Managing the Impact of Migraines on Your Life

Of all the kinds of headaches you can experience, migraines are among the most severe and disabling. 

Often triggered by sounds, lights, stress, odors, hormones, certain foods, and a lack of sleep, migraines typically cause severe throbbing pain on one side of the head. Frequently accompanied by other symptoms including light sensitivity, nausea, ringing in the ears, vomiting, and visual changes, migraine pain can last for a few hours or drag on for several days.

For the individual experiencing a migraine, nothing is more important than finding relief. A close second to that is doing whatever you can to never experience a migraine again. Unfortunately, there is no simple cure for migraines. Because they are actually a symptom of a neurological disease, once you have a migraine, it is likely you will get another in the future. 

However, there are things you can do to manage and prevent migraines from occurring in the future.

Common treatments for migraines include:

Medication: There are numerous medications—both over-the-counter (OTC) and by prescription— available that offer relief for mild to moderate migraines. 

When looking for an OTC medication at your local drug store, look for the following ingredients: acetaminophen, aspirin, caffeine, ibuprofen, and naproxen.

FYI, the following medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for migraine headaches:

• Excedrin® Migraine
• Advil® Migraine
• Motrin® Migraine Pain

NOTE: When taking OTC medications, follow the dosing instructions carefully. Taking more than recommended can lead to what’s known as a rebound or overuse headache.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend prescription medications to alleviate or stop the pain, nausea, light sensitivity, and other symptoms. These are most effective when taken at the first sign of a migraine. Prescription medications are available in several forms including pill, injectables, skin patch, or nasal spray. People with certain medical conditions, such as heart disease and high blood pressure, should not take these medications.

If you’re experiencing severe migraines four times a month or more, ask your doctor about preventive, or prophylactic, medications. Taken daily, they may help prevent headaches and/or work to reduce their severity.

Home remedies: Many migraine sufferers find relief from using at-home treatment options, which include:

• applying either a cold or warm compress to the forehead or behind the neck
• massaging the scalp
• taking a warm shower or bath
• isolating in a dark, quiet space away from any stimulation
• ingesting small amounts of caffeine

The key to preventing migraines is determining what triggers them. Keeping a journal that tracks when you experience them, what you were doing, and how long they last can be helpful in narrowing down potential triggers so you can avoid them in the future.

Other potential prevention measures to consider include:

• Exercise regularly: research suggests regular exercise can help reduce the frequency of migraines
• Get regular and sufficient sleep: try to establish a consistent sleep schedule and allow yourself time to wind down before bed each night
• Practice stress management: while this is especially important for individuals whose migraines are triggered by stress, practicing stress management can improve sleep and ward off future migraines for all sufferers

Without question, migraines can make life challenging. However, by learning—and avoiding—your triggers, practicing preventive measures, and managing symptoms, living a full life is not impossible.

Since migraines are a very common condition, primary care physicians are often experienced in the treatment of this neurological disorder.  If you are struggling with severe headaches, talk to your provider to ensure that a migraine is the correct diagnosis and to start on a path for optimizing treatment.  

Herbert Gregg, MD, is a neurologist at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.