by Matt Fryy

Created on: November 02, 2009

Migraine headaches are painful attacks that affect millions of people worldwide, (30 million alone in the US) and are linked to almost everything from depression to brain tumours. But why is it that a condition so widespread with so many cured patients, has had such poor coverage in terms of solutions for sufferers?

Well I have battled with just this for years, and although I haven't cured my daily migraines completely, I have found a handful of things that prevent and ease these awful symptoms. So here are my top 4 ways to stop a migraine before it comes:

Control light & sound.

People who suffer from chronic migraines will understand that bright, loud environments can multiply the intensity of a migraine several times over. This will often render daily events such as talking to people or typing on a noisy keyboard very painful, especially when in the eye of the storm or when just woken up. Avoid using very loud alarm clocks and artificial lights in the morning. This will allow your senses to gradually adjust to your waking environment, as opposed to bombarding them into trigging a migraine.

Sleep long, and sleep well.

Each person needs a different amount of sleep to function. If your not sleeping properly nightly you may start to become short tempered, depressed and mildly fatigued. Unbeknown to many is the link between sleep and migraine. This is my personal number one factor in staying well, if I don't sleep, I WILL have an attack. Do your homework on how much sleep you need to feel great, whether it's 6 hours or 12 hours, getting properly rested at night will prevent those problem blood vessels becoming easily irritated.

Food, drink & healthy lifestyle.

Because blood sugar is linked so closely to Migraines, it is essential to keep a healthy lifestyle to avoid headaches becoming frequent. Many people find that certain foods can start an attack, so watch out for those convenient ready meals and processed food.

Staying hydrated is another huge factor for me at least, food and drink containing salt or caffeine often tips me over the edge into having a headache due to dehydration. To combat this I always drink lots of water or fruit squash with coffee, energy drinks, salty chips and even after a few cokes. The difference it makes it staggering.

For myself, not eating enough gives me on-demand headaches that often fade away after a good meal, try to eat 5 or 6 small meals a day instead of 3 big ones to keep sugar levels constant.

Medication works best to prevent pain, not ease it.

Like many people with very bad migraines I have have tried everything from paracetamol to morphine to ease the pain associated with attacks, and speaking from experience I can tell you it's easier to prevent it than it is to treat it.

Work with your doctor to find the right preventatives for you, I take a high dose of aspirin w/ caffeine on the first signs of a migraine. For me this only works to prevent the attack progressing, it doesn't do anything once it has begun so it is vital I notice it developing early on.

Something to note is that taking medication daily will give you rebound headaches, so try and be sparing with meds and don't exceed the drugs documented dosage.

This condition is still a daily battle for myself and others alike, and the best we can do it share knowledge in the hope that one day we may all find out perfect solutions. I hope this quick article may prove of some relevance and use to people confused and frustrated about their symptoms, and I wish you all good luck and good health.

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