How to Prevent Migraines with 5 expert tips!

Try preventing your migraines with these helpful tips. Migraines have a strong impact on the quality of a person’s life so if there are ways to prevent a migraine, it can mean wonders towards improving your quality of life. A true migraine not only affects the person it attacks, but also the lives of those who move in close contact with the person. Migraines can some times be so severe that person may have to abandon his or her routine activities for three or four days at a stretch.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Awareness, proper lighting, pillows, good posture, healthy food, proper rest and sleep, find ways to reduce stress and triggers.
• Some basic knowledge. The two most prevalent types of migraine are migraine with aura (formerly referred to as classic migraine) which involves the vision, and migraine without aura (or common).
• Now for the 5 important tips…

1. Tip#1 - Do not read or watch TV while you are laying down. This posture can trigger a migraine. If you are going to read it is best to sit up and remain in an upright position. Avoid reading small print and make sure that you have plenty of light. If you are reading, make sure you have proper lighting and neck support. Do not try to rely on one pillow for support. Lighting is very important so try and make sure that it is coming from behind you and not in front where the glare from the light could trigger a headache. Do not expect the light from a television or computer to be sufficient for reading. Use an anti-glare screen with your computer if you spend a significant amount of time there. Take a break every 30 minutes or so. Blink your eyes deliberately to keep them well lubricated. Take frequent breaks if you are doing anything strenuous with your eyes.
2. Tip#2 - Be conscious of your posture. If you are constantly walking with your head down or even slightly bent that way it can put a tremendous amount of stress on your back and neck. Concentrate on walking with an erect posture. Take a minute and try to envision a string attached to the mid top of your head. Then feel it being pulled gently upward causing you to stand tall. Do this just before your walk and your walking posture will improve.
3. Tip#3 - Eat nutritious foods each day. Coffee, chocolate, alcohol, and sugar can spell trouble if you are prone to migraines. Fresh or steamed veggies will give you the antioxidants your body needs and fruit can satisfy that sweet tooth. Remember to take some deep breaths during the day to remove toxins from the brain. You will release these toxins as you exhale
4. Tip#4 - Hold your reading material the proper distance from your eyes, not too close and not too far. Chest high is just about right. When watching TV your eyes should be level with the television set.
5. Tip#5 - Find de-stressors that work for you.
   Both physical and mental fatigue can lead to a migraine so give yourself a break and do not push your self too much. A warm bath is one way to relax after work. Exercise when you are feeling well and not too late in the day. Meditation is an excellent way to relax and you do not have to be an expert or have a lot of extra time on your hands. Just 5 minutes of sitting completely still with your eyes closed can really work wonders! Concentrate on the breath and notice how the life force rises and falls through each breath you take. Feel the air moving in and out of your nose. Feel calm, quiet, at peace.

Tips & Warnings

• Sinus Headaches Sinus problems, too, give rise to headaches. Whenever I feel this type of headache coming on, I try to take a Benedryl or an anti-histamine. They can make you very drowsy if you are not used to them so you may need to reserve those for bedtime. Sudafed works well during the daytime. I also use a Netti pot, this is a small pot that you fill with water and add a little salt. You hold it up to your nose and insert the small spout into one of your nostrils. While leaning forward over the sink, tilt your head so that the warm salt water washes slowly up into your sinus cavity and pours out the other nostril. Repeat this to the other side and you complete a very natural cycle that will clear the sinuses and reduce any swelling that may have started due to irritation. Tension Headaches Tension headaches are also very common. Stress and anxiety are causes for tension headaches. The moment such a person gets tense about something, the person develops a tension headache. Insufficient sleep, anxiety, problems, and worries give rise to the tension headache. A hot bath can loosen taught muscles and help drain away negativity from your system. Low to no lights and complete quiet are welcome companions as you bathe away your
• Stress is one of the major factors that can contribute to the onset of a migraine. Now it may not be possible for you to get away from the cause of stress, particularly if it is something connected with your job. Anger can trigger a migraine as well. It would be good for short tempered people to learn ways of controlling their anger. The best method is of course the one to ten method. The next time you get angry, count to ten real slowly. This should give you time to cool down. As you are counting, make sure to take in long slow breaths. This can also help your heart rate slow and calm you down.