Living With Migraine: Do's And Don'ts

A migraine can cause severe throbbing pain or pulsating pain in usually one side of the head. The pain can last from anywhere between 4 to 72 hours and is usually accompanied by symptoms like nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Unfortunately the pain of migraine is so severe that in most of the cases, the affected person is unable to perform daily activities!
But there are ways in which one can keep the migraine triggers in check. One can do it simply by making small adjustments in their lifestyle like not eating certain foods or not taking unnecessary stress! Also migraine has no cure but its episodes can always be prevented. So let’s see what all we can do and what we should not do, that would help keep the migraine pain away.

6 Things To Do That Would Help Prevent Migraine Pain

Here is a list of 6 things to do that would help prevent Migraine pain:

#1. Eat Fresh Foods

Eat plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, and lean meats. Avoid processed foods and artificial drinks completely. A healthy diet, helps in preventing episodes of migraine.

#2. Add Magnesium To Your Diet

Magnesium deficiency is linked to headaches and migraines. You can take magnesium supplements or even get it from natural food sources like peanut butter, oatmeal, eggs and cashews.

Also read: 5 Acupressure Points Which Will Give You Pain Relief During Pregnancy

#3. Maintain Healthy Weight

Being overweight is one of the factors that triggers migraine pain. Research shows that obese people are more suscepitble to migraine attacks than the rest.

#4. Get Enough Sleep

If you are prone to migraine pain then ensure you get at least 8 hours of sleep daily. Inadequate sleep for disturbed sleep, triggers off a migraine pain.

#5. Practice Yoga

Yoga is known to help improve blood flow and reduce muscle tension, which can help relieve stress and prevent the occurrence of migraine. Yoga asanas that help prevent migraine pain are Hastapadasana, Setu Bandhasana, Padmasana and Shavasana.

#6. Massage

Massaging the muscles in the neck and shoulders can help relieve tension and alleviate migraine pain. It also helps in reducing stress levels and helps the body relax.

After what all you should do, here is a list of things you should not do, to prevent an episode of migraine pain.

7 things To Not Do (Don’ts) If Suffering From Migraine Pain

#1. Avoid Eating Foods With MSG

MSG is a flavor enhancer commonly found in foods like soya sauce. MSG is known to be one of the strongest triggers for migraine pain. So next time you eat chinese food and get a trigger in an hours time, you know what to avoid.

#2. Avoid Taking Stress

Although this is easier said than done, but stress is one of the major factors that triggers migraine pains. Although not avoidable, stress can definitely be minimised for a better life.

Also read: Ovary Pain: Before And After Periods

#3. Say No To Chocolates

This might sound too bad, but it’s true! Chocolates contain beta-phenylethylamine, which triggers migraine pain. Even if taken, it should be taken in moderation.

#4. No Late Nights

Staying awake till late night and not sleeping sufficiently, will definitely trigger a migraine attack. A healthy lifestyle which includes at least 8 hours of sleep and sleeping on time, will help prevent an attack.

#5. Say No To Fasting

Long periods of not eating, or skipping a meal can trigger a migraine attack. Ensure you eat all your meals on time and don’t stay hungry or starved. One easy way to keep away migraines would be taking a healthy snack in between meals.

#6. Avoid Sudden Change Of Lighting

If you are suddenly entering a very brightly lit room from a dark room, it may trigger a migraine pain. Also a sudden bright light into your eyes in the dark can also trigger one, like the light from the headlight of the cars, while driving at night.

#7. Avoid Very Loud Noise

You may love to party, but extreme sound and noise are one of the known factors that triggers migraine. Avoid noise that hurts your ears or is too loud, as much as possible.

Now that we know about the Do’s and Don’ts of migraine, following the same will definitely help you keep the attacks away. But still incase you do get a bout of migraine pain, here is a list of natural remedies that will help keep the pain away.

Also read: 12 Best Home Remedies To Reduce Wisdom Tooth Pain

5 Natural Effective Ways To Treat Migraine Pain

#1. Inhale Lavender Oil

Inhaling lavender oil helps reduce migraine pain. Research suggests, inhaling lavender oil for 15 minutes during migraine pain, helps give relief from the pain.

#2. Try Acupressure

Acupressure is the practice of applying pressure with fingers and hands to specific points on the body to relieve pain and other symptoms. Acupressure helps not only relief migraine pain but also helps prevent nausea from the same.

#3. Apply Peppermint Oil

The menthol in peppermint oil works wonders for relieving migraine pain. Apply peppermint oil on your forehead and lie down in a dark room for a couple of hours.

#4. Take Ginger Powder

It not only helps prevent nausea but has been proved as one of the most effective remedies for treating migraine pain. Ginger powder reduces both the migraine severity and duration, providing relief from the throbbing pain.

Also read: Period Pain – Causes and 5 effective ways to relieve it

#5. Cold Compress

Applying an ice pack on your scalp, forehead or neck will help provide relief from the severe pain.

So although migraine itself has no cure, it can definitely be controlled and kept away from our lives with some small changes in our day to day life.

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