Things You'll Need:
- Over-the-counter headache pain reliever
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Step 1
Take an over-the-counter headache pain reliever at the onset of the migraine headache, or take a prescription migraine medication if one has been prescribed to you by your doctor.
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Step 2
Consult with a doctor if you experience more than nine migraine headaches a month. Overuse of medications can cause rebound headaches. Rebound headaches are headaches that are caused by pain medications. A doctor can prescribe preventative medication to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks and therefore minimize the use of pain medications.
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Step 3
Rest in a quiet, dark room when you experience migraine pain, especially if the migraine symptoms include sensitivity to light.
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Step 4
Eat regularly without skipping meals to maintain even blood sugar levels. Drops in blood sugar can bring on a migraine headache in some individuals.
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Step 5
Drink plenty of fluids to keep the body hydrated. Dehydration can bring on migraine headaches in some individuals.
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Step 6
Follow the "migraine diet." The migraine diet eliminates migraine-causing foods such as MSG, caffeine, chocolate, alcohol and aged cheese. See the resource section for a complete list of foods to avoid when following the migraine diet.
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Step 7
Stop smoking. The Migraine Headache and Neurological Institute reports that the results of a smoking survey showed that 33 percent of migraine sufferers were smokers.
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Step 8
Go to a licensed acupuncturist for treatment. A study reported by the British Medical Journal was conducted on 401 patients in England and Wales showed that headache sufferers who underwent acupuncture experienced fewer headaches.
