A Different Approach To Treating Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches are no joke. They affect nearly 30 million individuals just within the United States alone. Migraine Headaches are more common in women, they occur in individuals who have a family history of migraine headaches, and often migraine headaches occur in individuals between the ages of 15 and 55. While the exact cause of migraine headaches is not necessarily fully understood there has been much research and clinical studies devoted to developing treatment plans and understanding the triggers and causes of migraine headaches.

Understanding Triggers of Migraine Headaches
Migraine headaches in essence occur when blood vessels of the brain and head or inflamed and cause extreme head pain and other symptoms. It is important for those who tend to suffer from migraine headaches frequently to try and pinpoint their triggers in order to avoid them and thus avoid future attacks of migraine headaches that might come. One suggestion for pinpointing triggers of migraine headaches includes keeping a headache diary or journal in order to try and remember some of the circumstances, environmental influences, or foods and drink that might have been ingested 24 hours before that could have caused the their migraine headaches. For females it is also important to understand how hormones can play a role in migraine headaches and keeping a calendar of dates that occur along with both the migraine headaches and the cycle can also help physicians to pinpoint if the migraine headaches are hormone related. Some of the common triggers that occur in those who might be prone to experiencing migraine headaches include the following:

• Lack of Sleep
• Skipping Meals
• Presence of Bright Lights, Strong Odors, or even Loud Noises
• Anxiety, Stress, or even Relaxation after Stress
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Changes in the Weather
• Certain Foods – especially those that contain additives such as nitrates, MSG, or aspartame. Additionally studies have shown that foods containing tyramine (like aged cheeses, chocolates, soy products, fava beans, smoked fish, hard sausages, or even Chianti wine) can also trigger migraine headaches.

Treatment Options for Migraine Headaches
There are many different treatment options that exist for migraine headaches. It is important to remember that there is no one size fits all approach to treating migraine headaches, rather it is vital to treat the symptoms that each individual experiences in order to provide more personal relief from migraine headaches.

• Medications – when it comes to medications to treat migraine headaches there are basically two categories, either abortive or preventative treatment options. Abortive treatments utilize prescription medications such as Triptans or Ergot derivatives in order to provide as much relief as possible once the episode of migraine headaches has begun. ON the other hand, preventative medications such as Anticonvulsants, Beta Blockers, Antidepressants, or Calcium Channel Blockers can help to prevent future attacks of migraine headaches. Prescription medications are commonly the first line of defense used by physicians who treat migraine headaches, and while there are most certainly instances where they are both necessary and beneficial, it is important for those who suffer from migraine headaches to realize that prescription medications can cause negative side effects or in some cases even become habit forming.
• Lifestyle Changes – another option of treatment for those who suffer from migraine headaches is that of adapting to new lifestyle changes. The practice of avoiding triggers, eating healthier foods, sticking to an exercise routine, limiting caffeine as well as alcohol, and also learning ways to cope with and reduce stress and anxiety.
• Alternative Options –other options for treating migraine headaches involve the use of alternative treatments to help reduce the severity or frequency of migraine headaches. Alternative options include relaxation and stress relief techniques, as well as ways to reduce the pain of migraines with massage, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and even the use of biofeedback.
• Adding Supplements – in addition to lifestyle and alternative treatment options the addition of supplements has also been proven to help reduce the severity and frequency of migraine headaches. Some of the supplements that are commonly used to treat migraine headaches include Magnesium, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Feverfew, Coenzyme Q10, Riboflavin, Butterbur, and even Vitamin B12 and Melatonin.

The key to treating migraine headaches is to find the best approach that works on a personal level to relieve the symptoms and reduce the occurrence of the migraine headaches.

Tags: migraine headaches, migraine symptoms, migraine treatment, migraine triggers, Migraines, natural treatment, symptoms of migraines