You are here because you need to know how to get instant migraine relief. The pain that comes with migraines can be so discomforting to one body.
Migraine is a type of headache that, in most cases, is more than a headache and can cause massive agonizing or distasteful pain, usually on one side of the head.
It can be an intense pounding or throbbing that lasts for hours or days and gets worse in response to certain foods, lights, sounds, and physical activity. While the symptoms of migraine could be threatening, they could come in different stages.
Symptoms of Migraine
Prodrome
These signs, which appear days in advance of the migraine, alert us to its impending arrival. It occurs to give a tip-off about the emerging migraine attack, so most times we can decide on instant migraine relief and avoid the attack. Sometimes, these signs may not even show up before the attack happens. It includes:
- Mood changes
- Neck rigidity or stiffness
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Loss of appetite
- Trouble sleeping
Aura
This is a sensory symptom before a migraine attack. Although it can have more severe symptoms than the latter, it also serves as a signal and warning sign before an attack. it comprises:
- Temporary Loss of vision
- numbness
- Light sensitivity
- Difficulty in speaking
- Ringing in ears
- Pale or tingling skin
- changes in smell or taste
Headache attack
This symptom occurs during the attack. These symptoms arise throughout a migraine attack, leading to a major upset in the body. This can usually last for four hours to four days. it comprises:
- Vomiting and nausea
- Fever
- Speech disorder
- Throbbing pain on one side of the head
- Fatigue
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Stomach upset
- Diarrhoea
- insomnia
Post-drome
A post-drome strikes just after you have a migraine relief.
- Depression
- Losing concentration
- Fatigue
- Muscle pain
- Food cravings or appetite loss
Migraine triggers
The most common triggers or causes of migraine include:
- Hormonal changes: While women are more likely to experience migraines than men, this is a result of a shift in hormonal changes during menstruation, ovulation, pregnancy, and menopause. It can also arise when most women engage in contraceptives.
- Environment: Migraine could be triggered in some people due to some environmental factors, e.g., storms and strong winds, temperature changes, extreme heat or cold, pollution, smells, loud sounds, blaring lights, etc
- Stress: While stress might be one of the major triggers to getting migraines, whether physical, emotional, or mental stress, it occurs when the body is stressed, and when the body is stressed, the brain releases a chemical into the brain vessels, leading to migraines.
- Physical activities: some activities could be too strenuous for some people, leaving them with migraines, e.g, sex, exercise
- Drinks: most alcoholic drinks like beer or wine, some certain beverages, sodas
- Changes in sleep
- Food: certain foods can be a trigger for some specific people
- Medications: Medication can affect a few things in the body that could lead to migraines.
Considering reliefs for migraines, it is necessary to identify the type of migraine you might be experiencing. As different types of migraines can affect one’s body, it is important to understand migraines before looking into migraine relief.
Types of migraine include:
- Chronic migraine: this migraine happens frequently, disrupting one’s daily activities. It can occur 10–15 times a month. Those who get chronic migraines might be used to taking pain medications.
- Migraines with aura: this causes distress in the body’s senses, for instance, having difficulty speaking, temporary vision loss, ringing in the ears, numbness and weakness, and confusion.
- Abdominal migraine: this causes one to have a recurring occasion of average-to-severe stomach aches, vomiting, and nausea. it can be related to migraine headaches but this only affects the stomach.
- Migraines without aura: it’s quite common for a person not to have any distress in the sensory parts before the migraines.
- Menstrual migraine: this commonly occurs in women during their menstrual period due to hormonal changes in the body.
- Basilar migraine: although this migraine is not common, it affects the neurologic system of the body. It is known for mostly attacking the brainstem.
Below are 8 tips for instant migraine relief
Relaxation techniques
For migraine relief, you need to do a close-minded breathing exercise. Firstly, you need to find a comforting and relaxed place to practice deep breathing, picturing relaxation finding its way into the body by inhaling and stress or tension leaving the body by exhaling.
Meditations enable one to stop and perceive all the calmness around by looking deep into the mind and focusing on one’s breathing
Yoga combines deep breathing and meditation that help relax the muscles and tendons.
Relaxations to music by combining yoga and cool and soothing songs that lift your mood by getting rid of any stress or anxiety
Massages, in some cases, tend to remove tension and stress from the body, thereby relaxing it and relieving migraines. This can be an effective way for some people, especially those who struggle with the side effects of some medications.
Prescription medications
While some medications aim to stop migraines, others aim to prevent them. However, some medications might have some serious effects, which makes it more important to see a doctor and take them the way the doctor has prescribed them.
Preventive medications may include antidepressants, anti-seizures, botox injections, etc. These are taken regularly to prevent frequent migraines from occurring.
Pain-relieving medications are those that are taken during migraine attacks and are intended to stop the symptoms. they include aspirins or ibuprofen, triptans, lasmiditan, and some opioid medications (though they can be very addictive)
Nausea medication for migraine relief: although is better to take migraine medication instinctively, since nausea comes with migraine, it may become difficult to take those medications
Migraine devices such as Nerivio, safely, etc are devices that send electrical pulses into the affected areas
Supplements for migraines: certain deficiencies in vitamins can trigger migraines. however, studies have shown vitamin supplements like vitamin B2 and vitamin D can be a great help in minimising migraine
These medications can come with some serious effects, including dizziness, confusion, constipation, liver problems, etc., which is why it is necessary to take them as prescribed by the doctor.
While these medications might be effective for most people, they might not be safe for some people with some specific health conditions and pregnancy.
Optimizing sleep and rest
In the same way, excessive sleeping can cause migraines, poor sleeping habits can be a trigger of your migraine as well.
Nevertheless, achieving optimal sleep and rest may be achieved by ;
- Getting a sleep schedule
- Avoid screens before bed
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine before
- Practice a relaxation technique
Hydration and nutrition
Maintaining proper hydration and nutrition is essential because dehydration and malnutrition can act as migraine triggers.
Take note of the foods that trigger your migraines and avoid them. Aim for a healthy diet plan and try not to skip meals while avoiding certain foods. Certain foods to eat for migraine relief may include watermelons, bananas, nuts and seeds, herbal teas, some vegetables, etc
Carry a water bottle around and make sure to fill it frequently.
Light and sound management
Avoiding migraines requires being cautious of one’s surroundings. Some environmental factors, like flashing lights and loud sounds, can cause sensitivity, therefore causing migraines. Migraine relief can be achieved by limiting screen time, avoiding bright light, and listening to relaxing music.
top remedies for migraines have been known to limit exposure to bright light if your migraine is known to be triggered by light. take regular breaks from phones, TV, computers, etc
Physical therapy and exercise
Exercise and therapy may be effective migraine relievers. Exercise for relief varies from stretching to doing cardio and yoga, which help rest and relax the muscles that might have stiffened.
However, it is not advised to exercise in the middle of a migraine crisis, but on the other hand, it is advised to exercise when not in pain to wade off stress, a common migraine trigger.
Exercises like running, swimming, jogging, and skipping are effective against migraine
Natural remedies and herbal supplements
While medications work effectively, there are certain supplements and remedies you can prepare for migraine relief without a prescription. Some of these include ginger teas, peppermint oil, and cold compresses
try a cold pack on the forehead or a cold shower to suppress the migraine
Acupressure massage therapy is also a great remedy that can be practised for migraines.
other remedies may include stress management, acupuncture, yoga, etc
A personalized migraine management plan
A carefully thought-out sequence of events needs to be followed in order for the consistency of this plan to offer long-term migraine prevention and relief. One effective strategy for managing your migraines is to keep a list of your triggers.
Also, keep track of your symptoms by writing a detailed account of each migraine experience or incident.
Additionally, you could record personal details such as significant stressors and recent life changes that might have contributed to migraine episodes.
Ask your healthcare provider and compile a list of your medications.
Conclusion
Summarily, as migraines can be triggered in many ways, reliefs for migraines can also be found in considerable courses of action, ranging from going to a quiet, cool room to rest, getting regular checkups, avoiding tensions and stress, taking prescriptions regularly, staying hydrated, etc
