Treating and Preventing Migraine Headaches

If you've ever experienced a migraine headache, you know that it can be very painful and disabling. So what exactly is a migraine, what causes it, and most importantly, how can you prevent them?

A migraine is a neurological disease, causing you to have a moderate to severe headache, along with other symptoms. Migraines can bring along an upset stomach, sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness, fatigue, and an aura. Not all people with a migraine experience an aura, which can be described as floating dots and lights in front of your eyes, of different colors. It's hard to describe what an aura really is unless you've experienced it for yourself. Sometimes an aura can include blind spots as well.

Migraine headaches can make your head feel like it's throbbing and pounding, and can really have a serious effect on your daily activities. With really bad migraines, all you will want to do is lay down in bed in the dark, with no sound. At least that's how I feel when I get migraines. Some headaches can last from a half hour up to a few days. Learning how to prevent and treat migraines is important. The good news is that migraines can be prevented and treated. Although there is no cure for the migraine itself, you can treat the symptoms. You can prevent them by learning what triggers your headaches. Triggers can include stress, loud noises, bright lights, certain foods, alcohol, lack of sleep, not eating correctly, hormone changes and more.

Migraines have a tendency to run through generations of families, meaning if both of your parents had migraines, then you have a 75% chance of having migraine problems too. 4 out of 5 people with migraines say that their family had the same problem too. Migraines are more common in women than men. It's also common to have migraines during a menstrual period.

To properly diagnose a migraine, you should see your doctor. He or she will ask you about your symptoms, headache history, family history of migraines, and then decide on your treatment. Of course, you should seek treatment anyway if you are having bad headaches frequently. There are treatments for migraine symptoms, such as over the counter medicine, prescription meds and home remedies. Remember, there is no cure for migraines, but you can relieve symptoms and make migraines much less severe. Prescription medicine, like Imitrex, can be used to treat migraines that occur frequently.

From my personal experience, I have treated migraines several different ways. When I first feel symptoms coming on, I immediately take a Motrin or Aleve. There are OTC meds that are specifically made for migraines, like Excedrin Migraine, but I have yet to try them out. After taking pain medicine, I lay down with no lights on, and no sound. At this point, people know not to bother me! Make sure the room is quiet, and you won't be distracted, since you will most likely be very sensitive to both light and sound. Taking a hot bath in the dark, and placing a hot wash cloth on my face helps to relieve some pain. If you're lucky, your headache will only last a little bit. If you are getting frequent headaches, that last a long time, I absolutely recommend getting to your doctor, since this could mean something worse.

To prevent headaches in the future, or at least reduce the frequency of headaches, try the following tips. Reduce the amount of stress in your life, since stress is one of the most common triggers of migraines. If your job is the stressor, then you may want to consider a job change. Allow your body to get enough rest and sleep, as well as an adequate amount of exercise per day. Include lots of stretching in your exercise, especially around your shoulders and neck. This helps muscles relax and not be so tense. Smoking can trigger headaches as well, so you may want to think about quitting - not only because of migraines, but for other health reasons as well.

Migraines are no fun at all, but with these tips on how to treat and prevent them, the experience can be a little less painful for you.

Sources:

www.mayoclinic.com

www.webmd.com