COPING WITH MIGRAINES

Taking action to reduce migraines

While your migraines may be a fact of life, there are steps you can take that may help reduce the severity or frequency of your migraine attacks.¹

The best course of action may be the practice of "good headache hygiene," coupled with early intervention when you notice migraine warning signs.

The American Headache Society defines headache hygiene as “the practice of taking care of yourself in a way that will reduce the likelihood, frequency, intensity, and severity” of migraines.³ It includes:

Good, regular sleep habits — both too little sleep and oversleeping can act as migraine triggers^1,2
Regular exercise* — aerobic activity reduces stress and increases brain chemicals that control pain^1,2
Healthy and regular eating habits — don’t miss meals or go hungry; drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration; skip the diet drinks and junk food^1,2
Stress reduction — exercise is a well-known stress buster; meditation, yoga and biofeedback may also help reduce migraines^1,2
Trigger avoidance — to identify your personal migraine triggers, keep a migraine diary

The importance of early migraine intervention

Acting swiftly to relieve a migraine can blunt its worst symptoms.¹ To practice early intervention:

As soon as you feel any migraine warning signs, take your migraine medicine as discussed with your healthcare professional — whether an over-the-counter migraine medicine like Excedrin^® Migraine or a medicine your doctor prescribes¹

Always keep your migraine medicine handy: at work, school, home, and when traveling³

Talking to your doctor about migraines

It is always important to work closely with your doctor to discuss the migraine management plan and migraine treatment that is right for you.

*Consult your healthcare provider before beginning or changing your exercise routine.

References:

American Headache Society. Headache Hygiene --What Is It? Available at: http://www.achenet.org/resources/headache_hygiene__what_is_it/. Last accessed July 2011.
American Headache Society. ABC's of Headache Trigger Management. Available at: http://www.achenet.org/resources/abcs_of_headache_trigger_management/. Last accessed July 2011.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Migraine Fact Sheet. Can stress cause migraines? Available at: http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/migraine.cfm. Last accessed July 2011.

Tags: migraine tips, migraine prevention, doctor