Dealing with Migraine Headaches

The word 'migraine' is derived from a Greek word 'hemicrania' that means 'half of the skull'. This is because it mostly causes throbbing pain on one side of the head due to abnormal dilation or contraction of the blood vessels in the head. This pain is described differently by every individual. Some call it a headache behind the eyes and others feel the pain at the center of the temple. The exact cause of migraine headache is not clearly known but there are some factors that tend to trigger such headaches in people. Anxiety, stress, excessive physical exertion, jet lag, change in sleeping pattern, fasting, skipping meals, change in weather, exposure to bright lights, loud sound or unusual smell are some of the most common triggers of migraine headaches. It is often linked to consumption of certain foods and drinks like chocolate, cheese, alcohol, caffeine, etc. The hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy, menopause and menstrual periods often lead to migraine headaches in many women.

Tips for Dealing with Migraines

When you are suffering from migraine headache, you pop pain killers that are available over-the-counter for an instant pain relief. However, these medicines should not be taken on a regular basis as they have potential side effects. Therefore, you have to look for other options for dealing with migraine headaches. Here are a few suggestions that can help you in this regard:

Tip #1: When you have a migraine, you do not feel like doing anything. So, suspend all activities and simply take good amount of rest to relax yourself. Lie down for some time (20-30 minutes) in a dark, quiet room. This will make you feel better.

Tip #2: A gentle massage can give a lot of relief from the annoying headache. Rub your fingers over the temple and the artery near ear with a gentle pressure. Massage the neck and shoulders as well. This will improve the blood flow in these areas and ease off the tension from the muscles. It will be more comfortable for you if you ask a friend to do the massage.

Tip #3: Wrap up an ice pack in a small towel and move it slowly over the painful spots of the scalp and around the neck area for at least 15 minutes. At the same time, soak your feet in a tub of warm water. This will improve blood circulation in the entire body which in turn will bring down the pain.

Tip #4: There are a number of foods that you should avoid when you are trying to manage the annoying headaches. They are: chocolate, cheese, nuts, seeds, soy beans, caffeine, alcohol, etc. Stay away from these foods at least for a month. Then re-introduce them one at a time to check if any of them are responsible for the headache or not. If you find any such food, then stop having that food completely.

Tip #5: You need a sound sleep of at least 6-8 hours every night. Make sure that you maintain a regular sleeping time. That means, your bedtime and waking time should be the same every day.

Tip #6: Try to avoid going to such places where you are exposed to loud music or any other sound and bright lights. Such stimulants aggravate the problem further.

Tip #7: Try to identify the trigger responsible for the headache. Maintain a diary where you note down the possible triggers every time you are attacked by migraine. Once it is identified, you can prevent future headaches rather easily.

If you are getting migraine headaches quite frequently or suffering from a headache for several days together, then you should consult a doctor for its treatment. Along with regular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), they also prescribe triptans for relief. This class of medicines not only reduce the pain but also provide relief from nausea, sensitivity towards light and other such symptoms of migraines. In case, the pain is unbearable, they may also prescribe opiates for a short term. They may also prescribe some medicines to reduce the frequency of migraine attack. However, these medicines cannot be used for a long time and you have to continue with the remedial measures given in this article.