1. Make Sure It's a Migraine
A migraine headache may actually be a sinus or tension headache in disguise. Compare the symptoms of a migraine versus a sinus headache. Sinus headaches often occur first thing in the morning after a full night's sleep while migraines are caused by symptoms triggered during the day. Tension headaches spread pain evenly over the entire head, but migraines focus on one side of the head, most commonly behind one eye or ear. Migraines occur less frequently than tension headaches but last longer and are characterized by blind spots or flashing lights before the eyes.
2. Find Out the Cause
A variety of factors cause migraine headaches, including hormonal changes that occur before and during menstruation or menopause. Run of the mill stress, hereditary factors, birth control pills, certain foods like alcohol or chocolate, and loud noises also cause migraines. One or more of these factors can contribute to any given migraine attack. Keeping a migraine journal to determine your migraine triggers will help you to determine what-or who-to avoid to lessen the frequency and duration of migraines.
3. Eliminate Migraine Triggers
Once you've determined the cause of your migraines, you can banish those triggers from your life. If loud music on your iPod hours at a time causes migraines, lower the volume, cut down on listening time or eliminate it completely. If drinking alcohol or coffee sparks your migraines, change your drinking habits. It might take a lot of work to pinpoint the exact cause of your headaches, but it's the key to effectively preventing migraines.
4. Live a Healthy Overall Lifestyle
If it's hard to determine your exact migraine triggers or if you have several causes, improve your chances of staying migraine free by living a healthier lifestyle. Drink water instead of soda or coffee, get enough sleep and exercise, and cut down on stressful situations as much as possible. Many migraine triggers are an outgrowth of poor diet or lifestyle choices, so clean out the fridge and get on the exercise bike.
5. Consult a Doctor or Yogi
Consult your doctor for best methods to prevent migraines, He may prescribe hormone therapy or drugs called Triptans to balance brain chemicals. Stress reduced new age therapies like biofeedback, yoga, mediation or acupuncture may help some people reduce their migraines, so definitely consider alternative treatments for migraines if medication proves problematic or ineffective.
