Migraine is a long term condition that causes a great discomfort to the patient. People who suffer from migraine evolve their own strategies to cope with it. They may be guided by their beliefs, knowledge and the advice they receive. Over the years people have developed various ways to deal with migraine headaches. Given below in the paragraphs are some strategies that you can use to cope with this problem.
The types of steps that you can take to deal with this problem can be divided into 3 categories:
1) Eliminating Triggers
2) Using Medicines
3) Using Alternative Therapies
1) Eliminating Triggers
Through experience, people discover various things and actions that trigger a migraine headache. Once these are identified, they can be eliminated to minimize the chances of migraine. Given below are some of the triggers and ways to cope with them.
1.1) Eliminate triggering substances in food and drink
Caffeine is considered to be a trigger substance that causes migraine. Hence not consuming drinks that contain caffeine can prevent the occurrence of migraine. Similarly alcohol can also induce a headache. If these two substances cause headaches in you, then filter these from your food.
1.2) Stop smoking
Smoking can also induce headaches and can be a cause of migraine in many. If smoking leads to headache in you, then you need to wean yourself away from this habit. Quitting it abruptly will only worsen your problems. You need to withdraw slowly.
1.3) Eat healthy and regularly
Improper and irregular meals often cause headaches. Don’t starve yourself regularly, especially if you work in a highly stressful environment. Staying empty stomach can lead to headache. Take healthy and regular food. This will keep you in good health and avoid headaches.
1.4) Sleep properly
Not enough sleep often leads to headaches and in some people it can lead to migraine. However improper sleep can be the symptom of a disorder. Get yourself examined by a doctor and try to sleep 7 – 8 hours a day. If this is not possible then use meditation to keep yourself fresh and healthy.
1.5) Treat problems that occur in the jaw
If you have an infection in the jaw or the jaw joint, then too you can experience migraine headaches. If the problem is at the jaw then massaging it can bring some relief. If this works then treating the infection can remove one of the triggers of migraine.
1.6) Eliminate triggers from your environment
Sometimes the place where you work or live can trigger migraine. Depending on their work and the workplace, people may develop allergies to cold or hot conditions. This can result in migraine that stays for many hours. Making slight chances in your environment to nullify the effects of the hot or cold conditions can bring relief and reduce intensity of migraine headache. If you work with a computer, then blink frequently and take time to walk around in the office. This will help break the pattern that can lead to headaches.
2) Using Medicines
Several over the counter and prescription medicines can be used to cope with migraine. Over the counter (OTC) medicines are simple formulae and have a varying degree of efficiency in blocking pain. They can be bought from the pharmacist by mentioning their names. Some of drugs that fall under this category contain Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, Naproxen, Ketoprofen, Aspirin etc. Some OTC medicines may contain a combination of such substances and may combine it with caffeine.
If the pain cannot be controlled with these substances then you need to see a doctor who can prescribe medicines. The prescription medicines contain substances like – Sumatriptan, Fravatriptan, Ergotamine, Zolmitriptan, Dihydroergotamine, Naratriptan, Almotriptan and Rizatriptan. As with OTC drugs, some branded formulations may combine two or more of these substances for a better effect. You must exercise caution while taking these medicines as they are strong and may have side effects which you must know. Moreover if the pain is strong and these medicines fail to give satisfactory results then the doctor may prescribe stronger medicines. Such stronger medicines may be narcotic and make you addictive. Hence you must ask the doctor for side effects of the drugs prescribed to you.
Caffeine can cause migraines in some while in others, it can provide relief. Hence several manufacturers of medicines add caffeine in their medicines to provide pain relief.
3) Using Alternative Therapies
More and more people are experimenting with alternative therapies nowadays as they become aware of the addiction and other side effects of medicines. Some alternative therapies are listed here.
3.1) Acupuncture
While allopathic medicine relies on strong chemical substances to provide relief from migraine headaches, acupuncture can alleviate the pain in a few sessions. The acupuncturist inserts needles in energy meridians of the body to enable free flow of energy and help the body repair itself.
3.2) Biofeedback
In this procedure, parts of the brain are studied to find sites which have increased or decreased blood flow during migraine. Once the data is analyzed, a solution is implemented wherein the blood flow pattern in sought to be controlled. This suppresses increased activity in the suspected sites of the brain providing relief. Apart from mapping the brain, the doctor also measures variations in the blood pressure in other parts of the body as well as the variations in skin temperature. Two types of biofeedback techniques are employed by the doctors – Electromyographic (EMG) and Thermal Biofeedback.
3.3) Massage Therapy
The masseur applies pressure from the pads of his fingers at pressure points in the head and face to relieve pain. He may also use the Craniosacral Therapy to provide relief from migraine. This involves massaging from the head to the base of the spine at the back, which is known as the sacral point. This helps in the free flowing of the craniosacral fluid and prevents migraine.
3.4) Visualization
Under this technique, you visualize a calm environment around you. This reduces your mental tension which proceeds to reduce the physical tension you feel in your muscles and the rest of your body. This can be a powerful technique to cope with migraine but it requires practice to be successful.
3.5) Warm / Cold Compress
A cold compress numbs the pain and reduces the inflammation. A warm compress on the other hand provides relief in the form of relaxation of muscles in the head and a proper blood flow in the region. Both these techniques provide relief by reducing inflammation. You can also apply the compress to the base of the head, on your neck and above your jaw to see which part gives more relief.
3.6 Exercise
A regular exercise schedule helps you keep fit and lower your headaches. This can also help in controlling your migraine headache.
Migraine headaches can make life difficult for many. Though there is no permanent cure you can use the above mentioned ways to cope with it.