Managing Migraines
Category : Women Health, Women Lifestyle
The exact cause of migraines is still a mystery, but we now know a lot about the triggers that can set off these devastating attacks – and how to find effective relief.
A migraine is much more than just a bad headache. The pain that accompanies them is caused when an artery in the brain contracts, then rapidly over-dilates, stretching nerves in the arterial wall. To be sure you’re suffering a migraine and not just a bad headache, you need to check your symptoms carefully.
Symptoms
You may have a migraine if you experience: throbbing pain on one side of the head, especially if activity makes it worse; nausea or vomiting; extreme sensitivity to light, sounds and smells; blurred vision.
No cure relieves all symptoms for all sufferers, so it’s important to have a range of options for treatment. If you get migraines regularly, you should see your doctor. You should also try to find out what sets off your migraines, as this may be the key to the best way of relieving them.
Triggers
Different people have different triggers, which can work in a variety of ways. For some, caffeine causes migraines, for others it relieves them. A good way to find out what your particular triggers are is to keep a “diary†of your migraines and note where you were and what you were doing or eating when you had attack.
Your triggers could include: a change in sleep pattern – more or less than usual; the weather – extreme heat or cold and changes in humidity or atmospheric pressure; hormonal changes – many women get migraines just before their period, especially in combination with alcohol (oral contraceptives can have the same effect); certain foods and additives – chocolate, cheese and oranges are among the best-known, but there are many others; strong or flashing lights; excessive noise; caffeine; nicotine; exercise; stress.
Finding Relief
Once you have learned what your triggers are you can reduce the risk of a migraine by avoiding them. More general preventive measures include keeping to a regular sleep schedule (not oversleeping), taking regular mild exercise and avoiding stress.
As general precautions you should talk regularly to your doctor, and keep any prescription medicines nearby at all times. Because no two people are the same, different options will be best in every case.
For some people, lying down in a dark room is one way to cope with a migraine. Another option is treatments that relieve the pain but cause drowsiness.
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