Migraine
A migraine is a very painful type of headache. People who get migraines often describe the pain as pulsing or throbbing in one area of the head. During migraines, people are very sensitive to light and sound. They may also become nauseated and vomit.
Migraine is three times more common in women than in men. Some people can tell when they are about to have a migraine because they see flashing lights or zigzag lines or they temporarily lose their vision.
Many things can trigger a migraine. These include
1.Anxiety
2.Stress
3.Lack of food or sleep
4.Exposure to light
5.Hormonal changes (in women)
Doctors used to believe migraines were linked to the opening and narrowing of blood vessels in the head. Now they believe the cause is related to genes that control the activity of some brain cells. Medicines can help prevent migraine attacks or help relieve symptoms of attacks when they happen. For many people, treatments to relieve stress can also help.
What things may set off a migraine?
Certain things that can set off migraines in some people include the following:
Strong or unusual odors, bright lights or loud noises
Changes in weather or altitude
Being tired, stressed or depressed
Changes in sleeping patterns
Certain foods (see the list below), especially those that contain tyramine, sodium nitrate or phenylalanine
Missing meals or fasting
Menstrual periods, birth control pills or hormones
Intense physical activity, including sexual activity
Smoking
Foods that may trigger migraines:
Aged, canned, cured or processed meat, including bologna, game, ham, herring, hot dogs, pepperoni and sausage
Aged cheese
Alcoholic beverages, especially red wine
Aspartame
Avocados
Beans, including pole, broad, lima, Italian, navy, pinto and garbanzo
Brewer's yeast, including fresh yeast coffee cake, donuts and sourdough bread
Caffeine (in excess)
Canned soup or bouillon cubes
Chocolate, cocoa and carob
Cultured dairy products, such as buttermilk and sour cream
Figs
Lentils
Meat tenderizer
Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
Nuts and peanut butter
Onions, except small amounts for flavoring
Papaya
Passion fruit
Pea pods
Pickled, preserved or marinated foods, such as olives and pickles, and some snack foods
Raisins
Red plums
Sauerkraut
Seasoned salt
Snow peas
Soy sauce
Simple steps to head off the pain
Migraines cause pain as real as the pain of injuries — with one difference: Healthy habits and simple nonmedical remedies sometimes stop migraines before they start.By Mayo Clinic staff
Medication is a proven way to treat — and prevent — migraines. But medication is only part of the story. It's also important to take good care of yourself. The same lifestyle choices that promote good health can reduce the frequency and severity of your migraines. In fact, combining lifestyle measures with medication is often the most effective way to handle migraines.
Seek a calm environment
At the first sign of a migraine, retreat from your usual activities if possible.
Turn out the lights. Migraines often increase sensitivity to light and sound. Relax in a dark, quiet room. Sleep if you can.
Try temperature therapy. Apply hot or cold compresses to your head or neck. Ice packs have a numbing effect, which may dull the sensation of pain. Hot packs and heating pads can relax tense muscles. Warm showers or baths may have a similar effect.
Massage painful areas. Apply gentle pressure to your scalp or temples. Alleviate muscle tension with a shoulder or neck massage.
Drink a caffeinated beverage. In small amounts, caffeine can enhance the pain-reducing effects of acetaminophen and aspirin. Be careful, however. Drinking too much caffeine too often can lead to withdrawal headaches later on.
Sleep well
Migraines may keep you from falling asleep or wake you up at night. Likewise, migraines are often triggered by a poor night's sleep. Here's help encouraging sound sleep.
Establish regular sleep hours. Wake up and go to bed at the same time every day — even on weekends. If you nap during the day, keep it short. Naps longer than one hour may interfere with nighttime sleep.
Unwind at the end of the day. Anything that helps you relax can promote better sleep. Listen to soothing music, soak in a warm bath or read a favorite book. But watch what you eat and drink before bedtime. Heavy meals, caffeine, nicotine and alcohol can interfere with sleep.
Minimize distractions. Save your bedroom for sleep and intimacy. Don't watch television or take work materials to bed. Close your bedroom door. Use a fan to muffle distracting noises.
Don't try to sleep. The harder you try to sleep, the more awake you'll feel. If you can't fall asleep, read or do another quiet activity until you become drowsy.
Check your medications. Medications that contain caffeine or other stimulants — including some medications to treat migraines — may interfere with sleep.
Eat wisely
Your eating habits can influence your migraines. Consider the basics:
Be consistent. Eat at about the same time every day.
Don't skip meals. Breakfast is especially important.
Avoid foods that trigger migraines. If you suspect that a certain food — such as aged cheese, avocados or raisins — is triggering your migraines, eliminate it from your diet to see what happens.
Exercise regularly
During physical activity, your body releases certain chemicals that block pain signals to your brain. These chemicals also help alleviate anxiety and depression — conditions that can make migraines worse. If your doctor agrees, choose any exercise you enjoy. Walking, swimming and cycling are often good choices. But it's important to start slowly. Exercising too vigorously can trigger migraines.
Manage stress
Stress and migraines often go hand in hand. You can't avoid daily stress, but you can keep it under control — which can help you prevent migraines.
Simplify your life. Rather than looking for ways to squeeze more activities or chores into the day, find a way to leave some things out.
Manage your time wisely. Update your to-do list every day — both at work and at home. Delegate what you can, and break large projects into manageable chunks.
Take a break. If you feel overwhelmed, a few slow stretches or a quick walk may renew your energy for the task at hand.
Adjust your attitude. Stay positive. If you find yourself thinking, "This can't be done," switch gears. Think instead, "This will be tough. But I can make it work."
Let go. Don't worry about things you can't control.
Relax. Deep breathing from your diaphragm can help you relax. Try to do 20 minutes of deep breathing every day. It may also help to consciously relax your muscles, one group at a time. When you're done, sit quietly for a minute or two.
Keep a migraine diary
A diary may help you determine what triggers your migraines. Note when your migraines start, what you were doing at the time, how long they last and what, if anything, provides relief. Eventually you may be able to prevent migraines by changing patterns in your daily life.
Strive for balance
Living with migraines is a daily challenge. But making healthy lifestyle choices can help. Ask your friends and loved ones for support. If you're feeling anxious or depressed, consider joining a support group or seeking counseling. Believe in your ability to take control of the pain.
Migraines cause pain as real as the pain of injuries — with one difference: Healthy habits and simple nonmedical remedies sometimes stop migraines before they start.By Mayo Clinic staff
Medication is a proven way to treat — and prevent — migraines. But medication is only part of the story. It's also important to take good care of yourself. The same lifestyle choices that promote good health can reduce the frequency and severity of your migraines. In fact, combining lifestyle measures with medication is often the most effective way to handle migraines.
Seek a calm environment
At the first sign of a migraine, retreat from your usual activities if possible.
Turn out the lights. Migraines often increase sensitivity to light and sound. Relax in a dark, quiet room. Sleep if you can.
Try temperature therapy. Apply hot or cold compresses to your head or neck. Ice packs have a numbing effect, which may dull the sensation of pain. Hot packs and heating pads can relax tense muscles. Warm showers or baths may have a similar effect.
Massage painful areas. Apply gentle pressure to your scalp or temples. Alleviate muscle tension with a shoulder or neck massage.
Drink a caffeinated beverage. In small amounts, caffeine can enhance the pain-reducing effects of acetaminophen and aspirin. Be careful, however. Drinking too much caffeine too often can lead to withdrawal headaches later on.
Sleep well
Migraines may keep you from falling asleep or wake you up at night. Likewise, migraines are often triggered by a poor night's sleep. Here's help encouraging sound sleep.
Establish regular sleep hours. Wake up and go to bed at the same time every day — even on weekends. If you nap during the day, keep it short. Naps longer than one hour may interfere with nighttime sleep.
Unwind at the end of the day. Anything that helps you relax can promote better sleep. Listen to soothing music, soak in a warm bath or read a favorite book. But watch what you eat and drink before bedtime. Heavy meals, caffeine, nicotine and alcohol can interfere with sleep.
Minimize distractions. Save your bedroom for sleep and intimacy. Don't watch television or take work materials to bed. Close your bedroom door. Use a fan to muffle distracting noises.
Don't try to sleep. The harder you try to sleep, the more awake you'll feel. If you can't fall asleep, read or do another quiet activity until you become drowsy.
Check your medications. Medications that contain caffeine or other stimulants — including some medications to treat migraines — may interfere with sleep.
Eat wisely
Your eating habits can influence your migraines. Consider the basics:
Be consistent. Eat at about the same time every day.
Don't skip meals. Breakfast is especially important.
Avoid foods that trigger migraines. If you suspect that a certain food — such as aged cheese, avocados or raisins — is triggering your migraines, eliminate it from your diet to see what happens.
Exercise regularly
During physical activity, your body releases certain chemicals that block pain signals to your brain. These chemicals also help alleviate anxiety and depression — conditions that can make migraines worse. If your doctor agrees, choose any exercise you enjoy. Walking, swimming and cycling are often good choices. But it's important to start slowly. Exercising too vigorously can trigger migraines.
Manage stress
Stress and migraines often go hand in hand. You can't avoid daily stress, but you can keep it under control — which can help you prevent migraines.
Simplify your life. Rather than looking for ways to squeeze more activities or chores into the day, find a way to leave some things out.
Manage your time wisely. Update your to-do list every day — both at work and at home. Delegate what you can, and break large projects into manageable chunks.
Take a break. If you feel overwhelmed, a few slow stretches or a quick walk may renew your energy for the task at hand.
Adjust your attitude. Stay positive. If you find yourself thinking, "This can't be done," switch gears. Think instead, "This will be tough. But I can make it work."
Let go. Don't worry about things you can't control.
Relax. Deep breathing from your diaphragm can help you relax. Try to do 20 minutes of deep breathing every day. It may also help to consciously relax your muscles, one group at a time. When you're done, sit quietly for a minute or two.
Keep a migraine diary
A diary may help you determine what triggers your migraines. Note when your migraines start, what you were doing at the time, how long they last and what, if anything, provides relief. Eventually you may be able to prevent migraines by changing patterns in your daily life.
Strive for balance
Living with migraines is a daily challenge. But making healthy lifestyle choices can help. Ask your friends and loved ones for support. If you're feeling anxious or depressed, consider joining a support group or seeking counseling. Believe in your ability to take control of the pain.
Can nonprescription medicines help relieve the pain?
Yes. Nonprescription medicines that can help relieve migraine pain include aspirin, acetaminophen (one brand name: Tylenol), an acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine combination (one brand name: Excedrin Migraine), ibuprofen (one brand name: Motrin), naproxen (brand name: Aleve), and ketoprofen (brand name: Orudis KT).
What about prescription medicines?
People who have more severe pain may need prescription medicine. A medicine called ergotamine (brand name: Ergomar) can be effective alone or combined with other medicines. Dihydroergotamine (brand names: Migranal, D.H.E. 45) is related to ergotamine and can be helpful.Other prescription medicines for migraines include sumatriptan (brand name: Imitrex), zolmitriptan (brand name: Zomig), naratriptan (brand name: Amerge) rizatriptan (brand name: Maxalt), almotriptan (brand name: Axert), eletriptan (brand name: Relpax) and frovatriptan (brand name: Frova).If the pain won't go away, stronger medicine may be needed, such as a narcotic (brand name: Stadol nasal spray) or medicines that contain a barbiturate. These medicines can be habit-forming and should be used cautiously.
Can medicine help prevent migraines?
Yes. Medicine to prevent migraines may be helpful if your headaches happen more than twice a month or if your headaches make it hard for you to work and function. Examples of medicines used to prevent migraines include propranolol (brand name: Inderal), timolol (brand name: Blocadren), divalproex (brand name: Depakote) and some antidepressants.
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