Migraines and other types of headaches are extremely common. Though migraines are common, it is hard to ignore that throbbing pain in one side of head. Moreover, migraine headaches are often accompanied by vomiting, nausea and sensitivity to light, thereby causing further concerns.
What is Migraine?
Migraine can be defined as a neurobiological disorder. It involves both vascular as well as neurological changes in the brain in instances of an attack. Though migraines affect millions of Americans, the reason behind is still not clear. The trigger tends to be quite variable. It is different for each individual. Though family history is a significant reason behind, there are various other triggers like alcohol, missed meals, caffeine, and sleep disruptions.
Let us take a look at the ways to alleviate pain in case of a migraine attack.
Turn Off Lights
Migraines are typically aggravated by lights and the symptoms tend to worsen owing to it. Did you know that there are several migraine patients who prefer to wear sunglasses even at night? If you are suffering from migraine, you can do the same. In instances of a migraine attack, try relaxing in a quiet and a dark room. Try to sleep. That will alleviate the discomfort substantially.
Try Temperature Therapy
The hot and cold compresses on head and neck help a lot. The ice packs have a numbing effect, capacitated to dull pain sensation. The hot packs and the heating pads help a lot in relaxing the muscles. Heat therapy reduces migraine pain chiefly by relaxing tense muscle. Especially in the winter months, the hot packs help a lot in making comfortable. Cold therapy chiefly works by numbing the muscles. It dulls the pain that is caused by migraine thereby reducing discomfort. It is always advisable to go for the cold in a bid to stop migraine pains. Ice being anti inflammatory in nature is more helpful in relieving the pain.
Curb Allergy
According to the American Headache Society, a significant section of people who suffer from allergies suffer from migraines as well. When there is an allergic reaction, the body tends to release chemicals like histamine as well as several other substances. These trigger a headache. According to a research, allergy shots bring down the chances of migraine attack substantially.
Relax the Right Way
You need to gain acquaintance with your breathing strategies to relax the right way. Breathing patterns tend to change with changes in emotion. When you are anxious, you hold your breath. Moreover, you speak in a high pitched voice while exhaling. While depressed, you will be sighing a lot and speak in a comparatively low pitched voice while exhaling. You need to block the distracting thoughts and find yourself a comfortable place to practice the relaxing strategies. There are several ways to relax. You can practice
- Rhythmic breathing
- Deep breathing
- Progressive muscle relaxation strategies
- Mental imagery relaxation.
Change your Diet
One of the best ways to ward off migraine pain is by introducing changes in your diet. There are a few foods that affect the severity as well as frequency of headaches like chocolate, peanut butter and dairy products. It is better to avoid the citrus fruits and banana and take resort to a plant based diet to reduce migraine pain.
Right now, there are no viable migraine therapies that can uproot the ailment completely. However, there are several medicines available that can offer you some relief by treating the symptoms like nausea. According to the physicians, it is always better to try prevent migraine attacks rather than attempt alleviation of the symptoms after you get a migraine attack. Do you know what are the best ways to prevent migraine attacks?
- Manage stress
- Avoid skipping meals
- Get adequate sleep
- Regulate caffeine intake
- Avoid alcohol if you tend to get a headache within 8 hours of alcohol consumption
- Know the triggers and take steps to avoid them
Apart from taking the requisite steps to prevent migraine attacks, you can also try a few essential oils like lavender oil, peppermint oil, and basil oil for pain alleviation. However, it is always better to see a doctor to evaluate headaches chiefly it is accompanied by fever, pain in neck or back or if you are having trouble concentrating or thinking.
Information Shared By Medical-stretchers.com
