Dealing with a Migraine

Dealing with a migraine headache while suffering from one can be painfully exhausting. Knowing the signs of an impending migraine, understanding what triggers your migraines, and taking fast action when your migraine starts will help you through your next migraine episode.

Health professionals agree that there may be certain circumstances that trigger migraines. Some of those triggers could be:

* Infrequent eating and fasting
* Sleep pattern changes
* Loud noises, unusual odors, or bright lights
* Hormonal changes
* Food triggers such as nuts, strong cheese, processed meats, artificial sweeteners, and citrus foods

While in the throes of a migraine, it doesn't matter to you which kind of migraine you have, or what triggers it. What matters is getting fast relief. If you've had a migraine episode before, you know what precedes it, so you know what to expect. If you know a migraine is coming, following these tips may help ease the pain and shorten the length of the headache:

* Use an over-the-counter medicine such as Excedrin Migraine, Extra Strength Tylenol, or Aleve.
* Lie down in a quiet, dark room.
* Apply a cold washcloth to your head.
* Drink a soda containing caffeine, or a cup of strong caffeinated coffee.
* Use relaxing massage techniques and gently massage your head, neck, face, and shoulders.
* If your doctor has prescribed drug therapy, take the recommended dosage at the onset of your migraine.

Determining what triggers your migraines, and avoiding those triggers, can lessen their frequency. If you know a migraine is developing, take immediate action to stop the migraine or shorten the duration of it. If you have continued and frequent migraines, see your doctor for more ways to manage your migraines.