Migraine Relief At Home:
Biofeedback is a therapy technique that uses electronic sensors to monitor muscle tension, skin temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Certain foods may be linked to headaches for some individuals. Other than alcohol and caffeine, common foods and drinks connected to headaches have included chocolate, milk, and cheese. A vigorous workout can leave you with a pulsing, throbbing headache. During the times you’re headache-free, regular exercise is a good way to help you stay that way.
Just remember to ease into exercise gradually, as very vigorous exercise may trigger migraines. The same lifestyle choices that promote overall good health also can reduce the number of migraines you have and reference lessen the migraine pain. Taking pain relievers such as ibuprofen can also help reduce headache pain (67). One of the simplest ways to reduce headache frequency and severity is to engage in physical activity.
The organization notes that while feverfew is less effective than butterbur, it may be helpful for some people. Note when your migraines started, what you were doing at the time, how long they lasted and what, if anything, provided relief. Bright lights, loud noises, and strong smells may make headache symptoms worse. There are several home remedies that may help treat headaches. A doctor can help rule out potential underlying causes of your headaches and give you the right care. Taking up yoga may even help reduce the intensity and frequency of your headaches.
They can help you determine if the supplement is safe for you and that it won’t interfere with any of your medications. If withdrawal is causing your migraine, having caffeine may help. If too much coffee is causing your migraines, try cutting back and swapping your regular caffeinated beverage for decaffeinated coffee or tea when possible. Cold therapy reduces inflammation and also slows nerve transmission of pain messaging so that your brain registers coldness instead of pain. If you don’t have either of those, you can soak a towel in cold water, wring it out, fold it, put it in a plastic bag, and put it in the freezer for about 15 minutes. You can find a diverse community of real people who experience migraine in our free app, Migraine Healthline.
Skipped meals or too many hours between them is a common migraine attack trigger. Low blood glucose caused by not eating can also cause a headache that is not part of a migraine attack. A regular ice pack will help, but Dr. Natbony says you can also buy an ‘ice hat’ that you keep in the freezer until a migraine hits. ‘A lot of patients find them really, really helpful to put on in the midst of a migraine attack,’ says Dr. Natbony. That way, you don’t have to sit in an awkward position trying to keep the ice on your head.
And to best manage this disease, patients need to understand the disease. Learn about migraine, join patient advocacy organizations, share your journey with others, and become empowered through advocacy and efforts to shatter the stigma of migraine. And together, the patient and the medical team can manage the disease of migraine.
More research is needed to better understand the possible link between obesity and migraines and to determine how much weight loss makes a difference for people with migraines. Mounting evidence suggests there may be a connection between migraine and mental health. Anxiety disorders and depression are two of the most commonly reported mental illnesses among people who are diagnosed with migraine.
If you’re not already working with a headache doctor, use our Find a Doctor tool to find someone in your area. Plan to discuss the FDA’s safety guide for medication use during pregnancy. Nausea and/or vomiting is just one of many symptoms a person living with migraine might experience.
According to the American Migraine Foundation, migraine-specific prescriptions include triptans, such as Sumatriptan, Zolmitriptan, and Rizatriptan. When these medications don’t work, doctors turn to ergot alkaloids, such as Migrinal or Ergomar. A 2010 study found that the menthol in blog peppermint is a safe and effective treatment for migraines without aura. Apply to the forehead and temples at the first sign of a migraine. Adding yoga alongside several other natural remedies may work to reduce migraine frequency, duration, and severity, according to a 2015 study.
An older 2014 study compared conventional migraine treatment with or without a regular yoga practice. The researchers found that the group who participated in yoga had greater relief than these details the group who received conventional treatment alone. Participants did yoga 5 days per week for a total of 6 weeks. If your health care provider agrees, choose any exercise you enjoy.
‘While there’s no magic amount of water that will keep bouts of migraine away, we can all pay attention to our bodies to determine how much water we need,’ he explains. While engaging in physical activity, keep in mind that you’ll need even more water than normal to stay hydrated. These water bottles from Milton come in a four-pack, so you can keep them in all the places you spend the most time during the day as a reminder to constantly drink up. Increased screen time’like looking at computer screens for a long time’can result in headaches. “Screen headaches,” as they’re sometimes called, need more research, but one study pointed to a relationship between high levels of screen time and migraines in young adults. Although both ice and heat can be used to relieve pain, most people with migraine prefer cold, according to the National Headache Foundation.
However, they might not always be covered by health insurance. Ask your healthcare provider if a device is worth purchasing. You could also consider asking whether there is a research trial that you could enroll in so that you could lower your out-of-pocket costs.
If you want to know how to stop a headache, read on to learn more about options for natural headache relief. Sexual activity has been known both to ease migraine pain and to trigger a headache, but its effect depends on the person and the circumstances. Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy.