5 Lifestyle Changes To Provide Migraine Relief

Migraine relief for those individual who suffer from migraine attacks on a regular basis is the first and foremost item on their “to do list” to fix. While many times migraine relief is thought to only come through the use of prescription medications it should be known that in fact, migraine relief can come thought some very simple lifestyle changes. These lifestyle changes can make all the difference in the work when it comes to overall quality of life, as well as migraine relief for the migraine sufferer.

#1 – Sleep

It is extremely important that the individual searching for migraine relief get adequate rest. Changes in sleep, schedules, and even jet lag can affect the overall quality of sleep and in turn trigger migraines. It is important for migraine sufferers to try and maintain a regular schedule for sleep by waking and going to bed at the same time every day when possible. Another change that can be made for aiding in better sleep is to keep the room dark and cold, both of these changes can help to decrease the possibility of migraines occurring. Lastly, it is important for that seeking migraine relief to never sleep too late. While it may seem like a good idea to “catch up on rest” during the weekend or a vacation, this can actually backfire. While it is important to get enough rest, it is also just as important to not get too much sleep as this can also become a trigger for migraines as well.

#2 – Diet

There are a few steps to remember when it comes to nutrition and diet, as both of these do affect migraine headaches. A practice of avoiding caffeine should be undertaken whenever possible. Caffeine can seem to “help” the normal headache, but it has also been known to exacerbate and even trigger migraines in those individuals who are prone to them. A person who is seeking to find proper migraine relief should also never skip meals. It is important for nutrition to be spread out evenly throughout the day so that blood sugar levels to not rise and fall but stay at a steadier pace, and if possible eat smaller meals during the day. There are certain foods that should be avoided for a migraine sufferer such as aged cheeses, chocolate, food additives (such as preservatives like aspartame or saccharine), alcohol, and some research even shows that avoiding cold foods (like ice cream or cold substances) is beneficial to those seeking migraine relief. Foods that contain Tyramine, Sulphates, or Nitrates should in general be avoided as well for those who suffer from migraine headaches.

#3 – Exercise

It is important that blood circulation and overall health be improved in those who are seeking to find migraine relief. While it is true that intense and sporadic exercise might in fact trigger migraines, migraine relief can be found with moderate aerobic exercises. These types of moderate aerobic exercises can help to reduce the frequency, intensity, as well as duration of migraine headaches that migraine sufferers experience. Exercise can help to increase levels of endorphins as well as other chemicals that can help to decrease the number of migraine attacks as well as the symptoms of the migraine when one does breakthrough.

#4 – Cessation of Smoking

There are numerous health reasons for a person to quit smoking. However, in regards to migraines the evidence is even more eye opening:

• Smoking (even second hand smoke) can trigger headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches.
• Smoking increases carbon dioxide, decreases oxygen delivery to the brain, and can be a direct toxin to the brain in some instances.
• Smoking significantly increases chronic daily headaches.
• Smoking reduces the effectiveness of most, if not all, of the common headache treatments.

In order for full migraine relief to be attained it is recommended for individuals to stop smoking if they have been doing so. While smoking cessation is not easy, there are options for cessation and help to be able to accomplish this, in the long run smoking cessation will aid in providing better migraine relief.

#5 Relaxation

Another known trigger towards migraines is that of stress. Anyone who is seeking to find migraine relief should find ways to properly deal with stress and be able to find relaxation when necessary. Relaxation techniques can come through the use of meditation, yoga, massage, or even just something simple like taking a bubble bath, listening to music, or taking part in a light activity that brings pleasure such as a leisurely walk or afternoon fishing.

Tags: headaches, migraine attacks, migraine treatment, Migraines, side effects, symptoms, treating migraines, vascular headachce