The debilitating effects of a migraine can make you want to crawl into bed and pull the covers over your head. Stress, hormone fluctuations, lack of sleep and even food can be triggers for a throbbing, unrelenting headache. Avoiding triggers or using natural alternatives such as regulating your hormones, exercising and keeping a headache diary can help prevent migraines.
Symptoms
MayoClinic.com reports people often experience drowsiness, food cravings, irritability, depression or high energy several hours or up to a day before an actual migraine occurs. Some people experience flashing light called an aura, nausea and/or vomiting, moderate to severe pain on one side or both sides of the head, throbbing or pulsating pain that increases with activity and adverse reactions to sound or light. The pain associated with migraines can last anywhere between four and 72 hours on average.
Preventing Migraines in Children
The Pediatric Headache Clinic at the University of Maryland Hospital for Children reports that children are predisposed to migraine headaches based on genetics and age. If a parent experienced migraines, they are more likely to as well. The clinic typically sees children first experiencing migraines around the age of 6 and again at age 12, close to puberty. To help prevent migraines in their children, parents are advised to eliminate caffeine from their diet, make sure the children eat a good breakfast and are getting an adequate amount of sleep.
Exercise
Committing to a regular exercise program can help reduce the stress and tension that triggers a migraine. MayoClinic.com cites aerobic exercises such as walking, swimming or running as helpful in preventing migraines as well as reducing the likelihood of obesity, also cited as a factor in developing migraines.
Estrogen
Checking your estrogen levels may be helpful in preventing migraines. Avoiding or reducing dosages of medication containing estrogen, a common trigger for migraines, may prevent the onset of a painful headache.
Understanding Triggers
Figuring out what triggers a migraine headache is an important step in prevention. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends keeping a headache diary, noting when a migraine occurs following eating certain foods or following a specific situation so you can identify what triggers symptoms. UMMC also recommends avoiding alcohol, smoking and artificial sweeteners.
