Stopping Migraines Before the Pain Sets In

Migraines are recurring severe symptoms often (but not always) involving throbbing pain on one side of the head. There are many different types of migraines, but on the whole, migraine symptoms come on quickly and go away slowly. Over 28 million Americans suffer from migraines and two-thirds of them are women, according to "Migraines For Dummies" (Wiley Publishing; 2003.)

The good news is that a migraine attack can be stopped before the pain starts. The bad news is that you have to suffer through a lot of migraine attacks in order to be able to detect the symptoms that one is on its way. You also can note what foods, medications, smells or circumstances always precede a migraine. These are called migraine triggers and everyone has their own unique set.

Keep a Journal

Along with seeing your doctor, keeping a migraine journal is the best thing you can do to help prevent future migraine attacks. You jot a brief entry every time you have a migraine (or as soon as you can write when the worst of the symptoms ease.) You need to note the day's date, what happened right before the pain started, what the weather was like, what medications you took to ease the pain and, if you are a woman, what day of the month it is.

There are many other things you can note in a migraine journal if your instinct prompts you to. Don't have a headache trying to keep note of your migraine journal. There are many free downloadable migraine or headache journal templates that you can download. All you have to do is fill in the blanks as best as you can. Make a copy for your doctor so he or she can help spot any patterns and help to recommend the best treatments.

Auras

There is a type of migraine called "classic migraine" where a person has an aura and then, less than an hour later, the pain and other symptoms hit. However, only about 20% of migraineurs (people who have migraines) get auras. Some migraineurs may get auras for only some attacks and not others.

Auras are usually visual disturbances, such as seeing flashes of lights, double vision or strange halos around objects. Some people hear sounds that aren't there like bells, buzzes or beeping. Some people may even suddenly smell a strong odor like fresh bread or tobacco smoke. However they occur, they are a major indicator that a migraine is on its way. Taking pain medication then helps cut off some, if not all, of the migraine's pain.

Other Symptoms

With each migraine attack, you begin to learn to pay attention to your body better. Some people suddenly get agitated for no reason at all before a migraine attack. Some people may get a painless pressure on one side of the head. Other people may get a strange tingling sensation. If these happen consistently before migraine pain, nausea and other symptoms hit, then you've discovered your body's signal to let you know a migraine is on its way. Take pain medication as soon as you know a migraine is coming.

Warning

Migraines can be signs of other potentially lethal conditions like stroke, glaucoma or a brain aneurysm. Go to the emergency room at once if you get your worst migraine ever; if the pain does not recede in 72 hours; if you faint; if you have numbness on one part of your body or if you lose vision on one or both eyes.

References:

"Migraines For Dummies." Diane Stafford and Jennifer Shoquist, MD. Wiley Publishing; 2003.

"Menstrual Migraine." Susan Hutchinson, et al. Oxford University Press; 2008.

YouTube. "How to Fight Summer Migraines." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEVAWaLPgH0

National Headache Foundation: "Headache Types: Migraine." http://www.headaches.org/educational_modules/completeguide/migraine2.html

National Headache Foundation. "Headache Diary." http://www.headaches.org/For_Professionals/Headache_Diary

Author suffers from migraines