Things You'll Need:
- An understanding of what causes a migraine
-
Step 1
First you need to have a basic understanding of what causes a migraine to occur. Treating yourself with over the counter migraine medicine will not stop you from ever having a migraine again; however, it will make the pain subside. Though there are many ways to treat a migraine, you don't need to wait until your head is pulsating to start. The best way to treat a migraine is by preventing them from occurring.
-
Step 2
Get some sleep!One of the main contributing factors that causes migraines is lack of sleep. Pay attention to your sleeping habits. If you're not sleeping well chances are you get migraines more frequently. The first thing you need to do is allow your body adequate time to rest. Go to bed at the same time every night allowing at least eight hours to rest. Next, do not engage in activities like watching tv, surfing the internet, or reading a book 30 minutes to an hour before bed. Give your mind some time to just relax. Consistency is the key component to make this a successful treatment. If you find that you are having difficulty falling asleep, you can take an over the counter medication that contains a mild sleep agent in it to help you become relaxed. There is a difference between sleeping and resting and remember that your body needs both to function properly.
-
Step 3
If you are on birth control, this could be contributing to your migraines. Check to see how high the estrogen is in your birth control. Birth control pills that contain higher estrogen levels have been linked to severe migraines. Talk with your doctor if you notice you are experiencing this issue.
-
Step 4
Pay attention to what you are eating. There are several foods that can trigger a migraine. According to the folks over at webmd.com, this list of foods has been correlated to headaches or migraines:
*Peanuts, peanut butter, other nuts and seeds
*Pizza
*Potato chip products
*Chicken livers and other organ meats
*Smoked or dried fish
*Sourdough bread, fresh baked yeast goods (donuts, cakes, homemade breads, and rolls)
*Bread, crackers, and desserts containing cheese
*Certain fresh fruits including ripe bananas, citrus fruits, papaya, red plums, raspberries, kiwi, pineapple
*Dried fruits (figs, raisins, dates)
*Soups made from meat extracts or bouillon (not homemade broth)
*Cultured dairy products, sour cream, buttermilk, yogurt
*Caffeine found in chocolate and cocoa; beverages such as coffee, tea and colas; also found in certain medications
*Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners
Please note that not all of these foods will trigger a migraine in everyone, but they have been linked. Please see their website for a more detailed listing of migraine correlation and food. -
Step 5
We are all aware just how bad smoking cigarettes is. It is your decision to choose to smoke or not; however, smokers are contributing to the health of non-smokers just the same. Not only is second hand smoke just as damaging to our lungs, it is damaging to our blood vessels in the brain. Nicotine stimulates the blood vessels in the brain causing them to constrict. This initially produces a headache like pain or migraine in some people. Avoid second hand smoke as much as possible if you are suffering from migraines. If you are a smoker try to cut back on your nicotine intake. This will help decrease the amount of migraine headaches you might be experiencing.
-
Step 6
Many prescription and over the counter medications all seem to have a similar special ingredient that makes the pain of a migraine subside. That magic ingredient is caffeine. In step 4 we covered some food and beverages that are contributors to migraine headaches and caffeine is one of those factors. So, is it harmful or helpful? The answer is both! If you are addicted to coffee, soft drinks, or even energy drinks you are likely to experience headaches due to a withdrawal-like stage if you decide to cut them out of your diet. This happens due to excessive stimulation to the body causing you to feel jittery or anxious and have problems falling asleep. However, they help treat migraines by allowing the medication to be absorbed faster so that you receive pain relief quicker. Caffeine is good in moderation; not excessive amounts. Try to take it one step at a time to get off soft drinks; not only do they contain caffeine but they are also very high in sugar. Switch over to water and you will notice massive changes!
