A vascular headache that causes a moderate to severe throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head is a migraine headache. Migraines affect around 30 million Americans, and women suffer more often than men, according to the National Headache Foundation. Migraine pain can interfere with activities and may increase with light and sound. Nausea and vomiting may accompany the headache. Triggers such as food and hormones may cause the migraine to occur. Without treatment, a migraine headache may last up to three days, according to MayoClinic.com. Misuse or overuse of medications to treat the migraine may cause additional headaches, called rebound headaches.
Step 1
Keep a diet diary to see if any foods or beverages trigger a migraine. After finding a trigger, avoid eating or drinking that item, especially during a current migraine. Many migraine suffers may not recognize food as a trigger because the migraine headache may not occur until the next day after eating the item, according to InteliHealth.com.
Step 2
Take an over-the-counter migraine medication containing a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen, to relieve the migraine headache pain.
Step 3
Take a migraine-specific medication, such as triptans, as prescribed by a physician when the migraine begins. Several different triptans are available as an oral tablet, nasal spray or injection, according to the American Headache Society. Triptans treat migraines by constricting the blood vessels in the brain and target the area of the brain causing the stimulation to the blood vessels. Side effects of these medications include drowsiness, flushing and tightness in the chest.
Step 4
Get a massage and rest. The massage will help relax the body and improve sleep, both of which can reduce and prevent migraines, according to MayoClinic.com. Getting six to eight hours of sleep each night will help ease migraine pain.
Step 5
Learn to relax. Using yoga, stretching, taking a bath or doing any activity that promotes relaxation will help alleviate migraine headaches.
Step 6
Talk to the doctor about prescribing a medication to help decrease the frequency of migraine headaches, especially the migraines that do not respond easily to treatment. As of 2010, the Food and Drug Administration approved four medications, including topiramate, divalproex sodium, propranolol and timolol, to prevent migraines, according to the National Headache Foundation.
