5 Tips for Living with Migraines
5 Tips for Living with Migraines
Having migraine headaches can be a very disturbing experience. Migraines have a tendency to disrupt the lives of those who have the condition. This is true especially if the headaches come during working hours. Some people who experience migraines have problems dealing with the condition, because it interferes with their personal lives and even their work.
Migraine headaches can last up to 72 hours. The majority of migraines begin in the morning. Therefore, people who work during the day or participate in other activities may have difficulties preventing disruptions. Migraines prevent many people from participating in both physical and mental activities, which makes it more challenging for a person who has to attend to home chores, work, or school. Long migraine duration is also a big problem, because it keeps people from these activities even longer. Many people with long migraines miss deadlines, as well as enjoyable activities.
Migraines are always accompanied by very disturbing symptoms that can easily ruin your day. These symptoms may include fever, blurry vision, lack of body balance and coordination, confusion, nausea, and vomiting. Light sensitivity and sound sensitivity may also occur. These symptoms leave a person with very few options for working and enjoying personal time.
It is also important to note that migraines can be hereditary. This means that if you are experiencing migraines, it is likely due to a genetic component. Therefore, family members may also have migraines. Apart from being inherited, it is a recurring condition. You should know how to live with the condition, since it may come back again and again. Being familiar with the types of migraine triggers is very helpful for managing migraines. Additionally, some triggers can be mitigated, which will reduce the frequency and/or intensity of the migraines.
The following are 5 tips that can help you with migraines.
- Manage Stress
Stress is one of the most common triggers of migraines. This applies to many people with jobs. Women are also more affected by stress in terms of migraines. Being busy the whole day at work causes both mental and physical stress. Many people have very busy jobs that demand a lot of time and energy. Additionally, these same people may have families, financial issues, and other stress factors that worsen the migraines.
To help you manage migraines brought about by stress, take time to exercise. According to scientific research, physical exercise helps to reduce stress. Taking deep breaths, swimming, cycling, or jogging will help you relieve migraine headaches, so you may be able to continue working. It may seem difficult to start a regular exercise regimen, especially if the migraines occur frequently. However, the benefits of starting this regiment will greatly outweigh the initial discomfort.
You can also manage stress by giving yourself a break. If it is possible, do not push yourself to the limits when working. Take occasional breaks, which may include quick naps, meditation, and breathing exercises. On weekends, consider pampering yourself with an at-home spa day or simply do anything that relaxes you. This will prepare you for the upcoming stresses during the week.
2. Avoid Excess Light
Many people that have migraines suffer from photophobia during an attack. Bright lights may trigger a migraine. To reduce the effects of a migraine, avoid areas with excess light. It is advisable to stay in dark rooms during a migraine.
It is also important to avoid smaller sources of light. You may need to avoid the use of devices such as computers, TVs, and mobile phones when possible.
To avoid triggering a migraine attack, take protective measures such as wearing a hat or sunglasses. Simply reducing exposure may reduce your chances of getting a migraine in the first place.
3. Avoid Other Triggers
You may be able to manage migraine headaches by studying your triggers. This can be done by surveying when you experience headaches and what worsens the condition. You can go on and try to prevent yourself from encountering triggers that worsen migraine headaches.
Triggers are different for everybody, so it is important to monitor many aspects of your life. This may include weather, food, dehydration, menstrual cycles, medications, and many other factors.
4. Get Better Sleep
Lack of quality sleep is one of the major causes of migraines. The brain requires enough sleep for better functioning. Make sure that you can provide yourself with approximately 8 hours of sleep and rest each night. It is also important to get quality sleep, so make sure you are truly resting comfortably.
Avoiding changes in your sleep habits may also make your nights more restful. For example, consider getting up and going to bed around the same time each day. It is also thought that getting too much sleep may cause migraines, so it is important to experiment with sleep duration to find what works best for you.
5. Take Care of Your Medication
Many people with migraines tend to overuse medication. Overuse of some types of medicines worsens your migraine headaches. This includes many prescription and over-the-counter pain relievers. To prevent migraines brought about by this, make sure that you take the correct dosage. Also, be sure to limit the number of days on which you use the medication. While it may be tempting to take a medication that works many days in a row, this may cause a rebound headache in which the medication ends up giving you another headache.
Be sure to also monitor the types of medications that you take. Note any changes that you experience when trying a new medication. Some types of medications worsen the condition for certain people. Even if the medication is made to relieve migraines, it may still worsen them for some people. If you find that medications are worsening your migraine headaches, always see a doctor to discuss changes that can be made for your treatment.
The Bottom Line
Migraine is a condition that affects people differently. The most important step for living with migraines is understanding the triggers of your migraines. If you are not able to discover and mitigate the triggers, please visit a doctor for advice.