up and the same times each day, eating your meals as close to the usual times as possible, and some regular exercising daily.
2. Keep track of what triggers set you off.
Often it might be certain kind of foods, such as dark chocolate, red wine or cheese etc.
3. Analyse your recorded data.
Analyse the triggers you have captured for a couple of months to really get to the bottom of the triggers.
4. Consider a supplement.
Studies have indicated that magnesium, vitamin B2, and CoQ10, are supplements which have calming effects.
5. Try and cut down on very vigorous exercise.
Research has shown that the pain sometimes gets worse with exercise which is too exerting. Try Yoga, an activity which induces calm, relieves stress and eases aches and pains. Gentle aerobic exercises also help to relieve stiffness in the neck and shoulders.
6. Follow a healthy diet.
Opt for magnesium rich-foods such as green veggies, tomatoes, nuts, beans, peas and wholegrains. A lack of magnesium can lead to a reduced blood flow to the brain, which is linked to migraine attacks. Omega 3 foods, like tuna, mackerel and sardines, also have some excellent calming effects, and are excellent for heart health.
7. Keep an eye on your blood sugar levels.
A drop in blood sugar levels is a common migraine trigger, as it leads to more than usual glucose being released into the blood-stream, which may cause blood pressure to rise.
8. Quit smoking.
If you have an allergy to smoking, passive smoking or even sensitivity to certain odours, it can set off a migraine attack. By avoiding such places or situations where smoking occurs, headaches may be avoided.
9. Practice prevention.
There are several migraine preventative medications on the market. Whether or not you are chronically prone to migraine attacks, your doctor will undoubtedly prescribe some specific meds for you. These meds are designed to help ease the symptoms, and help prevent attacks. Take the medication as directed, to give yourself the best possible chance to manage your migraine hassles. The most common one is sumatriptan; you can see some information about it here. Always read the patient information leaflet and consult a GP before taking any prescription medicine.
10. Check your caffeine intake.
Too much caffeine may cause the blood vessels around the brain to constrict more than usual, and thus trigger a migraine. More than 300mg a day, which is about 5 cups of instant coffee, can cause problems. Like most people in this tech era, you may lead a very busy life, with enough stress to cope with in the general run of things. Coping with migraine on the run, just adds to the stress. Implementing some of these simple tips, as well as making a few minor lifestyle changes, will be of vital assistance in helping you to manage your migraine problem. Photo Credit: Leland Francisco via Flickr Featured photo credit: Leland Francisco via flickr.com
