How to Prevent a Migraine
Migraines can come suddenly and without warning, often getting in the way of work or other activities. While there is still no specific cause on what triggers migraines, you can do something to prevent them. Here’s how.
Keep a Migraine Diary
What is a migraine diary? It’s an organized way to keep track of what may have triggered your migraines, making it easier for you to see where the problem lies. Migraine triggers vary from person to person, and knowing your own trigger will help a lot in preventing migraines in the future. Here’s what your migraine should include:
migraine
Date
During menses? Yes or no. Include what day of the menses.
Severity from 1-10, 10 being the most severe.
Time the migraine began.
Psychological or physical factors?
Chemical exposure?
Describe location or type of pain
Medication taken and dosage
Time the migraine ended
Relief score from 1-10, 10 being the most relief.
Try to be as detailed as possible in your migraine diary, and answer these items honestly to help you to accurately pinpoint your migraine triggers.
Sleep Schedule
Maintain a regular sleeping schedule. Lack of sleep, too much sleep or inconsistent sleeping hours are two of the biggest causes of migraine. Having a fixed sleeping schedule will help your body relaxed at the right time and stop undue stress.
Manage Stress
You may be living a stressful life, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to find some form of daily relaxation. Aromatherapy, massage and biofeedback all help to get you winded down. Stress is also a matter of mind over matter, so learn how to let things go and just be.
Exercise is also a great way to relieve stress. Have a regular exercise routine to work out all the toxic stuff in your body like extra fat, as well as that built-up tension in your mind.
Avoid Stimulants
Your senses are sometimes averse to certain stimulants, especially if said stimulants are very strong. Avoid stimulants like bright, flashing lights or even looking at a screen for too long. Strong scents or perfumes are also know to trigger migraines, so try to avoid them once you’ve pinpointed them.
Hormone Medication
Women taking hormone medication or birth control pills may feel some side-effects that include migraines. If you connect the migraine to the hormone medication, visit your doctor to discuss your other options other than the one you are taking right now.
Preventive Medication
There are some prophylactic medication that you can try to prevent getting migraines, but make sure you take them according to your doctor’s orders.
You can also try other ways such as non-prescription supplements like magnesium, herbal supplements and 100 mg of coenzyme Q10 are very helpful.