Ten ways to minimise migraine
Migraine is an inhibiting condition affecting 25% of women in the UK and 8% of men.
Whilst there is no cure, there are a number of ways sufferers can reduce the impact of their migraine attacks and improve their quality of life. The Migraine Trust has released its top tips on how to be 'Migraine Smart'.
Top Tips
1. Get a diagnosis. This will help you learn how to manage your migraine attacks and if necessary get the right medication.
2. Understand your medication. Know why you are taking it and what it is meant to do. Also make sure you take it in the right quantities.
3. Headache or migraine? Know the difference. Migraine is more regular than headache, and isn’t just head pain. There are a number of associated symptoms including light sensitivity, nausea, sensitivity to smells and the sensation that you are going to get a migraine before the pain starts.
4. Keep a migraine diary for three months. Liz Rickarby of the Migraine Trust explains that ‘the good thing about a diary is that you can see a pattern develop across the month and match that up against things you’re doing in your lifestyle.’ A diary may also help you to...
5. Identify your triggers. Many factors can be responsible for bringing on a migraine. For example, too much or too little caffeine, a lack of, or excess sleep, stress, certain foods or the fact that you haven’t eaten, and – most commonly - dehydration. So it is important to...
6. Drink plenty of water.
7. Eat regularly; avoiding too many sugary snacks.
8. Try to maintain a regular sleep pattern.
9. Consider your working environment. A computer in front of a window, for example, may catch a reflection which can cause vision problems and bring on a headache.
10. Exercise. Always important, but if you suffer from migraine take extra care to exercise regularly and at a pace that suits you.
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