Migraines are chronic, painful headaches that can interfere with daily activity. Symptoms can include severe head pain, throbbing, nausea, seeing auras, sensitivity to light and vomiting. Left untreated, the Mayo Clinic notes migraine headaches can last anywhere from four to 72 hours. They can be caused by hormonal fluctuations, certain foods, stress and environmental changes. Because migraine symptoms can be debilitating, it is important to understand how to treat and prevent them.
Step 1
Relax your muscles. According to the Mayo Clinic, relaxing can help relieve migraine symptoms. Learn yoga, tai chi or meditation, or spend 30 minutes a day doing anything that relaxes you, like gardening or reading.
Step 2
Swallow an aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen at the first signs of a migraine. If over-the-counter pain relievers do not work, the MedlinePlus website suggests asking your doctor about a prescription medication like almotriptan, ergotamine or isometheptene.
Step 3
Wrap an ice pack in a cloth and apply it to the back of your neck and other painful spots on your head. The Mayo Clinic recommends doing this in a darkened, quiet room as soon as you feel the headache coming.
Step 4
Avoid things that have triggered migraines in the past, such as smoking, lack of sleep, alcohol and artificial sweeteners.
Step 5
Reduce the amount of estrogen in your body. Hormone replacement therapy, birth control pills and other medications containing estrogen can all cause migraines or exacerbate symptoms. Talk to your doctor about an alternate medication or therapy.
Tips and Warnings
- The MedlinePlus website recommends keeping a headache diary to help you identify what foods or actions trigger migraines. Write down how severe the headache was, when it occurred, what you ate prior, how much sleep and any other symptoms or possible factors. Some herbal remedies, such as the herb feverfew, may provide migraine relief. However, because herbs are not regulated by the government, it is best to consult a doctor or herbalist for advice before trying them.
- The Mayo Clinic warns that some medications, such as ibuprofen, should not be taken in big doses for long lengths of time. They can cause bleeding, pain in the abdomen and ulcers. Taking headache medicines for more than nine days a month can result in a rebound headache. This occurs when the medicine stops working and causes a headache itself.
Things You'll Need
- Aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- Ice pack in a cloth
