Make Your Migraines Go Away

About 30 million Americans suffer from migraines. Most of them are women, who are three times more likely to experience them than men. Children can suffer from migraines as well. Migraines can last for hours or days and can be incapacitating, leaving you unable to perform your normal daily functions.

Some migraines start with an aura - blurred or distorted vision or flashes of light. Migraine pain can be moderate to severe and normally occurs on one side of the head. There is usually a sensitivity to light or sound, and the migraine may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

Triggers

Migraine attacks are thought to be caused by changes in brain activity that make the blood vessels around the brain constrict, then dilate. There are many triggers that can cause this response. Not every exposure to a trigger brings on a migraine. Usually a combination of migraine triggers working together brings on an attack.

Below are some of the most common triggers for migraines.

Dietary. Alcoholic beverages, aged cheeses, pickled herring, dried smoked fish, sour cream, yogurt, yeast extracts, chocolate, citrus fruits, dairy products, onions, nuts, beans, hot dogs, processed meats, caffeine, fatty foods, food additives.

Environmental. Bright or flickering lighting, perfumes, strong odors, fumes, air pollution, secondhand smoke, motion, weather changes, complex visual patterns.

Lifestyle. Stress, disrupted sleep, fatigue, irregular eating habits, cigarette smoking.

Medications. Blood vessel-dilating drugs, certain blood pressure medication (others may be used to prevent migraines), some diuretics, some anti-asthma drugs, some pain medication.

Physical. Head trauma, invasive medical tests, exertion, neck disorders.

Hormonal. Onset of puberty, menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, delivery, birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy.

Recognizing and avoiding your triggers is the first step in preventing migraines. Keep a calendar of your migraines for one month, noting when you get headaches and what you were doing and eating before each migraine occurred. Once you know what is causing your headaches, you have the power to avoid them. Although you can't control some triggers, such as weather or hormonal changes, controlling the factors you can, such as eating and sleeping habits, will help reduce the number of migraines you get. Remember, it's usually the combination of triggers that causes migraines, so avoid as many triggers as you can.

Migraine prevention tips

• Avoid known triggers.
• Don't oversleep on weekends.
• Don't get overtired.
• Eat at regular times and don't skip meals.
• Limit your intake of caffeinated teas, coffees and pain medications.
• Don't stop caffeine "cold turkey." Withdrawal from caffeine can cause migraines.
• Keep your muscles relaxed.
• Restrict physical activity in hot weather.
• Avoid bright or flickering lights, loud noises or strong smells.
• If you are on migraine abortive medication, take it when you feel a headache coming on. Do not wait too long, or the medication may be ineffective.

Dietary alternatives

• Dairy: Instead of aged or processed cheese, try mozzarella or cottage cheese.
• Cereals: Instead of wheat cereals, try rice cereals.
• Meats: Instead of hot dogs or salami, have freshly roasted lamb or chicken.
• Vegetables: Instead of lima beans, have broccoli or cauliflower.
• Beverages: Instead of red wine, beer, diet soda and coffee, substitute decaffeinated coffee and cola or non-citrus juices.

See your doctor

When you see your doctor, bring your migraine diary and a list of all your prescription and over-the counter medications. Be honest about your medication usage. If you feel you are overusing medication, this is usually a sign of out-of-control migraines, NOT of drug addiction.

You don't have to suffer

Although there is no cure, there are many medications available to treat migraines. There are also drugs that can prevent them. Your doctor will help find the treatment plan that is best for you. Make sure you ask questions about any medication your doctor prescribes and understand your treatment plan before leaving your doctor's office.

Related Articles Migraines Can Be Controlled Hormones May Affect Women's Migraines Headaches: Migraines or Sinuses?

External Sources American Council for Headache Education American Family Physician American Pain Foundation MAGNUM National Headache Foundation Nutrition for Optimal Health Association, Inc.

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.

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