A severe headache is the most common sign of the neurologic disease migraine. The headache comes in bursts and frequently goes along with light sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting. It can also be agonising, monotonous, and never end. It may become severely worse if untreated. A migraine bout typically lasts four hours. To prevent and treat migraines, various drugs are available. One of these is a medication called sumatriptan which can ease migraine symptoms significantly. Migraine can affect daily life, making it challenging to work and do everyday tasks. It is not merely a nasty headache. Though they can’t always be prevented, recognising and avoiding triggers can frequently help decrease the frequency or intensity of episodes.
Migraine Triggers
Different people have different migraine triggers. They frequently consist of the following:
- Hormonal adjustments, as those associated with menstruation
- Emotional set-offs, including tension, sadness, fear, and enthusiasm
- Dietary components such as tyramine and monosodium glutamate-containing meals, alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, almonds, cheeses, citrus fruits, and foods with other additions (MSG)
- Drugs, including certain birth control pills, sleeping pills, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
- Variables in the environment, such as flashing screens, strong odours, secondhand smoking, loud sounds, humidity, stuffy spaces, changes in temperature, and bright lighting
How to Rapidly Treat a Migraine
Although there is no known cure for migraines, few quick-acting treatment options exist. Therefore, finding the best strategies for you can need trial and error.
Modify your surroundings
The sensory overload that results from fluorescent lights, loud construction noises, colognes or perfumes, or even vehicle exhaust fumes can start or exacerbate an attack. Move to a different room or, if you’re outdoors, move indoors if you think something in your surroundings is giving you a migraine.
If you can, find a peaceful, quiet, and dark place to lie down. Avoid staring at any computer or phone screens.
Try opening a window, dimming the lights, or putting on sound headphones if you are unable to change rooms.
Use heat or ice
Using an ice pack while lying in bed in a quiet, dark environment may help ease some pain. For no more than 15 minutes at a time, lay an ice pack wrapped in a towel on your head or neck. A cool towel can be used in place of ice.
Alternately, you might discover that a warm bath or heating pad (applied to the back of your skull and neck on a low setting) works better for easing your discomfort. However, be careful when using a heating pad to avoid dozing off.
Although cold treatment has been utilised to cure migraines for more than a century, there isn’t much research to support this claim. According to some hypotheses, cold therapy could tighten blood vessels or reduce the nerve signals that cause a migraine headache.
You might need to experiment to find out what feels the greatest for you. For example, some people discover that placing an ice pack on their heads provides peaceful, numbing comfort. This is especially useful if the sun or heat causes your migraine.
Get some caffeine
Others may discover that small levels of coffee can actually help alleviate symptoms, even though caffeinated beverages are a trigger for certain people. Although studies have indicated that small doses of caffeine can help treat headaches, researchers are still discovering exactly what role it plays in migraines.
Try some over-the-counter pain relievers that contain caffeine or sip on a small cup of coffee if caffeine isn’t a trigger for you. Limit your daily caffeine intake to 200mg and around two coffee cups.
Get a massage
A massage can not only help you unwind and relax, but it can also ease tension and even help you avoid headaches and migraines. One study indicated that eight out of ten people’s headache pain was reduced by half after just one massage, and the majority saw relief almost immediately.
The location of your massage may also be important. Even massages on the hands, feet, and earlobes may help ease migraine discomfort, according to studies on pressure areas and reflexology in managing migraines.
Meditate
Migraines have been associated with factors such as high-stress levels, a shift in sleeping patterns, and even vigorous physical exercise.
While deep relaxation and breathing techniques may not be enough to cure a migraine entirely, they have been demonstrated to reduce tension. In addition, they may lessen the intensity and length of migraine discomfort. Regular yoga and stress-reduction techniques can also aid in avoiding migraines.
Stay Hydrated
Dehydration can result in headaches, including migraines, but recent evidence indicates that staying hydrated might lessen or even avoid headache discomfort. In the study, those who drank the suggested amount of water each day experienced migraines that were:
- Lower frequency
- Less extreme
- Shorter in length
If you don’t often consume enough water, upping your intake may help you feel less pain from migraines and avoid having them again.
Avoid chewing too much
To exist, people must eat, and chewing is a vital feature of eating. However, research suggests that chewing too much may increase your risk of headaches and even migraine. In their study, which focused on chewing gum, researchers discovered that persons who often chewed gum had higher rates of tension headaches and migraines.
You must eat, but if you frequently get migraines, you might want to reconsider chewing gum. Also, consider whether you clench or crush your teeth at night since this can have a similar impact.
