Your role in managing migraines The basics Migraines are sometimes “set off” by a combination of causes - also called “triggers”. These may be different for each person, and may include one or some combination of eating or sleeping habits, certain foods, muscle tension, stress, medications, hormone changes, and even the weather. Keeping track of what’s happening when a migraine happens can be very helpful to your provider in finding a good solution. All pieces of information are critical pieces of the puzzle to an effective solution. There are many things that you can do to help your healthcare provider treat your migraines or even try to prevent them from happening. • Try to understand what is causing your migraines: - Pay close attention to what was happening just before it started • Determine if your current treatment is working or seems to be losing its effectiveness • Try to reduce your stress level: - Relaxation techniques such as meditation or guided imagery can help you reduce stress - Avoid stressful situations when you feel a headache coming on Did you know? Believe it or not, it’s possible to take migraine medications too often and they can start to cause an increase in the frequency of headaches, instead of stopping them. These are sometimes called medication overuse headaches. Keep a headache diary that contains the following information: - What you were doing? Where you were? What you ate prior to the headache? What time of day it happened Take any headache medications (prescribed or over-the- counter) as directed Keep in mind A likely solution to managing your migraines involves a partnership between you and your healthcare provider. It’s easy to forget things that bring on your headache soon after they happen.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 15:34:22 +0000
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