How to Curb the Onset of a Migraine
Did you know that June is National Migraine Awareness Month? In honor of this, our Mars Hill NC pain management team decided to put together some helpful information on migraines. Specifically, our blog this month is focused on tips for curbing the onset of migraines. If you or someone you love experiences migraines, read on to learn more.
Understanding Migraine Stages
Migraines typically come phases or stages. It’s important for patients to know what each of those stages look like so that better preparation can be in place for each stage. This will also allow for the possibility of curbing the migraine at an early stage. The four stages include:
Prodrome: This occurs several hours or days before the attack stage. These signs will be subtle and may include irritability, nausea, sensitivity to bright lights or trouble sleeping.
Aura: The aura stage may happen a few hours before or overlap with the beginning of the attack phase. This involves visual symptoms including possibly seeing colors, lights or loss of vision.
Attack: This is the stage that most people identify with a migraine: pulsing and/or throbbing head pain, light sensitivity and nausea.
Post-drome: The post-drome stage is after the pain has subsided. Patients often report a significant loss of energy or sometimes a boost in mood.
Medication for Migraines
Our Mars Hill headache specialists (locations also in 14 additional Asheville-area locations) commonly recommend a multi-disciplinary approach to curb migraine pain. In addition to medication, they may recommend a variety of non-invasive, comprehensive pain treatments and/or pain psychology as well.
The following are a few of the commonly prescribed types of medications that may help curb migraines before they start:
Beta blockers
Antidepressants
Anti-seizure medications
CGRP inhibitors
Botox injections
NSAID’s
Dietary Support
It’s important to eat regular meals and stay hydrated. Low blood sugar and dehydration can both be common triggers to migraines. Along with that, there are several supplements, vitamins and raw food sources that may potentially help curb migraines. Although each person’s migraine experience and associated triggers are unique, here is a list of some common foods and nutritional sources that may help:
Mackerel
Salmon
Tuna
Leafy greens with a dark green color (such as kale and spinach)
Seeds
Legumes
We encourage you to consult your doctor or a nutritionist before making major changes to your dietary routine. He or she may be able to offer insight into additional customized options such as elimination diets or vitamin support.
Proactive Lifestyle Changes
Often chronic migraine patients feel as though they are in the backseat of a car that their pain is driving. Curbing migraines with healthy proactive lifestyle changes can help put the patient back in the driver’s seat. Try implementing one or two of the following healthy habits today:
Improved sleep habits
Regular exercise
Meditation
Stay on top of other face and neck pain contributors – allergies, sinus pain and pressure, posture-related neck pain, etc.
Acupuncture
Massage
Mars Hill NC Pain Management
Finding the most effective pain management protocol and treatment is tricky; our dedicated medical team comprises of experts in a wide range of non-surgical and interventional treatments, such as physical therapy, prescription pain medications, epidural steroid injections, joint & soft tissue injections, spinal cord stimulator implants, kyphoplasty, and others. We will often recommend a combination of complementary treatments best suited to combat your medical challenges and bring you sustainable relief from pain.