Treatment Options for Migraine
Introduction
In most cases, and in fact in many cases, migraine is caused by a combination of genetic factors, poor diet and lack of physical activity. The first step in finding the right doctor for your migraine pain is to make sure that they are familiar with your symptoms, history and family history.
The most common treatment for migraine headaches is a non-prescription pain reliever or “over-the-counter” (OTC).
You may have heard the term “over-the-counter” (OTC) pain relievers, but what does that mean? If you’re not sure, here’s a quick crash course:
- An OTC is a type of medication that can be bought without a prescription. This means it can be found at any store and purchased without having to go through your doctor first.
- The most common type of OTCs are aspirin and acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol). These two drugs work by blocking certain pain signals from being sent to your brain when they’re taken properly; they also help reduce inflammation in the body and ease discomfort associated with migraines.
Pain relievers may help relieve some symptoms of a migraine headache.
Pain relievers can help relieve some symptoms of a migraine headache, but they’re not a cure or substitute for seeing a doctor. They should be used only as directed by your doctor and in accordance with the label instructions.
Pain relievers may be prescribed to prevent headaches or reduce pain when you have an attack. Your doctor will determine what type of medication is right for you based on your medical history and current condition.
Migraine relief can come from many sources besides using over-the-counter medicine.
While it might be tempting to take one of the myriad over-the-counter painkillers available, there are many reasons you shouldn’t. For example:
- Overuse of these drugs can cause side effects. Some people experience nausea or vomiting when they take painkillers for migraines, and other people find that the medicine makes their head feel heavier than usual. In addition, some medications may increase your risk for heart disease or stroke in men and women with certain conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes—and this is not only dangerous for yourself but also dangerous for others around you who could suffer from your carelessness!
- These drugs don’t always work well enough on their own (or at all). If an individual doesn’t respond well enough after several weeks’ worth of treatment with acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), then additional treatments such as triptans may be necessary; however these types of therapies tend not work immediately so patients often have to try multiple doses until finally getting relief from their symptoms once again.”
Migraines are not the same as headaches.
You might be wondering, “What’s the difference between a headache and a migraine?”
A headache is a symptom of an injury or illness. It starts out as pain in one area of your head and then spreads to other parts of your body. Headaches are more common than migraines, but they can also be caused by different things like food allergies or sinus infections. Migraines are different because they’re not caused by any sort of physical injury; instead, they’re usually triggered by stress or anxiety—and sometimes both!
Migraines are more intense than headaches: They typically last longer (about 12 hours) and affect more people at once (about one in five). According to some estimates from Mayo Clinic researchers about 60% percent of Americans have experienced at least one migraine in their lifetime–and that number jumps up dramatically when you consider how many women experience them compared with men (who aren’t necessarily less prone). The intensity varies between individuals but generally refers to anything over moderate intensity that causes severe symptoms such as nausea/vomiting etc., which often includes pain around eyes if blocked off due lack oxygen supply while sleeping at night time.”
Migraines can be prevented, if you take care of yourself.
Migraine headaches are not the same as normal headaches. They can be prevented, if you take care of yourself. Migraine headaches are caused by a change in blood flow to the brain. This causes pain, which often lasts for hours or days and may cause nausea and vomiting.
To prevent migraines:
- Eat healthy foods that contain antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E; try to avoid processed food with added sugar; eat more fruits and vegetables than junk food; exercise regularly (at least 30 minutes per day). These things will help keep your body healthy so it doesn’t have time to make too much serotonin (the chemical transmitter responsible for sending messages between nerves).
- Get enough sleep each night—at least seven hours per night is recommended—and avoid alcohol before bedtime as well as certain drugs like cigarettes or marijuana because they interfere with your ability to fall asleep easily at night.* If you experience frequent headaches then see your doctor about taking medication such as gabapentin which helps reduce pain without side effects like drowsiness
Finding the right doctor and a good treatment plan can help.
The first step in finding the right doctor for your migraine pain is to make sure that they are familiar with your symptoms, history and family history. If you have been diagnosed with migraines for years and the same treatments were prescribed to you each time, it may be time to seek out a new doctor. If possible, try asking around at work or online forums about other patients who have experienced similar results from their treatment plans. You can also look into seeing if there are any local support groups for people who experience chronic pain (migraines included).
Avoid sudden movements, loud noises or stressful situations.
- Avoid sudden movements, loud noises or stressful situations. These can trigger an attack and make it worse. If you feel like getting out of bed in the morning, wait until your head has cleared before going downstairs to make breakfast. If you have to get up at night when everyone else is sleeping, try not to change channels on TV (you’ll be more likely to crash). And if there’s someone playing music loudly in the next room—don’t go over there!
Keep dangerous triggers such as alcohol, nicotine and caffeine away from your home.
- Keep dangerous triggers such as alcohol, nicotine and caffeine away from your home.
- Avoid bright lights and loud noises that may be more intense than those you experience at work or during social events.
- If possible, avoid wearing perfumes or colognes while you’re having migraines. The smell of perfume can trigger a migraine attack in some people with migraines who prefer to keep their homes free of all chemical scents that could trigger an attack.
- Avoid certain foods that are known to cause inflammation in the body (i.e., red meat). Certain medicines might also increase inflammation when taken with food — so check with your doctor about this before eating anything new for dinner!
It’s possible to find a way to relieve your migraines without medicine
It’s possible to find a way to relieve your migraines without medicine. Over-the-counter pain relievers are one option, but there are others.
You can also try some of these strategies:
- Try relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga. They’ll help you calm down and focus on other things besides your headache.
- Avoid foods that may trigger a migraine attack in the first place (for example, red meat). If you have a strong reaction after eating something that triggers migraines for you then avoid eating it in the future until you’ve tried taking an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen and see how it goes without causing any discomfort at all!
side effect
- Side effects of migraine medications are common and can include:
- nausea and vomiting
- dizziness or faintness, especially when standing up quickly
- drowsiness (somnolence) or fatigue, which may make you feel like sleeping more than usual. This is especially true if your migraine has been so severe that you have been unable to sleep at night for several hours before going to bed.
Conclusion
The importance of understanding the cause of migraine pain.
What is migraine? Migraine is a condition that involves the experience of throbbing or pulsating pain in one or both sides of the head. This type of pain occurs with little or no warning and can last for hours at times. The intensity and frequency vary from person to person, though usually happens every 1-2 days, although some people are able to have them more frequently.
Migraine may be caused by disturbances in how your body senses or responds to sensory information from your head and face. One example is called a “aura” which can last up to 12 hours before it reaches the point where you have an actual headache. Sometimes migraines are just plain bad luck. Though they are typically associated with changes in light, sound, smell, food and activity triggers (which we will discuss further below), these triggers may not even be present unless something else triggered them first! Some people only have one migraine a month while others may have dozens per year – all part of the same disorder called migraine.
While some types involve nausea, most do not and there are also other types that do not involve any symptoms like nausea as well as ones that do include it but aren’t severe enough for doctors to call them “migraines.” Basically migraines can range in severity from mild to extremely severe – any level anywhere on this spectrum is considered a “migraine.”