Migraines affect nearly 40 million Americans and over 1 billion people worldwide. The ramifications are huge on someone’s mental and physical well being. On top of the physical, there is lost productivity as well as time taken from your loved ones. We are going to go over 7 tips to help prevent migraines. There is no cure for the headaches, but there are things you can do to limit the number you get.
Before getting into the things you can do, it is important to note one common thread that brings these all together: Tracking. What you track and measure we can improve. By tracking certain activities you can determine what might have caused your migraine. Having this data allows you to make better decisions, have less migraines, and have a more fulfilled life.
6 Tips for Preventing Migraines
- Diet is crucial: In another article, we went over the foods that can trigger migraines. Each person is different in foods that can cause your headaches. Some of the major ones to avoid are: processed meats, aged cheeses, nuts, and wine. Tracking your food can help to pinpoint any trigger foods.
- Keep a Regular Sleep Schedule: Many people have cited that lack of sleep can trigger migraines. Keeping a regular bedtime and wake up time can help to ensure your body doesn’t get out of whack which can trigger headaches. We recommend writing down the amount of sleep you had every night to see patterns in sleep and your headaches.
- Water is your friend: Water is instrumental for preventing migraines. Dehydration is one of the most common triggers. The standard is 8 glasses of water daily, but many recommend 100oz of water daily.
- Avoid Loud Noises and Bright Lights: loud noises and strobe lights can cause sensory overload, resulting in migraines. Some of the common things to avoid are: Nightclubs, sun glare, loud venues, etc. It also helps to take breaks away from your tv and computer screens.
- Avoid or Mitigate Stress: In today’s world, stress is constant. Unfortunately, stress is one of the most common triggers for migraine headaches. You might not be able to completely remove stress, but there are things you can do to help. Many people use meditation, breathing techniques, and yoga to combat stress.
- Supplementation: This is one of the easiest ways to help prevent migraines. Many people have found that proper supplementation can help reduce the number or severity of their migraine substantially. When choosing a supplement, it is important to find one with the following ingredients: Butterbur, PA free feverfew, and Riboflavin. Having magnesium is a plus, but you can also find a second supplement with higher doses of magnesium than you will find in most migraine supplements.